week 2 of experiencing emotional upheaval. Things in Madison continue to draw national as well as international attention, some views more slanted than others. Facebook continues to be infiltrated with political posts, personal pleas, etc. As I face uncertain changes in the all too near future as a public school teacher, it's difficult to know how this change will affect me personally, professionally, financially, etc. I daresay this trying time is immobilizing me a bit. I find myself unable to function at 100%, unable to multi-task as well as I usually can, and be the happy person I really like to be. I'm so damn emotional. I'm not equipped to deal with this type of change...change that hits home on too many fronts.
This week Who Moved My Cheese was an integral part of our understanding change. Years ago, our tech administrator at the time used the analogy of the cheese running out and moving to kick off technological change that would be occurring during that school year. The video was engaging and a nice addition to our study of change. As I read "Tune into what a New Generation of Teacher can do," I couldn't help but ponder the number of Baby Boomer and Generation X teachers I teach with who seem to be a Hem or Haw.
Chapter 4 in How to Thrive as a Teacher Leader was interesting! I especially appreciated the suggestion in the Ask for Help section: "We frequently receive unreasonable goals or mandates...stress over them...beat our brains...even when we feel that we are being asked the impossible. Instead of inflicting this kind of silent torture...ask [administrator/colleague] how he would approach it." Too often, I think teachers harbor the stresses of the job and do not ask for help or feedback for fear of retribution. I'm giving myself permission to advocate for myself next time an unreasonable request is made rather than mumble to myself, be ticked off, and harbor resentment.
There were a variety of things mentioned in Chapter 4 that seemed backhanded to me. One is on page 94, paragraph one: "Sometimes withholding a solution can be another valuable exit strategy...when it seems that the team is weary or frustrated...[p
resent] it at the end of a meeting [and] they will not feel that you steamrolled the decision-making process...have a trump card ready, something that you are confident will tip the balance in your favor." This would make me feel slimy which is possibly why I don't want a large or public leadership position. An additional statement that bothered me is on page 95, paragraph one: "...when you get a strong majority of people behind you, it's time to pull the train out of the station." I realize that 100% consensus can be unrealistic but I don't like the tone of this section of the book.The Beloit College Mindset List was intriguing! It made me feel a bit aged as well as reflective of just how drastically schooling has changed since I was a high schooler. That list along with the article discussing Millennials reinforces the necessity of me providing opportunities for students to move about the room, experience instant gratification, create and facilitate collaborative experiences using technology, and stay connected with the world.
