As educators we hear it all the time, “when will I ever use this?”
I take this as my biggest challenge! I will prove to you that it is useful OR I’ll admit you won’t likely need it much.
Earlier today, my sister sent me an unexpected link. It appeared to be about a tv show. I don’t watch much tv… But boy does my sister know me well!!
My challenge to you, educators: look for connections and relevance everywhere. Create a file folder for great resources and pull them out at the appropriate time!
We are talking about the power of storytelling to share perspectives and to resonate with us. Stories linger. Stories impact. Stories are memorable and easy to share. A well crafted story teaches so much—- content, life lessons, interpersonal skills, shared cultures, and so much more!
I’m struck by the major reduction in storytelling in some areas (fables in early childhood) and yet the rise in others (business, leadership).
All this reminds me, I have an amazing third grade student I’m working with who loves to read with expression! We’ve talked about starting a podcast experience for a group of upper elementary kids in central Anne Arundel County! We are actively preparing this and are recruiting for 12-18 students! This experience will support:
- reading comprehension
- reading fluency
- grammar (punctuation, speaker cues)
- listening and speaking skills
- perspectives
- character development
- podcasting
- sound effects, stage design, and costumes
We are exploring a live performance and a real, multi-episode podcast!!
Let us know if you are interested in learning more or joining us!
Sometimes a simple idea can have profound impact, even just through a minor shift in thinking. That’s how I felt about this article.
As a passionate math teacher, I’ve always felt I need to draw connections between content and application to help students find value in learning the math or to help it make sense.
This concept of 4 spheres of thinking takes it to a next level and I like it!
https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-make-math-concepts-feel-relevant-students
“ While there are many pedagogical approaches that help increase engagement in the learning in the classroom, students—and teachers—find it increasingly difficult to make math class feel relevant to their lives.
This disconnect to the content often leads to disconnect in the classroom. Enter the four spheres of relevance: self, community, culture, and the “real” world.”
Great way to think about drawing even more connections between learning and life!
I love taking classes. So much so, I am currently on sabbatical writing my dissertation at one school and decided to enroll in a second masters program. Tonight’s class was fabulous. Engaged and rigorous discussions.
I’m still learning the campus and really just know the few buildings I’ve had classes in…. Walking back to my Jeep tonight I noticed the Math and Engineering building. This excites me as I love math!
But -a moment later I was struck: if colleges still teach and organize in silos, there’s a trickle down effect in Prek-12 education. It’s what teachers know. They repeat it in their instruction. Kids continue learning in silos.
Education in silos isn’t great. At times, moments od isolated use for content focus is needed. But when we remove the silos and focus on big picture, real world problems/situations knowledge is more sticky, curiosity is engaged, learners are empowered.
#rethinksilos
It’s time to talk about a tough topic in education and principaling. Removing rotten apples. AKA the principal’s responsibility ensure poor teachers do not stay in the classroom or profession.
One of the hardest parts of being a principal is dealing with ineffective, poorly behaved teachers. The paperwork, the politics, the emotional impact. Ugh.
And, honestly few principals are trained for it and most were decent, compliant educators before becoming a principal. It’s HARD to sit across the table from a misbehaving or poorly performing employee. And there are rules, laws, and consequences to holding employees accountable. Not to mention the toll it takes on you since your heart is likely designed to help people.
But it’s needed. In fact it’s unethical to NOT take action. One rotten spoils the group. You’ve seen it with fruit, but it’s true with humans too. One person who is negative, mean, spiteful, unethical, corrupt, unwilling to work with certain kids, or simply unable to teach effectively etc does so much damage to children, teammates, schools, communities of teachers, novice teachers, and the profession.
Principals, do the hard work. Protect your students, your school, our profession. Be ethical. Be fair. Provide support, clear expectations, and opportunities to grow and change. But don’t allow poison to take root in your school. Even in a teacher shortage.
I feel like I'm finally living this now. I've found my purpose--- it inclues what I LOVE (education), what I'm good at (Gallip Strengths Finders assessment top 5, below), and what the world needs (education reform; supporting students, teachers, principals, schools, districts, and creating innovation in education). And... well, it feels so good to live in your passion and purpose. AKA Zone of Genius.
To be fair, I've always worked in my field of passion, my calling: education. I've had so many wonderful and unique roles, experiences and opportunities in the past two decades and I'd suggest some of those were me operating in my Zone of Excellence. This is a step beyond. I'm in my Zone of Genius. My brain is on fire, I'm juggling so many things and I love them all. It fills my bucket and keeps breeding more and more ideas, connections, and fullfillment.
So, I took this assessment back in 2019. I didn't expect much. I got the top five list and the summary, and then comprehensive report and I was stunned. THAT IS ME. It makes sense. Those are certainly things I do! I have always collected THINGS--- articles, books, (dogs?!). I like to be busy/productive, I like to focue on making me better, I am strategic yet innovative, I like to connect with others and connect others to others, and I love ideas... big ideas, little ideas, novel ideas and new ideas. This is me.
With all this in mind, this year I've had time to think and learn, to mentor and grow, to try new things, and to live in my strengths without distraction. It has been soooooo cool. And, so incredibily fulfilling. And I found my ZONE OF GENIUS. I am tapping into what I am good at every single day.
I say all this to say, if you haven't found your zone of genius, if you feel like you are spinning your wheels in a different zone, if you are longing to live in your calling area, your passion that fulfills your purpose and your mission--- THE WORLD NEEDS YOU. It's time to take the big leap. It's time of reflect and determine your zone of genius and to take aciton to live there.
AND--- I'm launching a 5-series, in person workshop in late March to help IGNITE your idea/passion and LAUNCH it! Stay tuned for more info! Email or message me if you want to be on the list to know about it when details are announced this week.
It’s funny how our life’s journey sometimes brings us full circle, and every taking laps around some waypoints.
On Monday, I headed over to Sunset Elementary to visit with my friend, mentor. Pulling in presented an unexpected wave of feelings. You see, after my family moved to Maryland in the 1980s we lived right there for a few years while my parents learned the area. I went to Sunset Elementary for 1st and 2nd grade. I walked over, climbed the big hill and walked past the playground into school every day!
Fast forward a bit… 2008… Sunset was home of of first assistant principalship!!! Now that was pretty special! There were even a few teachers still there!
Walking in this week flooded me with so many memories. So many memories!
“Effective schools are not perpetual motion machines. You cannot simply get them set up, put them in motion, and watch them go. They require continual leadership to keep going. You can fix schools all you want. If their districts are dysfunctional, they won’t stay fixed.”
Karin Chenoweth in Districts That Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race,
Poverty, and Achievement (Harvard Education Press, 2021)
Balance.
I am working to be a more balanced person. I used to be ALL work. My work was just never done. But being all work didn't mean it all got done. To be more balanced, I bought a paddleboard and snowshoes, I started new hobbies like hydroponics and brewing kombuca, and I turned a space bedroom into a craft room. These have been helpful!
Now, this week, I've given myself a new checklist for Sundays to ensure that I take a break, enjoy a slower pace, and that I fill my bucket.
My Sunday list now includes:
And then there comes a day way more than a decade later when you are having so many EXCURSIONS IN EDUCATION that you have to revive the blog you started forever ago!
WELCOME BACK!
I can't wait to update where I am at these days, all the journies and connections happening on my excursion right now and to track it all through this blog. My aim is to blog nearly daily. To create an archive of everything happening around me and to process it for me and share it with you!
So where am I... well I am a princpal on sabbatical this year. During my sabbatical, I am:
