Week 4-2 Discussion Post Quickie

                                       Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart.

What stands between my dream job and me?

I believe I am still searching for the perfect thing for me and this is my hurdle. I have a great desire to stretch myself and do different things, but like Crystal, a certain amount of fear is in the pit of my stomach.  Fear of failure and fear of success. I believe my dreams should manifest because I am a passionate, hard working and creative person. I believe I have much to offer in any given situation. I plan on creating my own bucket list of all the things I want to do professionally and see where it takes me.

Week 3 Free Choice-2011/2012 School Year

                                      Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart

The new school year is fast approaching and I am anxious to do things differently.  I am ready to put everything I have learned at Full Sail into place!  I don't want to do things the same way and get the same results! I want to be able to take the same risks I am asking my students to take in the class room.  After reading The Art of Possibility, I realize I don't have to be perfect, but I do need to take steps toward being the teacher I know I can be each day!  I realize that this will mean work and dedication on my part to embrace this new way of thinking in my classroom, but I believe I can be an agent of change for the better!
(And if I happen to fall off of the horse, I have plenty of Full Sail reinforcements to help me out! Right?

Week3-The Art of Possibility Chapters 5-8

Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart

I didn’t realize I needed to wear steel-toed boots when I am reading The Art of Possibility!  I am noticing I am coming face to face with the issues that may be in my life and in my classroom…yikes!  I am a perfectionist to some extent and can take things seriously when given the opportunity!  I found myself looking in the mirror when prompted to lighten up and it may light up those around me!   After this revelation, I found myself asking how can I possibly do this and survive in the classroom?   What I did discover is by lightening up; I can become human to my students and connect with them on new levels.  If I give up my pride, it may benefit others and break the hold it has on me. (Almost too deep before the start of school!)

Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart

So, today I plan to live and learn and not take myself too seriously!

The next section that hit me in the gut was learning about my calculating self versus my central self.  The calculating self withdraws and contracts and focuses on his or her immediate needs.  On the other hand, the central self opens and expands, letting things be without fighting against it.  I learned by focusing on my central self, I can let things be without fighting them every step of the way and forcing me to lighten up in the process.

(Revelation, revelation, revelation!)  At times during the school year, we have a tendency to focus on how things should be instead of how things are in any given situation.    I loved how the authors pointed out when our attention is primarily directed to how wrong things are, we lose our power to act effectively. (Another light bulb moment!  It makes me think of my pastor who always tells the congregation about responding versus reacting!  I have a strong mindset at times to REACT, instead of respond.  Responding to an issue means I have thought things over, I am calm and I have solutions!  When I react, I usually have regret.  So, as the school year begins, I will focus more on my central self and less on my calculating self and see what possibilities come my way.

Week 3-Peer Comment 2

Image courtesy of Melissa Miller's Blogspot

Melissa said:

Educators are resistant to change because of two reasons: 1, they are use to doing things the same way over time and 2, the time it takes to learn how to use it. Teachers fall into complacency and use the excuse I don’t understand it and it takes to long to learn it. Schools have issues in not valuing the need to incorporate technology. Those teachers and schools who are excited about using technology get frustrated because of firewalls or the unavailability of programs. I think that businesses have a better opportunity to implement new programs because the business doesn’t have to censor themselves, create their own identities with technology, and they decide what programs to use for their company. Schools have to have teachers who find the technology, administration had to approve it and then the district has to install it. There are just so many hurdles for teachers and schools to jump that frustration easily sets in and a bad taste and frustration is left.

http://mellissamiller.blogspot.com/2011/07/week-3-quickie-2.html?showComment=1311552598069#c5277137822631104398

My response:

Melissa, I wish I could send your post to my entire district! You made many relevant comments within your post that I encounter on a daily basis. I can especially appreciate the frustration with firewalls and unavailability of programs.  (We must donate any programs not readily available by our district.)  We talk so much about preparing our students for the 21^st century, but we continue to have our students jump through the technology hoops each year.  I think we must continue to push our administrators to do what is best for students at all times, in order for them to reach their full potential beyond the classroom.

Week 3-Peer Comment

Image courtesy of Crystal Cusimano's Blog

Crystal said: 

The other main "Ah-ha" moment that resonated with me was the Rule Number 6. I often have a problem of taking my self too seriously and reading this chapter put that "practice" into context for me. It allowed me to examine further how I take myself to seriously and when/if it does happen again how to diffuse it. I wish I could make copies of this chapter and give it to everyone I know, not to force it on anyone as the book says, but just to give others the chance as I have to realize that we all at one point or another take ourselves too seriously and this does us all no good in the long run. Live and let live, right?!

http://theducationrevolution.blogspot.com/2011/07/week-3-art-of-possibility-lead-by.html?showComment=1311551381225#c8325413118797276570

My response:

Crystal!

I agree with you about being too serious in certain situations.  I always get tagged as having the “fun” subject and I try my best to fight against it.  Ultimately, I come across very serious, instead of passionate about my subject, which is what I want to demonstrate in the classroom.  I want my classroom to be an engaging place and I guess the first step in that direction is not taking everything too seriously.  I think the book stresses for everyone to find opportunities to bloom, grow and experience life to the fullest.

Week 3-1 Discussion Board Quickie

                            Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart.

My district introduced the International Baccalaureate Program, via the Middle Years Program, to our campus several years ago and it proved to be an experiment gone bad.  The program wasn’t the problem, but the buy in and commitment from faculty and staff to make it a success was the stickler.  When people don’t buy in or support what is being presented it makes it very difficult to implement the program and yield any benefit.  We would have a portion of the staff that would fully implement the program and the other half would drag their heels in protest. The lack of participation and lackadaisical attitudes made it impossible to successfully implement the program and now it doesn’t exist.  I think our staff missed out on an opportunity to bring an international perspective to our campus and engage our students with global concerns.

Week 3-2 Discussion Board Quickie Resisting Change

Image courtesy of Microsoft clipart.

I think educators resist change because they don’t want to come out of their comfort zone of right-ness. Using technology involves risks; creativity and new mediums to produce products and some educators are not comfortable with exploring this arena.  (And many certainly don’t want to be wrong in front of their students)

In addition, even though many educators claim to be life long learners, I believe many don’t want to learn technology because it changes so fast.  By the time you learn one program, a new and better version is around the corner.  In order to get technology, you must change with it and be willing to adapt.  I didn’t grow up with the technology my daughter has, but I love it just the same.  I approach technology with open arms!  I don’t want to be the last one on the block to know anything…especially technology.