I have now finished my Master of Arts in Education Administration. It feels good to say that.
What I have learned in the past two years about leading a community of learners is exciting in theory but without hands on, daily practice and continued learning, anything I gained will eventually become useless. That is the nature of our world, and education is not without its own evolution. It is ever changing. It should be. The reality for schools is found in increased pressure for rises in achievement data, shortsighted budgeting, and the challenge of meeting each learner daily. However bleak it might sound for educators, there is so much to be excited about every day. Since it is nearing the end of 2011 and everyone seems to be posting the "Top Ten..." of whatever, it may well be a good use of my time to list my "Top Five Challenges for Educators in 2012."
5. Don't Do It Alone.
PLN's, PLC's, PD...all acronyms, all start with P. These are all rooted in Professionalism. Being a teacher, an administrator, a para educator...no matter what part of school life one is in, he/she is a professional. It isn't a job for a paycheck or a standby, "just in case I don't find anything else." It is a profession and it can feel so very isolated in your room with 30 kids. Principal's can't lead the school alone. Teacher's can't feel satisfied in being alone. Talk to a colleague. Bounce ideas off your teacher friends in the lounge rather than wishing it was Friday (I know, we all do it). Use PLN's to connect with other professional educators to share resources and reflect. Many good teachers are lost in the first five years because they feel alone and are just trying to survive. Many veteran teachers feel comfortable and stick with what works. Branch out, break the barriers, and learn with someone.
4. Try Something Tech Based.
This doesn't mean making your worksheet in to a Google doc. Helpful, but not quite the idea. Use a technology tool to help kids engage and grow. I have listed websites and tools in previous posts. My student's favorites are Prezi, PhotoPeach, and Glogster. The best part about those tools are that the students are creating the product. I have limited control and leave them to their own resourcefulness to create something awesome and I am proud that so often their original creation is so much richer than a lecture I could have given. They get to go deeper and love it! I have colleagues who use Edmodo to connect and share information with their students. Kids use twitter...what can that do for your classroom and learning beyond the walls? What can any technology tool do for learning beyond the walls? Email and chalkboards are fine but meeting kids where they are is essential.
3. Keep Learning.
Practice makes perfect. Even if that isn't true, practice does make better. The more time and effort we invest in taking a class, attending a conference, searching the web for a strategy...whatever learning is for you...the more we do those things, the better we are becoming as professionals. If we adopt the idea that "Everything I need to know I learned with my BA in teaching," then you are not only hurting yourself but your students as well. Subscribe to a professional association, which have phenomenal resources and keep you on top of new data about your field. Classes cost money but find one that is really worth it and will enhance your teaching. The payoff is greater than the tuition cost. Believe me...I'll pay off my debt until my kids are 40. My motto that I have stolen from a wise colleague is, "When you stop learning, get out of my profession." She is right and I keep that at the front of my mind.
2. Make the Learning Accessible.
Let students collaborate. Let students know what they are going to know and be able to do by the end of the lesson/unit. Give students the chance to experiment, fail, and try again. Show students why they should care about what you have to teach. Don't tell them they are learning something "because it's good for you." Give students the chance to practice the skill in a real world scenario or a mock scenario that tests their understanding of the skill you have focused on. "But I have to get through the whole textbook!?!" you say. So what? Do your students need "Page 30, problems 1-15" to succeed? If so, how can you use the problems to enhance understanding and application of specific skills? Make students aware of the connection between the material and their futures.
1. Make Every Kid Worth It.
We know the challenges that accompany teaching and are so preoccupied by them that we sometimes forget the greatest part of the profession: the kids. We get to spend time with the future. Even the kids that drive us nuts...whose parents we wait for at conferences so we can glean some understanding for why they are the way they are...even those kids deserve our best. See what your students can do. Help them find their strengths and positively encourage them to beef up their weaknesses. Remind yourself why you chose this profession and why you are good at it!
Happy New Year and bring on 2012!
