I have been teaching for little more than ten years. Recently, I realized that almost everything that I learned in my teaching credential program has to be reconsidered in light of new realities made possible by technology, geopolitics, and the continued refinement of pedagogy and learning. I do believe in the need to continuously learn and improve in whatever we seek to do, and this is especially true in our time of rapid change. Yet, it has always been necessary to continue learning throughout life in order to perfect one’s craft, whatever craft that may be.
The teaching craft is definitely one that requires a lifetime of “saw sharpening.” A few different ways in which I intend to continue sharpening my saw are:
Additionally, I am beginning to work with a colleague in order to integrate the seven habits into the culture of our school. She is having her students read The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. We are both beginning to contemplate how these habits can be used to transform our school culture. We will begin by creating videos wherein students share their reflection as to how these habits relate to our school’s core values. Where this may take us is yet to be discovered. However, we are both convinced that by consciously adopting these habit, students can begin to direct their actions with better intentions and outcomes. Habit Six, Synergize seems to embody all of the other habits. In order to synergize, it is necessary to:
1. Be proactive 2. Start with the end in mind 3. Put first things first 4. Think win-win 5. Seek first to understand then to be understood. Or, Dr. Pumpian explains in the “Synergy Action Plan,” one must first “Define the problem” (habits 1-3), explore their way (habit 5), my way (habit 4), brainstorm (habit 4-5), and find the “High Way” (habit 2,4). In other words, one can only synergize after one has understood and put into practice the preceding five habits. As a technology integration coach, PLC leader, teacher, BSTA support provider, and etc., I have many challenges to address and solutions to design and test. As someone who seeks to be interdependent, I am ready to synergize in order to take on these challenges. I will: 1. Distill the challenges each of these roles presents and share this distillation with my colleagues 2. I will seek to understand my colleagues’ perceptions before sharing my own 3. I will structure and lead brainstorming sessions in order to arrive at potential solutions 4. I will encourage us to take a course of action and examine the results of our actions 5. I will encourage diversity in the collaborative groups I arrange All in all, in order to encourage others to embrace these six habits in their work and lives it is important to model them and be able to articulate them as needed. I would like to teach students first about the habits in order to begin creating a school culture wherein students understand the importance of becoming interdependent and what it takes. Our ASB teacher has already begun to teach our students this and has been able to procure a class set of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I will propose to her that she and I collaborate in order develop graphics and lesson plans that will advance these habits within all students’ work and interactions. By creating a buzz and conversation centered students, it will then hopefully ripple outward towards the entire school’s culture for students and staff alike. This may lead towards more effective behaviors of students and teachers, and better interactions and collaborations for all. I am a guilty participant of “collective monologues.” There are times when I approach discussions with my colleagues with a preconceived idea of what I want to get out of it. My job, in these types of discussions, is not to come to a consensus but rather to convince my colleagues of my solution. Unfortunately, I have found that when I am too forceful and go it alone in pushing an idea the results are usually not what I would hope for. The best solutions are those that I develop in true collaboration with my colleagues. Sometimes it involves a push and pull but in the end if we genuinely take the time to listen to one another, we are more likely to arrive at a win-win than if one person sets the agenda.
Therefore, in order to practice Habit Number Five, “Seek first to understand then to be understood” I plan to make the following commitments:
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