Change as Collaborative Inquiry

1.     What information from the article did you connect with the most and why?

·       “Most approaches to systemic education reform are rooted in obsolete, top-down, or expert-driven management beliefs and practices that reflect either what we know about how people learn nor what we have to understand about how organizations change”. I read this and was just like wow… yes that is exactly how it is. I think a lot of time the people in education don’t have power to change things in education, rather it is people outside of the organization, with no prior teaching experience that are making the decisions that impact all of us.  

2.     Thinking of your own school community, what are the issues and concerns regarding school improvement? How are these addressed with the administration and staff? What can you and other staff members do to work towards a more collaborative constructivist approach towards improvement?

·       One of the biggest issues that we are working on for school improvement is to adjust our school schedule in a way that allows students to have both band/choir and a study hall. Currently, students who choose to take band and choir are taken out of study hall. We have many students leave band/choir because they want that homework time and it kind of undervalues how important we think music is. This issue was brought up by our SIT team (School Improvement Team). The SIT team is a volunteer committee made up of teachers and administrators that works to improve the school.

3.     How do you see the action research you do in your classroom supporting adaptation and process of change?

·       The action research project is all about adaptation and the process of change. It is looking at a problem, adapting your curriculum, and changing how my students are learning.

My motto - FTK

My motto in teaching is FTK (for the kids). I first heard Erin Thompson use this phrase in a meeting when she was trying to convince our very stubborn 7th grade staff to plan something special for the last day of school instead of going on our usual field trip to como zoo. She said "come on you guys I know the last day olympics would be more work... but it's for the kids". Since then, it is really something that has stuck for many of the young teachers in the building. The reason I use it so frequently is because kids are at the center of why I teach. I didn't become a middle school english teacher because I am super passionate about reading and writing. I am super passionate about kids! And giving them the skills to read and write well in our literate world.

We use this phrase as a way to call each other out when we are getting burned out or thinking about making decisions. Everything we do should be FTK and if it's not... whats the point?

Radical LEAP

When I was thinking about the qualities of LEAP the one that I personally think is the most important is to cultivate love. When I was reflecting on a leader that radiates love the person that kept popping into my head was Rita. Several times a year our school admin team plays us the same video of Rita Pierson talking about how kids need a champion. If you haven't seen it - here's a link! She really embraces this idea that all you have to do is love kids.