Admittedly, when it comes to bootleg technology, one of the biggest concern of educators is, “How do you keep students from ignoring their assignments and the teacher?”

Previously, we have discussed rules and reasonable consequences.  But in reality, it all boils down to the individual teacher (as does everything important as it relates to teaching and learning).  Teachers that assign meaningful tasks, have good relationships with students, stay in the Power Zone, monitor student work, and have good classroom management skills will have next to no problems with the inappropriate use of bootleg technology in their classrooms.  For each of the items listed above that a teacher is deficient in, the greater the chance that the use of bootleg technology by students will be for non-academic purposes.  But consider this, for that same teacher, is not the quality of instruction already negatively impacted?

If you are leading your campus with the purpose of making teachers more effective so that student learning is increased and enhanced, allowing the use of bootleg technology is an easy decision to make.  If you are leading with the idea that the instructional solutions have to work in spite of teachers, then really, the use of bootleg technology is the least of your worries.  

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us.  To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of July 22, 2012.

1. Simple answer to a complex question: Am I a good principal if I don’t insist that we follow a common scope and sequence? No. 2. Downloaded Fun 5 Plans app with @BlessingLaura on the iPad. Going to see what kind of magic I can create! (By @patriot_teacher) 3. Progress requires ruthless self-assessment. If it’s inaccurate (whatever the cause) everything that follows is wrong. Be honest, not afraid. (By @gymjones) 4. Love the Fundamental 5 book! (By @jenniferzsch) 5. Whoever said teachers and principals have the summers off is CRAZY! Education preparation is perpetual! (By @sammywyatt)

6. Would someone please explain to the community that bus transportation is not a “right.” Vote for the tax cutters and de-funders and no transportation is what occurs.

7. Short-term, Common, Formative Assessments (LYS Method): Your best source of honest, real-time instructional information.

8. Ok, AWE teachers… come and get the Fundamental 5 book!! It has arrived! Pay attention to Chapter 7… that’s where we are going! Be the lead! (By @jenniferzsch)

9. What predicts performance is what students are actually doing, not what we think we are asking them to do. Task predicts performance! (By @btmerrell)

10. Correction: LYSer, Bake Barron, is the new Principal at Livingston HS. Evidently my spell check has yet to recognize his awesomeness. Think. Work. Achieve. Your turn…

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Comal ISD, Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation