To help encourage conversations and dialogue about having a specific focus for improvement and growth, our topic/question of the week is: What is one thing you want to focus on improving this month? A Concerted Focus (Week of 1/7/18) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
I hope that everyone stayed warm and safe amidst this very frigid weather – it sure was cold! With Maggie turning 14 this weekend (wow!), we enjoyed celebrating her birthday, amidst trips to basketball games and doing our best to stay warm.
Reflection is at the core of my being and belief system and I can say that it can often feel like both a blessing and a curse. As much as I enjoy processing and reflecting, and also deeply know and understand that the reflective process will lead to growth and learning, it is a challenge for me to ‘shut off my head’ and ‘stay in the present’. Very often, questions come to mind quickly (the topic or subject matter, but some questions I find to be consistent): How can I/this be better? Is this working? What is the ‘right’ path? How do others feel about ‘this’? What is the right pace with this work/initiative? How will we know if it is working? Do I/we have the information we need or will need? What’s next?
So, why am I sharing this thread of thinking and thoughts? Is it just to share in a cathartic manner my own internal dialogue? Yes, that is definitely a benefit of my practice of writing and blogging – the practice of sharing and communicating my thinking. But, it is more than that – and, there may be more than two, but two other benefits come to mind. First, as I have shared before I recognize the verbose nature of my writing and sharing, but I always want the readers (staff, parents, community) what is ‘in my head’ in regards to current thinking, directions that are being explored, and beliefs that are impacting our practice. Second, as an educator and leader, I want to push myself to practice what I have always found important in my own teachers and leaders – authenticity and vulnerability. By sharing these thoughts (as scattered as they may read at times), my intent is to open up and foster dialogue. The dialogue will open up avenues for more reflection and growth (and I do recognize the irony of fostering more reflection!).
As I noted above, Maggie turned 14 on Sunday and all of those questions, albeit in different iterations, of reflection have certainly been on my mind and Katie’s as well – thinking about the past 14 years, time passing, projecting to the future, exciting and challenging experiences we have had, etc. This list could go on and on. Coupled with the reflections that have come to mind from her birthday, I have also been thinking about the 'new year' and the season of resolutions and renewal - wanting to know what the future will bring, beginnings, etc. The three posts below are ones that have certainly spoken to me in this 'reflective state'...
Building Culture and Community in the First Five Days, Weeks, and Months
by Beth Holland (@brholland) in Education Week
(I shared this post back in September to help frame the year, and given her reference to the start of 2018 I thought it apropos to share at this time as we begin this calendar year.)
Beth is an instructor with EdTech Teacher and has worked closely with much of our staff over the past several years. She is a wonderful resource and has become a good friend. I always enjoy reading her thoughts and this post outlines a wonderful framework for our culture and community, focusing on both cognitive and social inquiry.
In light of the violence in Charlottesville this past week, I keep thinking about the message that then Dean Andrews gave all of us on my first day of doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins: your job is to go out and change the world. With teachers across the country either already in school or preparing to start the new year in the coming weeks, that charge can feel more like a daunting platitude than a mission. However, what if we could break it down into manageable objectives. A few years ago, based on an idea from Alan November, I wrote about the First 5s with iPads. This year, instead of talking about devices, workflow, or classroom procedures, what if we focus on how we might develop school and classroom culture, students' global identities, and a community of learners during the first five days, weeks, and months of the school year.
This year, more than ever, students need the opportunity to engage not only in cognitive inquiry but also social inquiry (Banks, 2015). They need the opportunity to develop their own voice as well as a deep understanding of the voices of others. To change the world still seems like a daunting charge. However, if we focus on the first five hours, weeks, and months of this school year, think about what might we be able to accomplish by the start of 2018.
5 Rules to Simplify Your Life
by AJ Juliani (@ajjuliani)
As one whose mind races and is always thinking about 'what's next', I appreciate Juliani's opening words in this blog post - openly acknowledging the challenges he encounters with that 'internal make-up' and an intentional statement to try and simplify with these '5 rules': Schedule Unstructured Time; Turn it off and be present; Use a checklist instead of a “to do” list; Accomplish a little bit every day; Play
I’m always thinking of something. Something that is going to change the world. Something that is going to make money. Something that is going to help my family. Something that will change my life. Something that will change the lives of those around me… I’m always doing something. Writing. Creating. Making. Failing. Speaking. Collaborating. Reaching out. I’m never waiting. And I’m also rarely content. This is “who I am” and I don’t want to change. But sometimes I wish I could live the simple life. The past couple of weeks I’ve had opportunities to relax and disconnect from everything.
For those of us that can’t live the simple life, we need to make sure we don’t let this life pass us by. It’s worth it to enjoy this journey and take time to relax, reflect, and renew.
3 Ideas for Staying Positive
by George Couros (@gcouros)
These ideas from George are simple and are ones that I hope to embrace and practice in 2018: Focused on my health, both mentally and physically; Focused on who I surround myself with, and what I spend my time doing; Go easier on myself.
I am not where I want to be, but I am growing, and that is the goal. If I am not feeling okay mentally and physically, I feel I am not able to give my best to others.
...the more important word in “Personal Learning Network” is “Personal.” I shape the way that I spend my time since time is the most finite resource we have. Once time is spent, you can’t get it back, so I am much more thoughtful about how I use it.
We are our own harshest critics, and that can be crippling. I have made so many mistakes in my life and will continue to do so. I am trying to focus more on getting better for the future, and less on dwelling on the past. The weird thing about this is that it has made me somewhat more understanding of others, and this quote pops into my head daily; “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” I am working on finding the balance of having high expectations while not being too hard on myself.
Reflecting (there is that word again!) about the essence of these posts, and in the continued spirit of vulnerability and authenticity, I am sharing my lists of resolutions and intentions for this year. I hope that in sharing I have opened the door to connections and accountability - I need all of the help I can get so please give me reminders and hold me accountable so that I can grow and learn with you...
Resolutions/Intentions for the 2018 calendar year...
- Slow it down (with an eye towards simplicity)
- Embrace and model authenticity and vulnerability
- Explore ways to 'go deeper' and find more meaning
- Find time for music and fun
- Focus on ways to better listen and understand change
- Practice intentional time for self-reflection, mindfulness, and growth
- Think about ways to connect more directly with students (focus groups, check-ins, discussions)
- Broaden and redefine some methods of sharing and growing (networking, connecting, collaborating) within Blake, Medfield, and beyond
(although they are annual, carry-overs they are important to note)
- Be open to the ideology of those who do not share my thinking and better understand those views (ask questions and be genuinely curious for feedback)
- Be a mirror for others and ask others to do the same for me
- Articulate and focus on the 'good problems'
- Foster leadership at all levels (students, staff, parents, and community), balancing ownership with healthy delegation and growth for others
- Stay the course and keep the 'big picture' in mind at all times
- 'Lean towards yes' and maintain the mission of our mantra, 'a willingness to adapt'
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Take care.
Nat