my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

Educating vs scaring…which social media route do you take?

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Having a beast that just turned 16 means I get to engage in all of the driver centered conversations. It’s “When can I, where can I, how can I” for #allthethings. I’m watching friend after friend post pictures of permits, of licenses, of cars. (Parent pressure, yeesh.) It’s not a decision that we’re rushing into lightly or one that we know we can just ignore.

We’ve decided that the fireman will be teaching her in late spring, which will trigger a natural timeline. She’ll start, she’ll practice, she’ll practice some more…and eventually she will test. At some point after that, she’ll get a car, which will accompany responsibilities and requirements. (No free rides in the Teamann household!)

There are SO many steps that we’re taking in order to ease her into this stage of her teenage life. The conversations are a constant, from pop quizzes to opportunities to have “Did you just see that?” conversations. It would be irrational to think that just talking about driving with her would mean she could immediately handle being out on the open road.

As an advocate for technology & for social media, I struggle when I see an “anti” approach by people in leadership positions. Someone posted a parent engagement idea last night in a group on Facebook that spoke to preparing families of middle school students to what “lies ahead” when it comes to social media. It involved a detective and a cyber forensics specialist that came in and showed all the different apps kids use, the dangers of them, the laws surrounding cyber harassment, and then gave them resources for how to monitor their children’s phone use. It was followed by comments centered around blocking, locking, and can I get the hand out’s that just made my heart so sad.

When I tried to rationalize why I immediately cringed, I thought back to the way that we teach our teenagers to drive. How along with the inherent dangers that are shared, or what the potential consequences of their actions could be…we also do a pretty good job of TEACHING them how to be safe. Why rules matter and are relevant. Why we stop at a stop sign even if no one else is there. How to be careful. How to yield, how to handle the fast lane. There are rules that are taught, that are practiced. Before we ever allow them to go out on their own, we have a pretty good idea of how they are doing with the responsibility we’re about to bestow upon them. We’ve been along for the ride up until then and do so even after they have that highly coveted license.

We don’t just NOT allow them to drive.

There’s more to driving than just all the things that can wrong.

There’s more to sharing with students and families about technology/social media than just all the things that can go wrong. 

Allowing someone to drive without the supports and balances that we provide is dangerous.

Denying students the opportunity to be engaged on social media without supports and balances is also dangerous.

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It’s a responsibility as a mom and as an administrator, I don’t take lightly.

 

How can you engage and educate, rather than engage and scare?

a Principal’s Bucket List…great ideas from other principals! #bucketlist #2018

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I came across a teachers bucket list on IG by @PrestoPlans and knew I wanted to do one! Several of the ideas would have translated into my admin shoes…but then I decided to make an ADMIN version! Of course, as I sat staring at the page…I realized I wanted MORE! (Please see the previous blog! ha!)

Thankfully, I am surrounded by greatness on FB and IG, and voila! Look at all of these awesome ideas!! Free, easy, and admin accomplishable!! Listed at the bottom are all the amazing educators who contributed! There were so many great ideas I couldn’t even add the cutesy clipart, just so I could fit it all in! Thank you SO much to those who commented!

Will you tackle this bucket list?? I think these ideas are GREAT…some are new to me (send welcome cards to new families, monthly! LOVE!) and some I’ve heard of and have yet to tackle (#noofficeday, darn it!!)

This makes me SO EXCITED about this semester!! Anyone want to race me, in completing this list?? #gameon!

Download the PDF here!


@PrestoPlans says she is also working on an admin version, keep an eye out for hers as well! #allthethings

#oneword2018 …but why pick just one?

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The world is awash with words, goals, and plans for the blank slate of 2018 that we all have ahead of us. I’ve blogged before about my goals, my reflections, and upcoming matters at hand (2016, 2015, 2104, 2012) and why should this year be any different? Considering that I don’t wear the same outfit twice in a season, the thought that one word can keep me focused on through 12 whole months seems…stifling. While I find myself much too loquacious to choose just one word…I do quite enjoy a plan. A plan that will hold me accountable, one that allows me to see how 2018 could be different for myself, both professionally and personally. A simple manifesto of thoughts, if you will, rather than a word.

 

This year I will:

  • read more. 120 books. That’s the goal. 10 a month…entirely accomplishable. All trackable on Goodreads…join me there and let’s share book suggestions!
  • blog more. Le sigh. I am hoping on down this list will be my solution for making this happen! Writing consistently is my version of a diary. It’s how I reflect upon my professional journey, and as my girls get older, a way that I share what matters.
  • friend more. I’ll turn the entirely too mature sounding 4-0 in 2018. (Eek!) While I certainly don’t FEEL like I’ve had four decades of living, I do recognize that I have been blessed with four decades of people in my life. I want to show that appreciation. I’ve already written down the names of people I care about in my planner and will reach out, each month. A year of blessings!
  • be more productive. I came across the concept of a “productivity bingo” on Instagram. (Are you on Instagram? It may actually be replacing twitter for me for ideas and great people!) Below will be my “first” attempt at a productivity bingo for the month of January. This allows me to transcend just one word for the year and gives me 12 opportunities to be successful. I can now make progress on my year, square by square. Some topics will roll over. Some won’t get done. But the potential for MORE? Always a possibility. 

 

If you’d like to make your own “git’R done”, here’s mine that you can edit to suit you and your goals! I’ve printed mine out and have it tucked away in my planner, just ready for me to cross off a square! To make it more exciting, I’ve added lil’prizes at the bottom. I love a good prize!

 

While it may seem that “more” might be my word, I think being intentional with what I choose to do, will allow me to actually do less while still getting’er done. And that? Seems perfect for 2018!

 

Complication of Kindness…is that a thing?

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Question:

As leaders, does one have to balance the gestures of kindness or acts of goodwill because of not being able to do it for everyone?

Example:

Student A is ill and misses a school event, and you are made aware of the illness/student sadness.

Do you respond, reach out,  & **insert kind gesture here**…for student A…

or

do nothing because there are always students who are ill and you’d be creating a precedent?

 

So very interested in your thoughts!!

 

 

StruggleN,

Amber

Why is appreciation so hard? Don’t let the Grinch get a’hold of you!

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Every day we are presented opportunities to say thank you. From a door being opened to the gift of a chipper coworker who lifts our spirits…this is a season of opportunities to be thankful and to say thank you. There is also scientific evidence that expressing genuine gratitude on a daily basis can improve physical health as well by improving quality of sleep, cardiovascular (heart) health and immune function.

Imagine that … something as simple as how we think about our lives and the people in them actually has a profound impact on our health!

Gratitude promotes optimism and helps us to develop a more positive outlook. Who doesn’t need more of that?? This season you can feel tired, you can feel run down. That to do list is ever looming, in addition to all the seasonal extras that seem to stack up! An easy way to help curb the grinchiness you may be feeling is to outwardly express appreciation for the gifts in your life. There is always something to be grateful for.

But what happens if you are NOT feeling appreciated? That you’re taken advantage of, or that all your hard works and energy/effort is taken for granted? I’m in a pretty awesome facebook group that my principal BFF, Melinda Miller, and I are running full of holiday prep & planning for our staff. It’s not uncommon for an admin to express a feeling of not being appreciated.

You’re not alone, friend.

Don’t lose sight of WHY you’re doing what you’re doing. You don’t do all that you do for words of appreciation. You do it because you are trying to create an environment of awesome. 

You are the architect of your environment.

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Culture matters. Creating a space where our teachers and our students are made to feel appreciated and WANT to be is a key component of our jobs…and that’s why you do what you do. Not for the thank you’s, but because it’s the RIGHT thing to do.

If you’re not feeling the love in your world, know that you are doing good work. You are doing some hard work. Some incredibly important work.

Take a moment to think about the people in your world…is there someone who might need to hear a “thank you” from you? Text or email…just a simple thought could bring a smile to someone’s face! Why don’t you text a principal friend RIGHT NOW? Just say “Hey…I see those long days you’re putting in…your staff is lucky to have such a dedicated leader!” Who wouldn’t have their day brightened by such a gesture? Even the Grinch would smile! (ok, he may smirk…but still!)

Please feel free to reread this as many times as you need too, 🙂 to help remind yourself that you are appreciated, even if not everyone vocalizes it…

 

Holiday hugN you,

Amta Claus

 

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