Staying Vulnerable & "Rising Strong" - Follow-up Post

Update for May 23-27

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about being inspired by Brene' Brown's book Rising Strong to stay vulnerable in order to grow as a leader.

I set up times for my staff members to provide me with face-to-face feedback on these questions:

• What should I start doing?
• What should I stop doing?

• What should I continue doing?

• Is my vision for learning evident?

• Are my expectations clear and realistic?

• Do I provide good feedback and positive reinforcement?

• Can I be trusted?

• How could I help you more?

While not everyone took me up on the opportunity to provide me with feedback, those who did helped me in a very meaningful way.

"Start doing"? Those answered ranged from "Watch how you react to situations; you seem to wear your heart on your sleeve" to "I can't figure you out - You always seem to be wearing a poker face in situations".

That was all good feedback, but I had to laugh at that!

"Stop doing" responses included "You don't need to do a blog post every week", "You sometimes are sending too many emails" and "I want to know what is going on, so "stop" not including us in some of the details."

Another opportunity to chuckle.

There were slices of moments when the implicit message from staff members affirms things I am doing well and causes me to pause and reflect on the things I am not.

I have realized from this opportunity that I have to provide a range of leadership that attempts to meet the needs of my staff and parents.  

I need to differentiate my leadership - Be explicit with feedback and be more telling with some while planting seeds and leading from behind with others. The former pushes me to try and get better -- It puts me outside of my comfort zone which means I will probably fail or fall short of expectations during this journey.

But I'm ready for that.

As Dr. Brown states in Rising Strong,

"I believe that vulnerability -- the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome -- is the only path to more love, belonging, and joy."

I am committed to staying vulnerable and I challenge each of my staff to do the same.  

I challenge you to create a time when you can offer your students the chance to provide you with feedback on the experience you provided them with this year.  It will be affirming, uncomfortable, challenge and probably one of the best professional learning opportunities you will have this year.

I would love to know if you take this opportunity to get better and how it turned out!

In the meantime, have a GREAT week!

-Herb

Tweets Worth Checking Out --

In order to tell the difference between successful and unsuccessful people, examine their habits. pic.twitter.com/JOTaGN8dLX

— Dr. Mike Goddard (@drmike_goddard) May 22, 2016

#Makerspaces can help bring arts back to school. We need more #STEAM education - https://t.co/k65WBV1juO @Slate pic.twitter.com/nOzSSa6M3P

— Makerspaces.com (@Makerspaces_com) May 22, 2016

"An Important Teacher Decision: When and When Not to Give the Answer?" https://t.co/TkXwlyBCig #math

— Herb Higginbotham (@HHigginbotham) May 22, 2016

Don't miss @khmmc's double guest posts abt discovering lrners & UDL @BrookesPubCo https://t.co/mEWqfmGtNe #satchatwc pic.twitter.com/syMTU2qI7H

— Personalize Learning (@plearnchat) May 21, 2016

Why young kids learn through movement https://t.co/cLCBhKHSvN #K12 @TheAtlantic

— Ohio School Boards (@OHschoolboards) May 21, 2016

A new report looks at the skills gap for new graduates https://t.co/L6uiPjI2xH by @lydiabreakfast via @FastCompany

— Herb Higginbotham (@HHigginbotham) May 18, 2016

Upcoming Dates -- 

May 23-Jun 3 -- No PD dates (includes Assessment Days)

May 26 — Last Grow Together Thursday

May 30 -- Holiday, NO SCHOOL

May 31 -- ADE PTO Family Luau, 6-8PM -- It's a great time to relax and have fun with families! I ended up in a conga line last year and that's saying something!

Jun 3 -- Last Day of School (Students)
Jun 10 -- Secretaries' last day to report
Jun 24 -- Herb's last day to report

Change, Debt, and "Owing the World"

Update for Apr 11-15

Labeled for reuse -- https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8302/7986922181_a3dd3b12b0.jpg

This week, we went deeper into R-Factor with students at our school community meeting.  We shared with them the power of pressing pause and getting our minds right.  I loved seeing the “press pause” signs students starting taping to the walls in the hallway.  I also enjoyed the anecdotes about students using these strategies with peers — 

Liam helped 2 arguing friends by telling them "push pause and think about your actions." It worked! @AltonDarby pic.twitter.com/8ut8s9K3LK

— Adrianna Kruse (@AdriannaKruse) April 6, 2016

Common language is powerful!

We also went deeper into the concept of “adjust and adapt”; being ready to take on change and getting better at dealing with change.  

One of the most powerful lessons from this part of the R-Factor training is our response to new situations determines our level of stress.  Anticipating change and getting better at adjusting and adapting reduces our stress and increases positive outcomes.

A few weeks ago, I read a couple of pages out of Seth Godin's book What To Do When It’s Your Turn (and it’s always your turn) and today they make more sense to me after experiencing this week than they did when I first read them.

The first read by Godin focused on the phrase “It will be okay” - Something we say to ourselves that means, “It will turn out the way we want it to.”  

But as Godin reminds us, it almost never turns out the way we want it to.  

He suggests we start saying and thinking the phrase “Something will happen” because something always will.  We just have to have an open mindset and anticipate the right thing.  

I told someone the other day that I do my best to help grow authentic experiences at school — I try to listen and wait, sort of like a fisherman waiting for the right fish.  I’ve been trying to think “something will happen” more because what actually does happen usually far exceeds my expectations.

------

The second read talked about the feeling that we are owed something and it spurred additional reflection, but again it feels different after this week.  

Sometimes we hold this notion that we are owed certain things in life.  Not things like getting paid for work we do or rights we have.  This is more along the lines of "I'm a good person...the world owes me for it" or "I have x amount of experience, so I am owed that opportunity".  

Godin shares that this becomes toxic because this mindset creates massive amounts of disappointment.  For example, what you think you are owed usually differs from how someone thought they should pay you back.  We also set ourselves up for disappointment when we assume something must happen as a result of something we did.  This disappointment and the constant mindset of feeling that you are owed something can be toxic.

I found myself agreeing with two truths shared by Godin:

1. No one owes you anything.

2. It's actually you who owes the world.

Wow -- That's turning the expectations table, don't you think?

"Owing the world" connected with me as a blend of my faith, servant leadership, and R-Factor.  I am doing what I do because I want to serve others.  I also know that my Response to a situation is someone else's Event.  So given those two ideas, and given the statement in #2, remembering that "I owe the world" keeps me humble and keeps me focused on working towards positive outcomes.

We all have good intentions when we work hard and then expect certain things to happen for us.  

I think the lesson here is that we should work hard, but keep our minds open to the possibilities and unexpected outcomes that come from our hard work.  

Let go of the toxicity of feeling owed; serve others and stay open to possibilities.  

That is something you owe to yourself.

Have a GREAT week!

--Herb

Article Worth Reading --

“9 Elephants in the (Class)Room That Should ‘Unsettle’ Us” by @willrich45 https://medium.com/modern-learning/9-elephants-in-the-class-room-that-should-unsettle-us-8335b2cef9aa#.bq0nkgujj

I really hope you take the time to read this -- This list and the changes that are detailed reflects my goals for education.  This is what drives me, what excites me, and what keeps me up at night.



Quotes Worth Sharing -- 

Upcoming Dates --

Apr 11 --  Connection Time w/ Herb

Apr 12 — 3, 4, 5 ELA State Testing (AM)

Apr 12 — Tech/Media Planning day w/Teams

Apr 13 — Spec Ed Team Meeting, Noon

Apr 13 — RTI Team Meeting

Apr 14 — PD w/ Dr. Donna: “Connecting Classroom Language to Student Success”

Apr 15 — School Community Meeting: Walk-a-thon Kickoff

Apr 19 — 3, 4, 5 Grade Math State Testing

Apr 20 --  Thrively survey due

Apr 20 — ADDC Staff Meeting, 3:40 ADE Media Center

Apr 21 — Herb Meeting AM

Apr 22 — Interims Go Home
Apr 26 — 4th Grd (Soc St), 5th Grd (Sci) State Testing

Apr 27 — ADE Walk-a-thon (during related arts time)

Apr 28 — Transfer Meeting

Getting Really Good at Change

Update for Apr 4-8

After 10 years, I think it's safe for me to say that a career in education doesn't get easier.

I used to think that after working at something for a few years would lead to efficiency and allow me to be more supportive of each student in my class.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the future.

iPads, social media, connected learning, Twitter all happened within the last 10 years and they changed a lot about learning.

If I were to place my bet on what will happen over the next 10 years, I'd bet on change.  I'd also double down on the fact that it's not going to get easier for educators who are expecting years of experience to equal "ease of use".

So how does the mild-mannered educator deal with this reality?

Accept it.

Expect it.

Embrace it!

Get really good at change!  Yes, it's possible!  

And it starts with...you guessed it: A growth mindset.

Actually it starts with recognizing the mindset you have when you are face-to-face with change.  Do you find yourself trying to cling to the comfort zone or thinking of the opportunity?  If you are in the former, consider this --

So how do we overcome our default response of seeking to stay in our comfort zone?  

Practice.

Build skill.

In this case, we need to press pause and get our mind right when faced with change.  We need to identify our mindset and adjust it if it will not lead us to embracing change.

But think about it - It takes practice, just like a sport.  It takes mental reps that will take you through the process of pressing pause, getting your mind right, and readying yourself to consider the opportunity that change brings you.

So in a way, this does get easier --  but only if you are willing to put  your focus on getting better at change and then committing to practicing and building skill.

Have a GREAT week!

-Herb


Articles Worth Reading -- 

Finish this sentence - "Every student should be able to _________ by the time they are finished school."

— George Couros (@gcouros) April 1, 2016

52 Of Our Favorite Inspirational Quotes For Teachers http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/52-favorite-inspirational-quotes-for-teachers/ via @teachthought


Personalize Learning: Personalized Learning Through the Eyes of a Child http://www.personalizelearning.com/2016/03/personalized-learning-throug


Three lessons on innovation that I learned during my 12 years at Apple: http://www.fastcompany.com/3058271/lessons-learned/three-lessons-on-innovation-i-learned-during-my-12-years-at-apple by @KelliRichards via @FastCompany 


Upcoming Dates

Apr 4 — School Community Meeting: “Press Pause, Get Your Mind Right”

Apr 4 — PTO Meeting, 7PM

Apr 5 — Herb meeting out of building AM

Apr 5 — BIT Meeting, 8AM

Apr 5 — Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45, ADE

Apr 6 — ADE Staff Meeting: R-Factor Training - R4

Apr 7 — Herb meeting outside of bldg AM

Apr 8 — KG to Franklin Park Conservatory

Apr 12 — 3, 4, 5 ELA State Testing (AM)

Apr 12 — Connection Time w/ Herb (Email-Schedule limited due to testing)

Apr 12 — Tech/Media Planning day w/Teams

Apr 13 — Spec Ed Team Meeting, Noon

Apr 13 — RTI Team Meeting

Apr 14 — PD w/ Dr. Donna: “Connecting Classroom Language to Student Success”

Apr 15 — School Community Meeting: Walk-a-thon Kickoff

Apr 18 — 3, 4, 5 Grade Math State Testing

Apr 20 — ADDC Staff Meeting, 3:40 ADE Media Center

Apr 21 — 4th Grd (Soc St), 5th Grd (Sci) State Testing

Apr 21 — Herb Meeting AM

Apr 22 — Interims Go Home

Apr 27 — ADE Walk-a-thon (during related arts time)

Apr 28 — Transfer Meeting

Opportunity or threat?

Update for Mar 7-11

http://www.thebluediamondgallery.com/pictures/opportunity.jpg

What’s new or different can be perceived two ways: An opportunity or a threat.

New ideas, new people, or new places can cause folks to think about what’s possible or what’s avoidable.  

When you go to an event, birthday party, wedding, or get-together  and walk into a room full of people, do you find yourself thinking “I wonder who I’ll meet?” or “I wonder how fast I can get out of here?”.  When faced with a new challenge or idea, are you thinking “Oh yay!” or “Oy vey...”?

I know that I have to be mindful of how I am perceiving the “new”. My perception shows in my facial expressions, my body language and what I say.  If I want my staff, parents, and students to think "opportunity" instead of "threat", I need to model the behavior I hope to see in others. I have to remind myself to think "I get to" rather than "I have to".

Some opportunities cause us pain, heartache or frustration, but we have to remember it's all a part of life -- There's always a lesson in the pain.  We need to learn from each moment, good or bad, in order to continue to get better at life. Thinking of life's events as opportunities rather than threats can help us accomplish this.

Here's to new opportunities this week! 

-Herb



Articles Worth Reading

Interest-Based Electives: Engaging Students With STEAM Explorations http://edut.to/1PZWznV

20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/03/20-strategies-for-motivating-reluctant-learners/

Innovation To Best Practice http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/12331

Upcoming Dates

Mar 7 -- ADE PTO Meeting, 7pm

Mar 7-11 -- OLSAT (Gifted), Grades 1 to 5 by recommendation
Mar 9 -- Special Ed Team Meeting, 12pm

Mar 9 -- Spring Concert, 7pm, Bradley HS -- Rehearsal at Bradley in the AM.  Details will be shared soon via email!

Mar 10 -- PD Series w/ Dr. Donna: "Discovery Approach", 3:45 at DCR

Mar 15 -- Hilliard U Day -- No SCHOOL (Students)

Mar 17 -- Elementary Student Transfer Request Forms Due

Mar 18-24 -- Spring Break -- NO SCHOOL

Mar 25 -- Holiday -- NO SCHOOL

 

Melodies without Lyrics

Update for Feb 29-Mar 4

Ideas are like melodies looking for lyrics.  

When we have ideas, we have a clear picture of it in our mind, even if it's just for the flash of a moment.  Trying to explain your idea to someone for the first time often leads the person with the idea to frustration and leads the person who is listening to the idea to confusion.  The melody is there, but no one knows what the song is about.

Paul McCartney has talked about getting the melody to "Yesterday".  He had a piano is his bedroom and one morning, he woke up with the melody in his head and started plugging away at the piano.  He knew he was onto something, but he had no lyrics.

Instead of singing "Yesterday", he just sang "Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs..." since he hadn't landed on the lyrics yet.  However, McCartney shaped his idea and eventually found the lyrics to go with the melody.  Fast forward to today and "Yesterday" holds the Guinness World Record for being the most covered song at over 3,000 cover versions.

This story makes me think about how challenging it can be to develop an idea.  Many times we say no to ourselves before we share with others, but that's a whole other topic.  

Most times, we aren't committed enough to our idea and the first "No" becomes the end of the road.  We toss the idea aside instead of reworking it until we are able to help others see the same thing we do in our mind's eye.

Flushing out an idea is challenging, but the challenge is what it's really all about - The process.  That's where we do the most growth; where we have the fondest memories when we look back.  

Ideas are beautiful opportunities to discover what life is really about -- It's up to us to commit to the good ones.

Have a GREAT week!

-Herb


Articles Worth Reading

Instead http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2016/02/instead.html

The New Dream Jobs http://nyti.ms/1TAKneD

How to Teach the Standards Without Becoming Standardized http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/03/12/how-to-teach-the-standards-without-becoming-standardized/

8 Requisites of A Great Teacher http://bit.ly/1WR0dRM

Upcoming Dates

Mar 1 -- BIT Meeting, 8am at DCR

Mar 1 -- Connection Time w/ Herb -- Schedule is wide open! Stop by for a chat!  

Mar 1 -- Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45 at DCR

Mar 2 -- ADE Staff Meeting: Terri to give us the essentials before next week's concert.

Mar 7 -- ADE PTO Meeting, 7pm

Mar 7-11 -- OLSAT (Gifted), Grades 1 to 5 by recommendation
Mar 9 -- Special Ed Team Meeting, 12pm

Mar 9 -- Spring Concert, 7pm, Bradley HS

Mar 10 -- PD Series w/ Dr. Donna: "Discovery Approach", 3:45 at DCR

Mar 15 -- Professional Development Day -- No SCHOOL (Students)

Mar 18 -- Elementary Student Transfer Request Forms Due

Mar 18-24 -- Spring Break -- NO SCHOOL

Mar 25 -- Holiday -- NO SCHOOL

The Folly of Comfort

Update for Dec 7-11

Comfortable shoes -- There's nothing else like them.  They are like the perfect pillow for sleeping or the hoodie we throw on to keep warm during a cold winter night.

At the end of a long day, no one is lacing up a pair of dress shoes to relax.  Instead, we often go for a warm pair of slippers or a pair of old running shoes that you can easily slip on without untying them.

I've been having some issues running lately where the muscle around my shin tenses up. It's not something that makes me have to stop running, it's just annoying and it slows me down a little.  I sound like a car that has a flat tire as my tensed leg strikes the ground with a flat "slap" on the pavement.

I've tried different stretches, paces and routes trying to find a solution.  I decided to go back to an old pair of running shoes to see if maybe my new ones were the issue.  

I laced up my old Sauconys and they felt great -- Why did I ever stop wearing them?

After about a mile and a half into a run in my old shoes, my feet and knees started hurting.  Instead of going for a 6 mile run, I ended early.  What was I thinking?  I stopped wearing these shoes when I started getting injured -- Why was I going back to them?

Instead of going the distance in my old comfortable shoes, I ran less than normal.

I share this because in the midst of change, we sometimes are tempted to go back to our old ways, putting on "comfortable shoes", rather than face the challenge.

Our project is hard work and we have miles to go.  If we are going to keep moving forward and increase the depth and authenticity of the learning experiences we help create with kids, we should build off of what we do well.  

Let's commit to strategically increasing our distance and pace and avoid seeking out comfortable solutions.

Have a GREAT week!

-Herb

Articles Worth Reading --

The Links Between Teaching Reading And Math http://www.heinemann.com/blog/oconnell-reading-math-11-30/

How to Guide Students Towards Learning Ownership https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/guide-students-towards-learning-ownership

The Active Learning Classroom: 8 Essential Elements https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/active-learning-classroom-8-essential-elements

Video Worth Watching -- 

Upcoming Dates --   

Dec 7 - PTO Meeting, 7PM

Dec 8 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45 - ADE Media Center

Dec 9 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Ed Team Meeting, 12:30; IAT Meeting, 3:45

Dec 10 - PD Series by Donna - "Dealing with Challenging Children", 3:45 ADE Media Center

Dec 11 - KG Toys for Tots Fire Station Visit

Dec 16 - ADCC Staff Meeting, 3:40 - ADE Media Center
Dec 18 - 5th Grade Talent Show, 1:15ish; Holiday Parties, 2:30ish

Dec 21-Jan 3 -- Winter Break  
   

Fueling the Wonder of Kids

Update for Nov 23-24

Wind plus leaves = pure joy! 🍃😊 @AltonDarby pic.twitter.com/jcTJx026Ek

— Adrianna Kruse (@AdriannaKruse) November 18, 2015

Last Wednesday, Adrianna Kruse captured the moment above, recognizing the "pure joy" of her kindergarten students playing in the leaves on a windy day.

Later on that afternoon, I was heading out to my recess duty a little early and noticed a group of kids playing in the same leaves.  The kids ranged from 1st grade to 5th grade, but each was captivated by the "leaf tornado".  One of the kids noticed I had stopped to watch them having fun and said, "We were wondering if leaves turned into soil or compost when they die?".

"What does everyone think?" I asked.

"Well, I think they turn into compost and he thinks they turn into soil," the student replied.

With a smile, I asked, "What's the difference between compost and soil?"

"I don't know."

Ah, the perfect response for starting a learning opportunity!

"I have an idea. Let's ask Wonderopolis if they know the answer," I suggested.

I told the kids that there is a website called Wonderopolis that has hundreds of posts questions, or wonders, that kids have asked.  They post information including videos and resources that help answer the "wonder".

I took a picture of the kids standing in the leaves and tweeted Wonderopolis:

Our kids are wondering if leaves turn into compost or soil? They wanted to see if @Wonderopolis had the answer. pic.twitter.com/npizx3xoCr

— AltonDarbyElementary (@AltonDarby) November 18, 2015

Wonderopolis is great about interacting with others!  Here's what they said later on that day --

@AltonDarby (1/2) Great question! We don't have that exact Wonder, but you can submit it to the Wonder Bank! https://t.co/gKD0PqFRop

— Wonderopolis (@Wonderopolis) November 18, 2015

@AltonDarby (2/2) Also, check out Wonder #741: WHAT IS COMPOST? https://t.co/hUW6MB2F5s

— Wonderopolis (@Wonderopolis) November 18, 2015

While this is a great example of recognizing when we can take learning further, it actually made me reflect on the way kids learn and make sense of their world.

Kids are naturally curious.

They ask lots of questions, they create their own hypotheses, and work out meaning through play.

As adults and educators, we need to remind ourselves that kids are naturally curious and build off of that.

How much would our unit or lesson plans change if we started with the fact that kids are naturally curious?

How much more would the learning experiences we create for kids reflect inquiry and build on a sense of wonder?

We should commit ourselves to letting the curiosity and wonder of children inspire us to create learning experiences that fuel their learning.

Here's to fueling the wonder and curiosity of kids!

Have a GREAT week!

-Herb


Articles Worth Reading --

When Students Drive Improvement

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/jun15/vol72/num09/When-Students-Drive-Improvement.aspx

Service Learning: Growing Action from the Roots of Passion

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/action-from-roots-of-passion-jessica-cambell

Real-World Problem Solving: Project-Based Solutions

http://www.edutopia.org/practice/real-world-problem-solving-project-based-solutions

Video Worth Watching --




Upcoming Dates --

Nov 23 - Board Meeting at ADE (Preschool is hosting in Cafeteria)

Nov 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 1 - BIT Meeting -- Please have your wish list items submitted by Dec 1 to be considered by PTO.

Dec 2 - Yearbook Picture Day; ADE Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM - Media Center

Dec 3 - Admin Meeting (Herb)

Dec 7 - PTO Meeting, 7PM

Dec 8 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45 - ADE Media Center

Dec 9 - Spec Ed Team Meeting, 12:30; IAT Meeting, 3:45

Dec 10 - PD Series by Donna - "Dealing with Challenging Children", 3:45 ADE Media Center

Dec 11 - KG Toys for Tots Fire Station Visit

Dec 16 - ADCC Staff Meeting, 3:40 - ADE Media Center