Sunday, July 22, 2018

3 Ways to Help Move Your Boss Forward

Image result for lead resistant people quote

I had a great conversation with a friend of mine about how they felt under-appreciated and under-utilized in their work by their boss. When they asked me for suggestions on how to move their boss forward from their position, I decided to ask the following question on Twitter to see what other people would suggest:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I am sure that there are TONS of suggestions that could have been made by educators who have done this very thing but may be much too nervous to share. The ideas that I am going to share from educators aren’t necessarily things they have done with THEIR bosses but are great ideas. Here are a few of my favourites:

1. Help them empower your strengths if they do not recognize it themselves.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

A straightforward idea but powerful. The quickest way to a destination is often a straight line. As an administrator, I would often say to my staff, “I can’t solve a problem I don’t know exists.” Similar to teachers, administrators don’t go out of their way to do a lousy job so sometimes leading them to what you need is what works best.

2. Model in yourself what you seek in your leader.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

To blame others for the inability to move forward might temporarily feel good, but it doesn’t make things better.  By focusing on how you lead, might not move your boss forward, but I guarantee it will resonate with others on your staff.

3. Show value in your boss.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Listening, asking for advice, and showing a true value in your leader might help to build their confidence in a role that is often isolating.  The important thing here is being authentic and not simply asking to manipulate, but to recognize and value the strengths of your administrator, in the same way you would hope for them to do as well.

The above suggestions are fantastic, but I love this little reminder from Andy Cunningham that great leadership is great leadership, no matter your position:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

So what if these things don’t work? Here is a blunt reality that I was reminded of:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I will be honest that one of the best things I did in my career was to leave a place. It wasn’t that I had a bad leader, but I needed a fresh start where I had the chance to rebuild myself as an educator and create a different path for myself. Obviously, this is not an option for all but sometimes we stick with things that we know don’t work because we are scared of the unknown, even when we know it is probably going to be so much better. Change is hard and sometimes a move can be the best thing for a career.  You can’t control the path of others, but you have the ability to create your own journey.  A fresh start can be the best thing for a career.

Thanks to an incredible group of educators that were willing to take the time to share their thoughts. I encourage you to look at the entire thread on Twitter.

Source: George Couros



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3 Ways to Help Move Your Boss Forward

Image result for lead resistant people quote

I had a great conversation with a friend of mine about how they felt under-appreciated and under-utilized in their work by their boss. When they asked me for suggestions on how to move their boss forward from their position, I decided to ask the following question on Twitter to see what other people would suggest:

I am sure that there are TONS of suggestions that could have been made by educators who have done this very thing but may be much too nervous to share. The ideas that I am going to share from educators aren’t necessarily things they have done with THEIR bosses but are great ideas. Here are a few of my favourites:

1. Help them empower your strengths if they do not recognize it themselves.

A straightforward idea but powerful. The quickest way to a destination is often a straight line. As an administrator, I would often say to my staff, “I can’t solve a problem I don’t know exists.” Similar to teachers, administrators don’t go out of their way to do a lousy job so sometimes leading them to what you need is what works best.

2. Model in yourself what you seek in your leader.

To blame others for the inability to move forward might temporarily feel good, but it doesn’t make things better.  By focusing on how you lead, might not move your boss forward, but I guarantee it will resonate with others on your staff.

3. Show value in your boss.

Listening, asking for advice, and showing a true value in your leader might help to build their confidence in a role that is often isolating.  The important thing here is being authentic and not simply asking to manipulate, but to recognize and value the strengths of your administrator, in the same way you would hope for them to do as well.

The above suggestions are fantastic, but I love this little reminder from Andy Cunningham that great leadership is great leadership, no matter your position:

So what if these things don’t work? Here is a blunt reality that I was reminded of:

I will be honest that one of the best things I did in my career was to leave a place. It wasn’t that I had a bad leader, but I needed a fresh start where I had the chance to rebuild myself as an educator and create a different path for myself. Obviously, this is not an option for all but sometimes we stick with things that we know don’t work because we are scared of the unknown, even when we know it is probably going to be so much better. Change is hard and sometimes a move can be the best thing for a career.  You can’t control the path of others, but you have the ability to create your own journey.  A fresh start can be the best thing for a career.

Thanks to an incredible group of educators that were willing to take the time to share their thoughts. I encourage you to look at the entire thread on Twitter.



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Friday, July 20, 2018

Flexible Seating: What’s the Point?

I realize it is summer but some educators are have been reflecting on their current classroom set up or changes they have recently made to decide on what their classroom will look like next year.  I recently read a couple… Continue Reading →

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5 Tips for Building Great Relationships with Students


Relationships are essential to learning. Kids connect more to learning when they feel more connection to their teacher. A great classroom environment begins by building great relationships. 

So how do you build great relationships with your students? Here are 5 tips I promise will make your relationships stronger. 

What if everyone in your school tried to get a little better at these five things every day? Wow! That would be an amazing school culture.

1. Connect with your students.

Learn your students' names...on the first day. Greet them at the door. Make eye contact. Smile. Ask them questions. Ask them their opinion about a movie or type of music or your teaching. Joke with them. Offer fist bumps and high fives. Know at least two things about each student that have nothing to do with school. 

2. Invest in your students.

Believe in your students. Look for opportunities to affirm their strengths. Build them up. Show your approval. You will have far more influence if they know you're in their corner. Plant seeds in their mind of the great things they will do in their future. Treat them like future world changers. "You're going places. You're going to do great things." Then point out how their incredible strengths will take them far.

3. Personalize learning for your students.

Meet students where they are. Get to know their passions and look for opportunities to connect learning to those interests. Provide experiences that allow individual strengths and personality to shine. Place responsibility on your students and let them know you trust them. Never teach down to your students. Teach them in ways that empower them as learners. 

  • How often do your students have input on how they will learn?
  • How often do your students have input on what they will learn?
  • Are your students given opportunities to lead conversations?
  • Are your classroom goals developed by the teacher alone or in partnership with students?
  • Do your students have some time to pursue their own goals?
  • How often do you ask your students for feedback on their experience in your classroom?
4. Give time and attention to your students.

Notice when a student is having a bad day. Offer encouragement. Make eye contact. Stop and really listen. There are so many people and things clamoring for your attention. To give your attention to something is an amazing gift. Too often we make our plans a higher priority than our purpose. Our purpose might be to connect with our students, but what about our plans for today? Can we let go of those for a couple of minutes?

You can also give time and attention by making that positive phone call home, writing that note of encouragement, or attending that ballgame or concert after school.

5. Forgive your students.

Every kid deserves a fresh start in your classroom every day. Time spent holding onto yesterday means less time moving forward today. Forgiveness protects the relationship. It allows you to set aside those frustrating moments with a kid and believe today can be better. It's part of being able to enjoy your students...all of them. They're kids and they're not always going to show up well in your classroom. If you enjoy them and take delight in them, even with their imperfections, you'll feel better about yourself and enjoy teaching far more.

I think we can all continue to grow in our ability to build stronger relationships. What ideas do you have for building relationships in your classroom or school? How will you grow stronger in this area? Leave a comment below or respond on Facebook or Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.

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When you get what you want, but it isn’t what you need…

I came across a picture on time hop today of a lil’giftie I handed out on my first day in a new job, many years ago. It was an out of the classroom job, and genuinely where I thought I wanted to be, professionally. I was so excited about joining a new team, all bright-eyed and bushy […]

The post When you get what you want, but it isn’t what you need… appeared first on Technically Yours Teamann.



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Thursday, July 19, 2018

The 3 “E’s” of Building a Great School Culture

I am writing to learn, not necessarily to share my learning. I am trying to work out these ideas through my writing so any feedback would be appreciated.

Within leadership, one of my focuses is to take the complex and try to make it simple. Not “simple” in the delivery and the work, but in the messaging to create a clearer vision of what is essential to focus on now and in the future.  In my mind, I keep coming back to three main ideas.

  1. The Environment
  2. The Experience
  3. The Energy

Simple concepts but massive undertakings in our work.  But what does each mean when you dig in?

The Environment is about the space(s) around us and the “stuff” that is needed to serve students learners.

The Experience is about what we design for learning and what we empower others to create for themselves.

The Energy is what we bring in ourselves to our schools and what others help unleash in others.

As I write about each one, I understand there is a definite overlap. It is hard to create a fantastic experience for our students and our classrooms when our energy is either lacking or pulling us in a negative direction.  The environment can be adversely affected by a lackluster experience. Many schools who have access to resources, that create an experience that is less than ideal.

Can a great learning experience in school happen where one is lacking? To some extent, yes, but I would say that if all three are a focus, the chances of success become greater. I did, however, list the ideas in what I believe to be in the opposite direction of where I see them being most valuable.  Many educators are exerting tremendous energy to overcome a bad experience in their learning, as well as less than ideal conditions in the environment.  But if the first two “E’s” are there, it can enhance the energy an educator brings to the profession.  Education is a career pathway that can be so emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically exhausting, so it has been incredible to see how more schools are focusing on supporting teachers to take care of themselves, so they can excel at what they are doing.

What is important is that each one of these “E’s” is built within and with your school or organizational culture.  What are the elements within each that can most support the people serve? How do you enhance each focus area while still working within certain constraints that are often out of the control of schools? Where do you excel and where do you lack, and why?

I will be looking at these three “E’s” more in the future but would love your thoughts. Again, this is not to say being an educator is simple, but more to streamline a focus on big ideas and how important they are to supporting our learners and helping them excel. I would love your thoughts not only each element listed but examples within each that support the ideas.

Source: George Couros



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The 3 “E’s” of Building a Great School Culture

I am writing to learn, not necessarily to share my learning. I am trying to work out these ideas through my writing so any feedback would be appreciated.

Within leadership, one of my focuses is to take the complex and try to make it simple. Not “simple” in the delivery and the work, but in the messaging to create a clearer vision of what is essential to focus on now and in the future.  In my mind, I keep coming back to three main ideas.

  1. The Environment
  2. The Experience
  3. The Energy

Simple concepts but massive undertakings in our work.  But what does each mean when you dig in?

The Environment is about the space(s) around us and the “stuff” that is needed to serve students learners.

The Experience is about what we design for learning and what we empower others to create for themselves.

The Energy is what we bring in ourselves to our schools and what others help unleash in others.

As I write about each one, I understand there is a definite overlap. It is hard to create a fantastic experience for our students and our classrooms when our energy is either lacking or pulling us in a negative direction.  The environment can be adversely affected by a lackluster experience. Many schools who have access to resources, that create an experience that is less than ideal.

Can a great learning experience in school happen where one is lacking? To some extent, yes, but I would say that if all three are a focus, the chances of success become greater. I did, however, list the ideas in what I believe to be in the opposite direction of where I see them being most valuable.  Many educators are exerting tremendous energy to overcome a bad experience in their learning, as well as less than ideal conditions in the environment.  But if the first two “E’s” are there, it can enhance the energy an educator brings to the profession.  Education is a career pathway that can be so emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically exhausting, so it has been incredible to see how more schools are focusing on supporting teachers to take care of themselves, so they can excel at what they are doing.

What is important is that each one of these “E’s” is built within and with your school or organizational culture.  What are the elements within each that can most support the people serve? How do you enhance each focus area while still working within certain constraints that are often out of the control of schools? Where do you excel and where do you lack, and why?

I will be looking at these three “E’s” more in the future but would love your thoughts. Again, this is not to say being an educator is simple, but more to streamline a focus on big ideas and how important they are to supporting our learners and helping them excel. I would love your thoughts not only each element listed but examples within each that support the ideas.



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