OK, so I am working on module 2, yeah, I know, overachiever. The final wrap up project is to create a faculty meeting hour on leadership. I am fuddled here. I have been brainstorming, but am beating my head against a wall. My problem? I have never been to a faculty workshop that I enjoyed or felt I learned from. I asked my colleagues today, and they agreed. One person said they'd been to a workshop where they enjoyed getting concrete things they could use in the classroom. But let's face it. Cynasism rules the day for faculty workshops. I am not asking anyone to solve this, more just looking to vent.
But here is a question/concern about teacher leadership. For this faculty meet thing the culmination is to be everyone volunteering to serve on some committe to improve this imaginary school. I can hear the complaints of getting more work out of us for no pay. And it isn't volunteering if they require it. I know I need to convince people that in the long run it will save them time and energy. Guess it is just challenging my brain right now.
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I thought that I was grease lightening. I just finished Mod 1 lesson 6 and was feeling pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited about the teacher leadership class. It is both encouraging and rebuking at the same time. When a department chair postion openned up several people encouraged me to apply. After all that what men are suppose to do, but I really enjoy teaching and believe that is where the real work of education occurs. I think I am like you in the sense I tend to like to work alone and not do the extra work at getting other people on board, but all the literature I have been reading suggest otherwise. I guess that will be something I will need to work.
Boy, and I thought I was fast.
ReplyDeleteI really like the Teacher Leader material. I think like you, I would rather do the work myself than to try and get others on board. While occasionally that might work, the more bigger and more important tasks do take a team. That is one thing I will have to work on.
What about using time allotted for faculty meetings to work on the committes. Everyone on my school is on a school improvement plan but we work on it once a semester during our scheduled faculty meeting.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who sat in an inservice for part of this snow day, I completely agree. I also agree with the person you mentioned that liked getting something concrete since my best session gave me lots of activities for the classroom. I guess its like getting our students excited about learning our content...
ReplyDeleteYour challenge is understood! I'm working via Blackboard, so Mod 2 is not in focus for me yet, but the cynasism you have described is often apparent on a regular basis in various faculty rooms. In the long run it will save time and energy, but what will it by me now?! Good luck! I'll let you know if I come up with anything when I get to Mod 2. Obviously we'll all have to come up with something. I have found my best ideas have come to mind when I'm not intentionally thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteNot sure what I am about to write offers much but I know that despite my initial thoughts of workshops, I have found the active ones to be more interesting. Just an example here but we did a Kagan strategies one at a staff meeting. While it was not the most revolutionary topic or experience, involving the staff in a hands on approach by traveling around the room, tracking down clues, and working with peers was entertaining - kind of like a scavenger hunt. It also gave me a better idea of who some of my staff really are and what strengths (and senses of humor) they possess...or even don't possess. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering then if you couldn't structure your workshop around playing a game like the "Change Game" or a some kind of scenario, role playing activity in which they have to write scripts then act out the scenes. Sometimes even if they aren't buying in totally to the notion that participating as a leader can actually save time and energy, imaging the situation, writing the parts, then acting them out might stir something up.
ReplyDeleteWow, you guys are amazing, now that I can finally read it! Thanks Dawn.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed the hands-on faculty meetings, don't sit still well. However, my department whines and says they feel like babies.
I think we need to experimenting with learning the way we are encouraged to teach.
You're already on module 2??????!!!!!????? Man, I thought you were a teacher's pet and a suck-up but that's just ridiculous!!!
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