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Perfectionism

A recent but wonderful challenge....perfectionism.  

• Is it the opposite of creativity?  
• How does it compare to high standards?
• Why is it that people don't often see the perfectionist side of me?

Reading up to understand how to support teachers who are battling perfectionism at the sake of creativity. Perfectionism is a valued trait of this conservative community.  But upon reading, I believe we use the term perfectionism to describe high standards. 

Striving for excellence shouldn't be a quest for perfection. "Their potential" means the children's potential to explore and develop the fullness of their own talents, interests, learning styles, and so on. (from http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1769)

IMHO, the only perfectionist is the creator.  The rest of us should focus on developing into the best me we can be.

Opinionated?

I'd like to think that I have an open mind....and then I was convicted last week while chatting with a friend by a statement that came out of my own mouth...

"I think most people thing they are more open-minded than they actually are."

So how open am I really?  I have opinions.  (Those who know me well are snickering loudly).  I am working on being a listener and putting my opinions aside but that is sooooooo NOT my nature.  I just read a blog reflection from a young man studying philosophy in college.  He included the cartoon above....and had basically the same thought.  There ARE somethings that are just right and just wrong.

BUT....

I hope and work toward listening, so that I can be solid on those opinions based on what I learn from my colleagues, our clients, students, and especially those whose opinion differs.

Guerilla Education

I've finally discovered the term that suits me....suits our team.  Guerilla Educators.

We are a small group.  We are an irregular group.  Many days we feel like we are fighting...fighting for quality instruction for all learners.  We are challenging a larger system....traditional education....all students doing the same thing, at the same time, driven and focused on standardized testing.

Yes....we are freedom fighters.  Seeking freedom for teachers to do what they know is right for students.  To break free of the tyranny dictated by focus on microscopic data points.  To challenge students to think hard, to find and pursue a passion, to solve problems, to collaborate.

Great learning is often an impromptu activity.....not "authorized" or directed.  It takes place when there is disharmony between what is know and information that is sought.  It is active....

So, call me crazy....

Another year older

We've had two young, new, vibrant people who have joined our team in the past few weeks...AND THEN....(duh, duh, dahhhhhhhh)....I had a birthday.

Such a dichotomy for me!

• I don't feel older, but my body reminds me on occasion. 
• Thinking I practice what I preach, but my resistance to open my Chromebook as I know I will need to learn something new
• Sitting in a meeting sharing our vision, realizing it just jumped several decade in the blink of an eye.
• Thinking I'm cutting edge, then hearing new tools and concepts that are completely foreign to me.

It really is true...the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.  So after taking a nap, I am determined to stay young through these new teammates.  I need to reopen my learning box and fill it as much as I am able.  Some days there will be more room than other days, but I can't ever close the lid.

Professional Reading

I so admire my colleague @TracieGCain for her dedication and desire for professional reading.  She makes me want to be a better professional.  My perception was that I don't read much professionally at all.  While I am no @TracieGCain, while I was working on keeping my ongoing summer community active....I realized that I just do it differently.  I am a skimmer and tend to dip my toe in.  When I find something I can grasp at the time....I dig deeper.  I am more of a need to know/just in time reader....but maintain listserv connections and collections of favorite blogs on my igHome page (my replacement for the.....what was the Google Home page called that disappeared?)....

Below is the point where I discovered, I really am a professional reader.....

As I jump in and out of my professional reading (which I stink at)....I continue to think about this amazing group. 

Here is an article I ran across today that I wanted to share with you. 

Which of these 10 points speaks most to you?

My favorites were....
1) Last year our discussions emphasized getting kids engaged in learning; this year, the conversation shifted to teaching kids how to learn for themselves. 
............because we talk so much about getting students engaged during our training sessions. I see this as the next step for those who are ready.

AND

4) Everyone has trouble staying disciplined and motivated with work.
............because I have had to put some of my Maker projects on the back burner for other immediate priorities. I am so grateful for this group which gives me some sense of accountability and keeps me motivated. 

This is the "Cream of the Crop"?

I am so blessed!  I have been working with the cream of the crop...those who rise to the top, take an official or unofficial leadership role.  This past week it was teacher leaders in a small North Texas town.  Each teacher received a Windows tablet during Teacher Appreciation week.  Our task with this group is to support the instructional use of technology tools. We had two kick off days to begin our year-long work together that will include face-to-face time and individual coaching.

At first glance, we could complain....

• I only have three high school teacher in the group of sixteen....BUT I have three high school teachers!!!
• Many in this group are struggling with the basics of the device....BUT these leaders are actively participating despite the fact that they are still uncomfortable with their device.
• Most in the group have experienced poor performance from technology tools and network connectivity....BUT they are taking a leap of faith that their tools and infrastructure will continue to improve.

YES!!!! This the cream of the crop!  This group designed a staff development day for their colleagues and volunteered to lead a small group to learn a specific tool/concept.  That is a huge risk BUT I believe their payoff will be grand.  I will learn much more from them than I could ever repay

Am I typical?

Thanks to my colleague, @TracieGCain for sharing....

http://www.justintarte.com/2014/06/the-typical-educator.html

I LOVE this!!  It goes hand in hand with the Robert Ballard explanation about innovators beating your head against the wall.

The typical person/educator recognizes that the brick wall is a barrier and follows expected behavior.

It also explains why it is exhausting to do the work we do and why we are perceived as "rule-breakers".

It's NOT that we break the rules (most of the time), it is that we see a goal, a land of milk & honey on the other side of the brick wall.

We believe that if we push, sell, cheer, model, coach, cajole, take over, etc. enough....that the brick wall will move.

I believe it moves....one degree at a time. 

As Tracie will tell you, one degree makes a HUGE difference!!

Water is water at 211⁰ but becomes steam at 212⁰.

That is great if you start at 211⁰, but in most cases, we are starting at room temperature.

So what’s our response?  Do we just accept it?  Sorry girls!  Not in our nature.

As Robert Ballard explained….we do “it” because of who we are.  It’s who He built us to be.

And, I believe the wall will move…..of course, we’ll discover a new one…for that is our nature….

Unleash Innovative Learning

It's amazing, absolutely amazing, when the dots connect and I am fortunate to see the ideas of brilliant people converge to unleash even more brilliance.  I was blessed to facilitate a process with an amazing group of Instructional Technology Specialists (Digital Learning Team).  They spent 2 days solidifying what they believe, where they are going, and creating action plan that will help them focus on the priority needs for their learners.

They developed a logo inspired by the image below.... and a tagline - UNLEASH INNOVATIVE LEARNING.

Their focus will revolve around the "4 C's, with three audiences - Curriculum & Instruction, Administration, Campuses.  They are equipped with research based resources to connect other district initiatives and terminology to the 4 C's.  I'm looking forward to seeing their plan in action and watching the growth that emerges from their work.

They immersed me into the role of a 21st century/future ready facilitator of learning.  Some of the hardest work I've ever done was preparing for this workshop.  The actual workshop day was exhausting, but for a different reason than past experiences.  I did little more than wander the room, occasionally asking a question to coach the team toward their goals.  I was physically exhausted from standing all day, but not from talking.  I was mentally exhausted from thinking....not from thinking about what I was going to say, but how I could phrase my questions to....

UNLEASH INNOVATIVE LEARNING form the group....

Praise goes not to me....but to those who have previously fed me with strategies, structures, and tools!; To my amazing team of learners for their innovative learning;  and the One who is in control of the unleashing....

When does MAKING belong in core content?

That is a huge question!

Can I make something without thinking at all?
Can I make something that doesn't serve a purpose - knowing the purpose might be beauty, taking up time or fidgeting?
If I make something, and THEN reflect on it, how does it fit into curriculum?
If my teacher allows me to "make" but controls time, parameters, materials, does that fit into curriculum?

This biggest reflection is exactly how to design a lesson that gives students flexibility, allows them to have choice and includes a maker mindset/design thinking.

I started with curriculum objectives from 5th grade Science and the topic of movement.  Thinking what I wanted to make was a simple version of kinetic wind art....and wouldn't it be a bonus if I could harvest the wind power to possible power a water feature for my yard.


See this article for more details

I quickly realized how much learning/thinking I did this morning just trying to wrap my head around this project.  The primary question is, what allows objects to move in multiple directions.  I still don't have the answer to the question, actually.  I'm thinking several sets of ball bearings and thinking to actually make this work would require some hands on.

Just that simple question, was deep enough.  I'm not sure exactly what additional content objectives will be covered, but I am sure that there will be lots of experimentation with adhesives, materials, and shapes of blades, to get the end result I'm looking for.

Battling with the Clock

I know many time management strategies.  Why is it that I find so many of them difficult to implement?  I'm a calendar person.  If it's on my calendar, most of the time, I can get the task complete.  But recently, I find myself also working from a task list of priorities - handwritten at that....

I've also been hitting the snooze button on the calendar reminders quite frequently.

Anyone else struggling?  Any other tips?  Do I just need to come to terms with the fact that some balls will get dropped.  Everyone enjoys the juggler, right?

Fitting it all Together

I've been richly blessed to attend a plethora of training since my tenure at ESC Region 11 began in December 2013.  Lately I've been trying to fit all of the pieces together to create a consistent train of thought/beliefs.

I've been inspired by an activity called 5th Grade Polyhedrons posted on the Art in the Big Green Room blog from Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs, Georgia.   I plan to "lift & edit" for Maker Camp.
My thinking....

Can I connect just 2 pieces?

What about 3 pieces?

(no image available)

What about 4 pieces?

So why is there no image for 3 pieces?  I'm not saying it's impossible, but I wasn't able to make it fit.

Using that as an analogy.  As an Educational Service Center, we are charged with support the needs of our districts.  I attend trainings and conferences to learn about the trends, gather ideas, and make connections.  Some of those ideas will apply to one campus, some to many, some to none at all. 

It might not all fit together....but, then again...I may not have discovered the strategy that makes it connect

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And later this afternoon....

....as I left the Polyhedron pieces on my desk...I discovered WHY we collaborate....

Creativity and Thinking

Our group had a "summit" yesterday.  We pondered our digital presence.  We outlined topics that need to be shared more widely:  our professional development opportunities, the great instruction and learning going on in ESC Region 11 districts, Tools to recommend, and how-to tutorials.  But we got stuck.  I had a creativity/thinking block.  Looking for the big picture....the brand....the logo....the motto...that describes who we are, what we do, and what we are about.

It will come...but it got me thinking again about THINKING and CREATIVITY  and COLLABORATION.
I came across this blog post today.  I love the simplicity of the statements.  In fact, I'm going to print for a poster in my office as a reminder prompt.  Then I came across a great video on CREATIVITY.

Again, the simplicity!  A video I need to watch until these simple ideas are ingrained.

Last week, while visiting North Crowley High School, I was blessed to witness some amazing students collaborating.  I don't think they were intentional about their strategies, I just think it is what they  do.  But I started to script to capture their tools.  My summary of behaviors of good collaborators:

• think aloud
• use appropriate and precise vocabulary and terminology
• summarize
• ask questions
• clarify
• defend responses with facts and data
• check with team
• double check with team
• independently return to task when distracted
• honest
• focus on the work, not the people

It was an exhausting week, with lots of hard thinking.  I am finding that I need to be more intentional and reflective on THINKING and CREATIVITY  and COLLABORATION.  Am I employing simple tools that seems to work for others?

Coaching - a newbie's reflection

I have operated in the role of consultant and collaborator for several years and would have easily assumed the label of coach.  

One of my learning goals is to develop effective coaching skills. Without any training or definition, I was blessed that have a few great colleagues who have already taught me so much about coaching.  I am learning why time with these colleagues was beneficial and meaningful and had an impact on student learning.  The blessing is that I can become intentional with those interactions and be more impactful.

I think it takes risk to invite a coach.  To some teachers, it may be threatening to have a coach observe instruction then reflect with them.  The teachers I worked with this week saw it as an opportunity for professional development.  Together we looked for small adjustments in the classroom practice for the benefit of student learning.

In turn, I had to take a risk and ask for their feedback.  Here is my follow up message to them.

I would appreciate any feedback (warm or cool) so that I can grow as a coach.  Some to the general ideas our team has for coaching include:

• Set powerful goals 

• Establish a relationship and build trust

• Develop strategies for success

• Get you into action

• Generate insights

Your response is appreciated.

Let's see what responses are returned and how I can see past my ego to work on my practice.

Collective Intelligence

In an online course from Powerful Learning Practice, we pondered the concept of Crowd Sourcing, trying to define the term and how it benefits us as educators and learners.

I am working on being more connected to the world at large and heard this story on my local news station this morning.




Click here for the article

What a great, real world, problem based example!! Stories like this remind me to be amazed at us as a human race.

Blogging Commitment

So I've just placed a weekly reminder on my calendar for the remainder of the year.  I'm GOING to blog.  It's not something I'm completely comfortable with, but feel very convicted by this:

The vulnerability that is required to put out into the blogosphere -- the doubts, reservations, successes and triumphs -- helps engage in the profession with teachers all across the country and the world in a way that hasn't really happened before. When individual teachers create and share insights and trials from the classroom, it removes the veil of mystery and secrecy that oftentimes shrouds teaching and learning. Slowly, this shared understanding of what the profession is and can be will work its way into the culture of the profession on a grander scale.

Taken from this March 10 article by Chris Crouch in the Huffington Post.

I'm not sure where this will go, or what it will become.  But I will share.

Projects currently in development:

• Maker Camp for teachers
• Online Course
• Best Practices in webinar/blended learning opportunities
• Video Snapshots of quality 21st Century learning
• Instructional Coaching for 21st Century skills