Meet my collegial partner, Danielle Freitas! She is a fabulous teacher leader and has a great blog, Freitas Nook. Check out my Managing Up introduction to her below and see her website to learn more details about who she is and what she stands for in education.
Reflection After reviewing Dr. Pumpian's lecture and this video by Dr. Steven Covey it is clear to me that sharpening the saw in your professional and personal life is important. This may mean spending your weekends not working in your classroom, but instead rejuvenating through activities you enjoy. This may mean putting work on hold to build up the personal and spiritual relationships in your life. This may mean not bringing home papers to grade, but instead writing or reading something for enjoyment. It is also important to sharpen the saw in the professional sense as Dr. Pumpian highlighted. Attending professional development, collaborating with your team, reading professional books or journals, watching videos that inspire you to try new things in your classroom, or even participating in twitter chats are great ways to sharpen your saw and fine tune your craft. I think it is important to attend to both your professional and personal development to keep a good balance. It is also important to be able to recognize when you are out of balance. Are you able to apply the other 6 Habits? If not, then maybe it's time to sharpen the saw and rebalance your center. This is one of the reasons I entered teaching. I love that my job will never be stagnant. I love that teaching is always evolving to meet the needs of learners. I love that each day I walk onto campus is never the same as the one before. I love that my learning will never be over. In order to be an effective teacher, I have to sharpen the saw and continue to learn. Commitment I commit to sharpening my personal and professional saw. As the second semester comes to a mid-point it is important to look at the balance between my personal and professional life. I can say for sure that in the short term, this MA program is tipping the scale to the professional side. However, looking at the big picture, I know that taking this time now to put in the effort into my career development will pay off in the end. And, I know that the time I put into my personal life now is very focused and purposeful. Plan First, I will be working with my group of students to develop their understanding of balance. I think the idea of a garden is a great way to communicate the need to cultivate ourselves. We will look at the four areas that Covey outlined in the video above and discuss why each area; mind, body, soul, and heart are important to attend to. They will add a page in their book on their iPads explaining through pictures and captions what they can do to tend to their "garden". Reflection The first time I heard the term Synergize I was 11 years old. It was dress rehearsal week for a show I was in with a local children's theater group. Our director was frustrated with the way a few scenes and dance routines were coming together on the stage. He sat the cast down and had a talk about synergy. He emphasized how each us had been cast because we were talented and perfect for our role. The problem was that we weren't combining our talents for the greater good. Individually, we each were doing our part, but we were not coming to the stage with the intent of succeeding as a team. This lesson has stuck with me for the last 20 years. When we work in teams it is so important to acknowledge the talents and skills each person brings to the table. It is these skills that when combined together can produce better decisions and stronger outcomes. To me the habit of synergizing means more than just working together. It means using each other's skills and expertise in order to create a better product. Commitment When I'm working with my team at work I commit to utilizing other habits like Habit 5 and Habit 4 to help me synergize with my team. By seeking first to understand and by working towards win-win situations I can be a better team member. And, our team will be able to be more productive and perhaps find new solutions to problems we face. Plan My goal for this habit is to help my students truly understand the value and talents they each bring to class with them each day. We will look at their strengths and discuss how these can positively contribute to our class. We will then discuss what being a team looks like and the difference between team work and synergizing with a team. Reflection Being understood is important to me and it is also important to the person I'm talking to. Recognizing this is the first step in being a better listener. Both people in a conversation have, at a minimum, one of the same goals- to be understood. Yet, both parties cannot reach this goal without give and take. Listening to understand, not just to wait for a turn to talk is needed in order to accomplish the goal of being understood. The second step is taking action through being a good listener. Most children I have had in my classes are used to just waiting for their turn to talk. Taking the time to practice being a good listener- not just being quiet, but actually listening- should be just as much a part of classroom instruction as learning to read and write. As I think of my professional verse personal life I feel that I am a good listener in most instances. I tend to ask for clarification and more details to help me understand the reasoning behind decisions or issues. One question that comes to mind though is, What do we do when the other person is not seeking first to understand? How can you effectively engage in a conversation with another who refuses to understand? This doesn't happen often, but I have seen children (and adults) engage in this situation, where one person is truly trying to understand, but the other is relentlessly avoiding it. Commitment I commit to seeking understanding when I meet with my colleagues. I will be sure to restate what I'm hearing and to ask for clarification. A good opportunity to do this will be when we discuss the designated supports that our students will need to use during the CAASPP (state testing). Plan This week my group will work with each other to practice their listening skills. First, we will role play a couple situations modeling good listening, listening while really just waiting for your turn to talk, and not listening at all. We will practice making our body language show that we are listening and review active listening skills. Reflection: Covey's 4th habit is labeled Win-Win. To me Win-Win means finding the balance between going with the flow, not getting washed away, and standing your ground when needed. All the while doing these things by using choice words that have the end goal in mind. The 4th habit moves into to public victories section, meaning that our circle of influence is expanded to the public eye. This is the area where people view and can be influenced by our actions. When I think about the relationships I have built that I would designate as strong relationships, I see a pattern of give and take. The people in these circles put in just as much as they take out. When I reflect on how much I put into my relationships the most successful ones are the ones I put time, energy, and resources into with no expectation of return. In turn, those relationships in fact do give me a great return. Those people are dependable because I'm dependable. Those people are honest with me because I'm honest with them. This does not mean that we all agree all the time, but we have a mutual respect for each other and this helps us achieve a win-win habit. Commitment: This week I commit to reevaluating all my commitments personal and professional. I want to look at these relationships can see if I am putting in as much or more than I'm getting out. In particular, I'd like to look at my grade level team to ensure that my colleagues feel I am supporting them and meeting their expectations. I also want to examine our grade level goals for this next semester. Are we supporting each other in these goals? Is there a better way to achieve these goals? Plan: This week, I will facilitate a discussion about how our words can build each other up or tear each other down. We will think of examples of these types of situations (win-win, win-lose, and lose-lose). They will create a Think Win-Win page in their digital book and brainstorm examples of thinking Win-Win. The students will make a short video that will be embedded into their digital book in Book Creator. In the video they will act out an example of a Win-Win decision. Reflection: When I think about putting first things first I think about one of the many to-do lists I’ve written for myself. It’s a simple strategy that’s handed down from generation to generation. Making a list in one thing, however, adhering to it is another. Yet, the when I check off a task is gratifying. So what causes me to get project completed? What causes a task to be put off? I see motivation and imperativeness as key factors. When we viewed the quadrant diagrams in Dr. Pumpian’s lecture this hunch was reaffirmed. When people see a task as critical it gets completed, when they do not see it as critical they put it off. I really liked the Time Quadrant Implications diagram. This really brought the message of the importance of putting first things first into perspective. Reflecting on how much time I spend in each quadrant was also good exercise. I do think that it is normal for everyone to spend a little time in each quadrant. There are times where pressing problems, deadline driven projects and crisis are present in our lives. Everyone (ok almost everyone) has been in quadrant 3 and 4 at some point. It just happens sometimes. I think the key is to make a conscious effort to not dwell in those states for long and to put your efforts into quadrant 2. I liked the point Dr. Pumpian made when he said that most people think good leaders spend their time being in quadrant 1, when in truth they spend more time in quadrant 2 planning so that there will be time to actually handle those quadrant 1 incidents that arise spontaneously. Spending the time preparing, planning/preventing, building relationships will support you when you drift into the other quadrants. Commitment: I want to commit to setting a good example for my family on putting first things first. I am notorious for starting one task only to take a detour to complete another before completing what I initially set out to do. My dear husband is very kind to gently remind me to stay focused. While both tasks are completed he asserts that it would be more efficient to do one then the other. I don’t know if this is always true, but there are probably times when my attention would be better undivided than split between multiple tasks. At school, I want to model this for my students. My students have a To-Do-List that is ever changing as assignments are completed and assigned. At the beginning of the year I spent a lot of time practicing this with my class so that they can manage their own time and still complete their work. After returning from winter break I’ve noticed an increase in unfinished work at the end of the week when we do work-check conferences. I think it is time to revisit the expectations for using the To-Do List (which has Must Assignments, Catch-up Tasks, and May Do Activities). This week I will commit to dedicate re-teaching time to this. Plan: Last week my small group of students developed their understanding of how to set goals and plan out the steps they needed to take to reach that goal. This week I hope to help them make a connection between these steps and putting first things first. I also want to them to be sure they fully understand the re-teaching I will do with the entire class that I mentioned above. This group of students has had many incomplete assignments and I’d like them to brainstorm some ideas of ways to help solve this problem. I had them view the Thomas Suarez Ted Talk video and then discuss ways they thought he exhibited the habits we have discussed so far. Even though this video does not directly address the 7 Habits the student in the video clearly has a grasp of these habits. They were highly engaged in this discussion and I think seeing another kid being successful really helped them see the purpose of learning these habits. Reflection: Authenticity, reliability, character. All of these need to align. If actions speak louder than words then for leaders, actions shout louder than words. The way a leader interacts with everyone on a campus influences the climate of that facility. It sets the tone for how others will interact. When a leader is reliable and authentic he/she cultivates respect and through action that leads others to do the same. Commitment: When I think about how I can better put my plans into action I remind myself of my end vision. I imagined the list of goals and projects in my "Home Improvement" file. When my husband and I first bought our house we dreamt big. We listed our major projects and changes we wanted to make happen. We drew a picture of our vision for our front and backyard. I recently revisited this drawing and I was thrilled to see how much of our initial vision we have accomplished in five years. For me, writing down (or drawing out) my end goal helps me take purposeful steps to accomplish the goal. I'd like to apply this strategy of beginning with the end in mind to my professional life. I am used to backwards designing my lessons and it is a strategy I use every time I plan. I'd like to commit to communicating this vision better to my students. Though I have the end goal in mind, I feel that not all my students understand the big picture of some of their smaller assignments. I'd like them to be able to articulate the end goal. Plan My focus group for this project includes 5 students. Each week after we meet the students will use their iPad and the app Book Creator to show their understanding of each habit. The end goal is to have a product that they can share with their peers and family. It should show growth and a better understanding. For this week, I would like them to develop their own vision for the type of student they hope to be. Then we can begin to brainstorm actions they can take to accomplish this goal. I will be posting reflections on our study of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I've selected a group of my 3rd grade students to teach these habits to over the next 8 weeks and I will be blogging about our progress. As the definition above indicates, being proactive in one's life refers to taking an active role in it, not just letting life happen. We do not always have control over decisions that are made which directly impact us. We are, however able to control three things how we feel, what we say, and how we behave or react. The same is true for our students. They will, no doubt, encounter many aspects of their life they do not have control over. I think it is critical that they have an understanding of what they DO have control over. I will focus on these three things when I first meet with my 3rd grade students.
When I reflect on how I proactive I am, there is always room for growth, but I do think that I'm naturally a proactive person. When I see a need I tend to jump in and come up with a plan. I am usually able to carefully tailor my words so my feelings are communicated clearly in a way that moves the situation forward. I know that no one else is responsible for my thoughts, words, and actions. These all are mine to control and be responsible for everyday- in ever situation- personal and professional. In my career I have an easier time doing these three things naturally. I have found myself tested in my personal life as my daughter grows more independent. Nothing compares to the determination of a three year old! There are moments when I have to actually remind myself that even though parents like to believe they "control" their children, really the only thing we control is how we choose to interact with them. I consciously choose to act from a place of peace (calm) and love. I know this sounds a little hippy-ish, but I firmly believe that our children magnify the best and worst of their parents. I must act from a place of calm and love because I want that calmness and love to magnified. I do not want the impatient frustrated part of me that wishes she would just-hurry-up-and -get-a-pair-of-shoes-on-because-we-have-been-trying-to-leave-the-house-for-10-minutes-already part of me to be magnified. I hope that as the years go on it becomes just as natural for me to do this in my personal life as it is in my professional. |
Author: Kerry StrongEducator. Student. Mom. Wife. Traveler. Archives
March 2015
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