Reading!Writing!Thinking and Digesting all these new ideas and train of thought (sigh). That seems to be the cycle that I have been finding myself in now. Recently found a new website that is blowing my mind away called Success At the Core. (http://www.successatthecore.com) Basically it is a set of free modules that engage leadership development around school improvement. The combination of readings, videos, and reflective activities develop knowledge about issues student outcomes and build team members’ skills to work on those challenges together. It's totally free!!!!!
Dennis Sparks, stated"School will improve by developing teamwork, real-time professional learning, and system and school cultures that allow new ideas and practices to grow and flourish." The kind of teamwork based real-time professional learning he is advocating for leaders is very different from the "sit and get sessions still commonly experienced by most school and district administrators. Such activities--- which sometimes are little more than a series of speaker who offer their view on a variety of subject--are often markedly separate from leaders core day to day responsibilities, seldom build on one another to develop complex understandings and skills, do little to promote teamwork withing the school system and reinforce the mistaken not that good staff development is a series of "presenters" who convey ideas and research to relatively passive recipients. (Spark,2009)
As advocated by Gardner the five kinds of minds can and should work synergistically. If all that is being written in the current literature concerning leadership, teamwork, relevant professional learning and change is driving us to what LEADERSHIP can and should be--- I believe that we must make a paradigm shift of how we train, induct and retain our leaders and teachers. Rethink what constitutes achievement and success and THEN STAND OUR GROUND !!!!------ against the powers that be-------radical thinking!!!!!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Out of The Box Thinking
This past week was whir wind of activities for me!!!! Between school, home and studies I'm trying to figure where the week went. As I research and read for my Literature Review, I am being drawn to the same common themes and issues of leadership.Specifically the three that have run through all of my readings, which consist of the idea of shared leadership (distributed leadership), analysis of practice, and teacher and principal perception.
In an article entitled Managing to Lead: Reframing School Leadership and Management,Spillane stated, " Leadership and management make a a difference in increasing school productivity and turning around struggling schools. But common ways of thinking about leadership and managing limit how we think about the work. Too often we place the burden for saving a failing school on the principal, perpetuating a view of successful school leaders as heroes and less successful ones as failures.
As I consider Gardner's Five Minds For the Future and current challenges and problems we are currently facing in education, consideration must be given to how we think and approach these issues. "If we are to address the many issues that are currently in need of much solving we will have to go beyond existing knowledge and synthesis to pose new questions , offer new solutions, fashion works that stretch existing genres or configure new ones; creation builds on one or more established disciplines and requires an informed field to make judgments of quality acceptability." (Gardner, 2000). "School leaders and policy makers can change this state of affairs by becoming savvy-- more discriminating, more creative and true out of the box thinker. " (Spillane, 2009)
In an article entitled Managing to Lead: Reframing School Leadership and Management,Spillane stated, " Leadership and management make a a difference in increasing school productivity and turning around struggling schools. But common ways of thinking about leadership and managing limit how we think about the work. Too often we place the burden for saving a failing school on the principal, perpetuating a view of successful school leaders as heroes and less successful ones as failures.
As I consider Gardner's Five Minds For the Future and current challenges and problems we are currently facing in education, consideration must be given to how we think and approach these issues. "If we are to address the many issues that are currently in need of much solving we will have to go beyond existing knowledge and synthesis to pose new questions , offer new solutions, fashion works that stretch existing genres or configure new ones; creation builds on one or more established disciplines and requires an informed field to make judgments of quality acceptability." (Gardner, 2000). "School leaders and policy makers can change this state of affairs by becoming savvy-- more discriminating, more creative and true out of the box thinker. " (Spillane, 2009)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Synthesizing Mind !!!!!!
Five Minds For The Future defines, " the synthesizing mind" as the ability to integrate ideas from different disciplines or spheres into a coherent whole and to communicate that integration to others. I believe that this mind of the future will be the hardest to master and operate from, due to the fact that sometimes we are very myopic in how we approach new learning and analyzes situations and circumstancee. The whole process of synthesis is the and connecting of ideas, however so many times this integration does not occur and if it does occur it is at a superficial level. Gardner states, "we must practice and exercise the art of synthesis."
The eight formats (narratives,taxonomies, complex concepts, rules and aphorisms,powerful metaphors, images and themes) of synthesis outlined provide us with the opportunity to view the same idea or concept from a variety of angles, thereby strengthening our ability to synthesis familiar ideas immediately. We benefit from the exposure to different solutions, different methods of arriving at solutions and different rubrics for evaluation of those solutions.
As I read this chapter there were several wonderings I comtemplate:
How would I provide scaffolding and support to the teachers and students that I serve to develop their ability to engage the "exercise of synthesis"?
How could I use the eight formats of synthesis with adult learners which allow them to step back and identify their specific goals?
Much food for thought!
The eight formats (narratives,taxonomies, complex concepts, rules and aphorisms,powerful metaphors, images and themes) of synthesis outlined provide us with the opportunity to view the same idea or concept from a variety of angles, thereby strengthening our ability to synthesis familiar ideas immediately. We benefit from the exposure to different solutions, different methods of arriving at solutions and different rubrics for evaluation of those solutions.
As I read this chapter there were several wonderings I comtemplate:
How would I provide scaffolding and support to the teachers and students that I serve to develop their ability to engage the "exercise of synthesis"?
How could I use the eight formats of synthesis with adult learners which allow them to step back and identify their specific goals?
Much food for thought!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Stepping in the Future
I hope everyone had a productive week. This week truly was a marathon week for me PTA meetings, Principal learning meetings, Early Release Teacher Training meeting and PLC meetings with teachers. As I began to read Five Minds For The Future by Howard Gardner. I started to think about how much information we are being bombarded with minute by minute; hour by hour; day by day. Howard Gardner suggest that if we are truly prepared for what is expected in the future we will have to operate in new ways of learning and thinking. He makes the same augment that our past authors have made during the course of our readings, simply that as the world gets smaller and smaller we must be willing to welcome the differences between individuals, as well as between human groups. We must be willing to except these differences and discover ways to effectively work with all groups of people.
As I began to read this book last week and I attended my various meetings I started to ponder in my mind the "five minds". Were these ways of cognitive being evident to me as I went about my daily work and how could I cultivate these "five minds". As a principal I can see how each of these mindsets would benefit me as both a learner and leader. Flowing back and forth through these mindset would allow me to take the large amounts of information and data that I must process, would allow me deeper understanding and insight.
As I began to read this book last week and I attended my various meetings I started to ponder in my mind the "five minds". Were these ways of cognitive being evident to me as I went about my daily work and how could I cultivate these "five minds". As a principal I can see how each of these mindsets would benefit me as both a learner and leader. Flowing back and forth through these mindset would allow me to take the large amounts of information and data that I must process, would allow me deeper understanding and insight.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Time To Reflect!!
The last three day that I spent with cohort4 was fantastic!!! I am ready to go back to work this Monday, with a new energy and thoughts on my role as a twenty-first century leader. I believe every aspect of the learning that occured for me during our class time was no conincidence. Lots of infomation to think about, digest and act on in some kind of positive manner. Don't know how that will look, but I know I've been changed for the better.
One of the key concepts, I have been rolling around in my brain is the meaning of what an "intentional learner" is. Exactly what does an intentional learner look like in elementary, middle and high school. What would I see the students doing in my building and saying as I conducted observation, walkthroughs and conversations with these students. The Greater Expectations National Panel Report truly made me think about how can I as someone who believes that what she does is a calling from GOD, do the right thing by the students I serve at Amelia Earhart Learning Center. What can I do differently in the delivery of service, attention, and support to my boys and girls at this little school of three hundred plus school that sits in the heart of West Dallas. How can I help these student acquire an education, which gives them the options to choose!
As I stated in class on Friday it is of great concern and with great dismay how many of my colleagues use certain buzz words, like they are flavors of the month (e.g. overaged-learning, college/career ready, response to intervention, etc). I am sure that you can think of a few your self. In chapter two of the The Greater Expectation National Panel Report it states the following,
"Today’s primary and secondary school students bring diverse learning styles to the classroom. They learn at different rates, in different ways,starting from different points, and with different levels of parental involvement. Yet, by and large, educators assume they will all fit into onestandard pattern. While excellent teachers employ a range of instructional methods to match their students’ learning styles, such master teachers are not available in all schools. Schools also are organized so that a set quantity of learning is expected in a given time frame. In only a few exceptional schools are all students held to high standards by adjusting both the kind and amount of instruction to meet individual student learning needs."
As implied by the quotation educators must rethink how we go about creating students who are "intentional learners". Many variables and factors must be considered if education is used equalize opportunity for all. It is my quest to develop teachers who can help students become"intentional learners" who are capable of developing self-awareness and deep understanding the reason for study, the learning process itself, and how education is used. We as a campus produce students that can adapt the skills learned in one situation to problems encountered in another. I want our students to make connections to their personal life, formal education and knowledge to social responsibility.
As I said at the beginning of this posting I am reflecting, digesting and evolving------stay tuned for next weeks posting. I truly don't know where is new little journey of the mind is taking me. I hope that each and everyone of you have a great week!!!!!
One of the key concepts, I have been rolling around in my brain is the meaning of what an "intentional learner" is. Exactly what does an intentional learner look like in elementary, middle and high school. What would I see the students doing in my building and saying as I conducted observation, walkthroughs and conversations with these students. The Greater Expectations National Panel Report truly made me think about how can I as someone who believes that what she does is a calling from GOD, do the right thing by the students I serve at Amelia Earhart Learning Center. What can I do differently in the delivery of service, attention, and support to my boys and girls at this little school of three hundred plus school that sits in the heart of West Dallas. How can I help these student acquire an education, which gives them the options to choose!
As I stated in class on Friday it is of great concern and with great dismay how many of my colleagues use certain buzz words, like they are flavors of the month (e.g. overaged-learning, college/career ready, response to intervention, etc). I am sure that you can think of a few your self. In chapter two of the The Greater Expectation National Panel Report it states the following,
"Today’s primary and secondary school students bring diverse learning styles to the classroom. They learn at different rates, in different ways,starting from different points, and with different levels of parental involvement. Yet, by and large, educators assume they will all fit into onestandard pattern. While excellent teachers employ a range of instructional methods to match their students’ learning styles, such master teachers are not available in all schools. Schools also are organized so that a set quantity of learning is expected in a given time frame. In only a few exceptional schools are all students held to high standards by adjusting both the kind and amount of instruction to meet individual student learning needs."
As implied by the quotation educators must rethink how we go about creating students who are "intentional learners". Many variables and factors must be considered if education is used equalize opportunity for all. It is my quest to develop teachers who can help students become"intentional learners" who are capable of developing self-awareness and deep understanding the reason for study, the learning process itself, and how education is used. We as a campus produce students that can adapt the skills learned in one situation to problems encountered in another. I want our students to make connections to their personal life, formal education and knowledge to social responsibility.
As I said at the beginning of this posting I am reflecting, digesting and evolving------stay tuned for next weeks posting. I truly don't know where is new little journey of the mind is taking me. I hope that each and everyone of you have a great week!!!!!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Whole New Mind
After reading, A Whole New Mind, I been trying to think about me and what side of my brain I spend do I use the most. Daniel Pink suggest that left-brain (logic, linear) thinking helped human beings move from the age of machines to today's knowledge based society. According to Mr. Pink the ability to tap into the right-brain thinking( holistic,artistic)a key to success in the our future world. The ability to deal with information and facts is not be enough and won't be enough for massive levels of information we will deal with in the future. This new world that we currently are inhabiting requires us to be able to consider different perspectives and concepts more holistically.
As I consider the six aptitudes of right brain thinking (design,story, symphony,empathy,play, and need), each one of these aptitude play an important role in creating a truly collaborative environment that validate all members of the organization. As we as individuals develop and use these aptitudes more fluidly our thinking contributes to the well being and the economic of strength of an organization. The question that we must ask ourselves, What is the cost or fear in transforming ourselves into right -brain thinkers?
As I consider the six aptitudes of right brain thinking (design,story, symphony,empathy,play, and need), each one of these aptitude play an important role in creating a truly collaborative environment that validate all members of the organization. As we as individuals develop and use these aptitudes more fluidly our thinking contributes to the well being and the economic of strength of an organization. The question that we must ask ourselves, What is the cost or fear in transforming ourselves into right -brain thinkers?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
One Small Step!!!!!!
This week has been a very fast paced week. I had applied for the Director of Reading position for Dallas ISD and was granted the opportunity to interview for the job. However there was a lot of work that had be done prior to the interview. Last Friday I was given 27 pages of data to analyze and prepare a PPT to outline what improvement strategies I would use as the new Reading Director------so of course there was a lot of researching and preparation that had to be done. My interview was Friday it consisted of a 15 min PPt Presentation, 20 min. Q& A and 30 min. writing activity. WOW talk about an hour of pressure! Now comes the waiting and praying.
As I prepared for this interview this week I thought about just how far I come in my professional career. As a classroom teacher my ultimate goal was to provide the students I was responsible for with a love and unquenchable desire to be curious and life long learners. I have always been the happiest when I am around children. As I take a moment to self reflect on my place and position as a leader it becomes more and more important for me to search my heart and truly analyze my motives as a leader. I never started out wanting any of the jobs that eventually got-----one job would lead to next and so on and so forth. Through the course of the various jobs there have been so many valuable lesson I have learned. Lessons that were not always career related, these lessons were just good old down earth teachings about life itself!!!! Lessons that made me a little more appreciative for the things that I have and lessons about humanity and true agape christian love. If given the opportunity to take a new job-------I know there will be many new lessons for me learn.
As I prepared for this interview this week I thought about just how far I come in my professional career. As a classroom teacher my ultimate goal was to provide the students I was responsible for with a love and unquenchable desire to be curious and life long learners. I have always been the happiest when I am around children. As I take a moment to self reflect on my place and position as a leader it becomes more and more important for me to search my heart and truly analyze my motives as a leader. I never started out wanting any of the jobs that eventually got-----one job would lead to next and so on and so forth. Through the course of the various jobs there have been so many valuable lesson I have learned. Lessons that were not always career related, these lessons were just good old down earth teachings about life itself!!!! Lessons that made me a little more appreciative for the things that I have and lessons about humanity and true agape christian love. If given the opportunity to take a new job-------I know there will be many new lessons for me learn.
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