Tuesday MM - May 3rd

Good Morning - Week "A"

I am at a Joint principals meeting this morning followed by a PTA Board meeting @ 1pm.  Our guest at the JP meeting is an author and advocate for engaging the public in the school reform movement.  Below is an excerpt from Jamie Vollmer's website to whet your interest his presentation. (as usual, the meeting agenda is in the blog docs folder)

Shift your attention from
the negative to the positive

(See page 184.)

There is a fundamental truth of the universe: What we focus our attention on grows stronger in our life. If we choose to focus on the negative things that occur in our classrooms, our schools, and our district, then we become more negative. Optimism fades. Irritability grows. Our relationships suffer. We have less energy. Our health declines. We become prime candidates for burnout.

Conversely, when we choose to put our attention on the hopeful, encouraging, positive developments that occur within our schools, we become more positive. Optimism grows. Our health improves. We feel better about ourselves as professionals and as human beings. We become more cheerful and productive, more awake, more actualized. We gain these benefits simply by making this subtle, internal shift. And when this behavior modification is practiced by the entire staff, positivity is enlivened throughout the district, and spills out into the community.

Stop bad-mouthing
one another in public

(See page 185.)

Teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, administrators, and board members must stop bad-mouthing one another and their schools in public. This destructive behavior is pervasive, and it is the epitome of lose-lose behavior: it undermines the reputation of the speaker while simultaneously grinding down the public’s opinion of their local schools.

There is no doubt that many educators have reasons to complain. They struggle with an ever-increasing list of academic, social, and medical responsibilities. They resent being forced to raise America’s kids without adequate support, and they are bitter about the growing disrespect displayed by students, parents, and the public. There are times when the fury and frustration become too much to bear. But venting in public is a nasty habit that solves nothing. If silence and restraint become impossible to maintain, there is an acceptable release: Gripe to your spouse. That’s why we have them.

Share something positive
within our social networks

(See page 186.)

This is where we capitalize on the shift of attention.

Everyone has a personal network populated by family, friends, and neighbors. We interact with these people every day. Even a casual reference regarding some small breakthrough at school made during a routine conversation is enough to make a positive impression. The recounting of a hopeful moment with a student carries an uplifting message of hope. As the process unfolds, and more staff members choose to add their stories, hundreds, if not thousands, of positive impulses begin to move across a web of overlapping social networks like ripples on a pond. Soon, with almost no effort, the entire community is enlivened with good news about their schools, and everyone is energized in the process.

Monitoring our progress

(See page 188.)

This step requires five minutes, once a week. In a quiet moment, each individual asks, “How many times did I share something positive about my job, my class, or my school?” Write the answer down, and pledge to add to the total in the coming week. Next week, ask the question again, and record the answer with the intention to do better. That’s all it takes to gain a clearer picture of our progress and a new appreciation of the power each of us has to change our community.

Subs:

• Emma Pitts for Wendy Binkley
• Bravett Lyes for Elizabeth Johnson