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

A book study via Facebook… #InnovatorsMindset #thefirstyear

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innovators mindset bookstudyWe have a collective leadership team on this campus that is undertaking a book study this semester. When looking at the hectic schedule that we already know is in place, we had to get creative in how we would undertake adding an additional to do.

First, I knew that I needed a book that would be timely and relevant to where we are in our journey as a campus. I wanted something that was easy to read, but something that could guide us from where we are to a more collaborative, innovative place. It would also be more beneficial if it impacted our practices from THEIR mindset shift, versus a top-down approach.

Second, there wasn’t a day or an hour that would have worked for multiple teachers on multiple grade levels. I’ve done a Twitter book study before but knew that I wanted deeper conversations.

Third, I’ve had some great conversations with my PLN about how I needed to be able to sustain the energy and focus that I have this first year moving forward. I have to be able to manage adding a book study. I needed a time management piece.

The solution?

The Innovator’s Mindset, by George Couros…as a book study in a closed Facebook group, that I can schedule using PostCron.

Several friends have done book studies on FB, and speak to the ease of conversations, of the simplicity in posting images with questions, and the management piece.

I created question images using Canva and have scheduled them to post using postcron. They’ll post on Mondays, early, so that as teachers read they can come back and reflect on the questions. On Wednesday, I’ll post a video or blog post that goes along with the chapter as well for further thought.

FB schedule

Luckily. George has provided all of these resources for me on his website. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

I’ll keep you posted on how effortless, and yet impactful, this book study truly is!

 

Mindset ready,

Amber

 

Purpose & Positivity, part 1 #thefirstyear

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breaks-over-time-to-remember-what-day-it-is-and-wear-real-pants-61f1dI can’t believe my first semester as principal is over. This being the only post I’ve made in December shows just how fast it has flown by. I think I’ve started 5 different blogs this month and got carried away each time. I’ll just delete those and combine here, 🙂

 

I need time to both slow down and hurry up. My superintendent says it best, “The years are fast, but the days are long.” I want time to move quicker so that I can get through all the firsts. Everything on our calendar, through each day, is another “first” for me as principal. Each experience sets the new normal. I am defining how things will look moving forward, advertently and inadvertently. I want to get through all these and feel more secure in what my world looks like. At the same time, I want to savor each opportunity. I want to appreciate that I ‘ll never have this “first” experience in this role again. I can’t believe I am already half-way through this year!

Things I’ll continue:

  • Daily positivity quotes: I started posting a daily reaffirming quote on FB each day several years ago when dealing with a particularly ugly professional situation. I literally post something every day that speaks to MY heart but get so many people that say it speaks to them as well. Though that time thankfully has long past, I still enjoy posting.
  • Owning my calendar: I use an Erin Condren planner and have gotten into the habit of writing it ALL there. From walk-through plans to my beat’s basketball games, it serves as a guide, as a compass, and an easy way to journal what each season of my world looks like. I’ve written about it before here, and you can get $10 off of your very own here, 🙂
  • Keeping up: I take this notebook to every single meeting I go too. I tab the tops with the date and meeting title, and it has been SO MUCH EASIER having all of my notes in one place. I know it is contradictory for me to be so “techie”, and still depend on my planner and notebook, 🙂 but it is what it is! You can get $10 off on for you here. (And yes, I could have bought a regular ol’notebook at the store, but this one is so much more sturdy, and taking it with me everywhere, I needed it to be dependable.

Things I won’t continue:

  • Not owning my calendar. When I hit pause on writing it all down, I inevitably get behind. I even plan in when I am going to plan. I have a poster in my office where my AP and I wrote down ALL the big picture items to focus on this year, and if it isn’t on that poster, then it can’t take up my time. Sometimes saying no is harder than saying yes!
  • Feeling guilty about all the no’s. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by the awesomeness of some pretty great principals. I have got to stop thinking I can keep up with them all. Every day I see something that makes me go “Oh! I want to…” and I have to come back, look at my big picture poster, and self-monitor myself. I have time to do all the things…it doesn’t have to happen this year, or at the same time!
  • Hitting compacity. Angela Watson is a pretty great friend of mine, and she asked me a pretty direct question recently. Am I moving at a pace that I am going to maintain each year? I have spent more of my $$$ than my husband can ever know about (gulp.), spent more late nights at school, created “more” than I ever have…and at some point, I need to realize that I have to set parameters on what I am giving. I wrote about checking your scales here, and in 2016 I am going to be a better balance’r. Another smart friend told me think of it this way, 
    ” No matter how fast or new a computer is, it will always hit compacity

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That being said, I will be better about posting this semester, 🙂 Thank you to those who have emailed asking where I’ve been. I am back on the bandwagon, and will write more regularly. I also have some fabulous new “Fab Friday’s in February” I’ll share soon!

 

Hope you and yours have had a great holiday and a happy new year!

teamann

 

Amber

 

 

Honor traditions #thefirstyear #VeteransDay

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There is a tradition at my campus each November. The third grade presents a huge Veteran’s Day program. There are elaborate costumes, gut wrenching songs, and even more special, heartfelt reverence and appreciation.

Frequently we challenge the status quo of always doing the “same ol’thing” and I, in particular, am a fan of making positive student supporting changes. But when looking at the tradition of the Veteran’s Day program that I am in awe of last night…I can’t imagine it not being a part of what we do here.

Now, I have ALSO been a part of cultures where the same thing is done each year, but there was no ceremony…no tradition about it. It was just “the way it was always done”.  It was easier for the teacher, it required minimal thought/effort.  There’s a difference and a good leader can tell between the two.

When making changes, make sure that you aren’t changing for changes sake. Evaluate what you are wanting to do, talk to the people involved…gauge the impact change would have. As a leader (and we are all leaders in one form or another), it is very important to understand the power of we have in our choices and changes we make.  

Don’t waste your power taking away something that BUILDS up and SUPPORTS the culture that you want!

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I was honored to read a list honoring our veterans and the wolves who love them last night. I was prepared with my list, knew how to say each tricky name. What I wasn’t prepared for was each service member and his/her wolf walking up to the front of the stage beside me. Some brought ornately framed pictures, instead of a person.

(Note: These are the things you should warn your new principal that are going to happen!) I know while reading those first four names my voice cracked, and I almost started bawling. (I kept reciting in my head rainbowsunicornsYOUARETHEPRINCIPALunicornsrainbows.)

It was moving. It was powerful. It was humbling.

And it will not be changed, anytime soon.

 

Tradition appreciative,

Amber

Trust #thefirstyear #cpchat

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“Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.” Francis Bacon

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How do you build trust? How do you get to a point where you trust someone?

Time. Time. Time.

It takes time to develop trust…on both sides of leadership. How do you build that? One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is to assume that others trust him simply by virtue of his title. Trust is not a benefit that comes packaged with the nameplate on your door. It must be earned, and it takes time.

By being transparent, and sharing your thinking. By being vocal, and asking your questions. By being appreciative, and saying so. By being supportive, and doing so.

You have to do these things. And do them consistently. Not just days…not just weeks…but months. It takes months. Don’t forget that. Remember that no matter how amazing you are (cough cough) you are still new to them, and they are still new to you. There are many facets to learning each other…and that? takes time.

And if you’re lucky…you’ll find people who do all of these things beside you.

Lucky girl,

Amber

Connected Educator Month, 2015 #CEM15

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Even though it looks different for each learner, being a connected educator simply means leveraging technology to expand one’s personal learning network. Doing so not only provides you with a network of like-minded people, but also inspires you to try new activities and strategies to create the most effective learning environment for your students.

No one has time to be alone on their educator island!

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Jump in this month and try something new!

There is a calendar through ASCD & the USDOE and  that gives a multitude of activities that you can partake in.  From tweeting to blogging to an online book club, there’s an activity for every type of learner. Defining what being what a connected educator looks like for you is step one!

I know right now, at this point in your year you’re thinking nuh uh, I can’t handle ANYTHING else. Trust me, we get that. These activities were intentionally easy,  applicable, and designed to help get you CONNECTED…which in turn should make your life easier.

Angela Watson, from The Cornerstone for Teachers, who is just a little slice of heaven, puts it like this “Has teaching gotten a little monotonous? Are your students driving you nuts? Are you bogged down by all the demands of teaching and losing sight of the big picture? Do you often dread or feel ambivalent about going to work each day? If the answer to any of those questions is YES, then becoming a connected educator is necessary.”

But wait, Amber, how does this all translate to helping students learn?

Educators are models of learning for kids.

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As educators’ learning shifts from the “sit and get” model to the collaboration model, that shift hopefully transfers to their teaching as well. If an educator controls his or her learning through self-direction, that learning becomes more meaningful. Authentic self-directed learning becomes self-motivating. That does more than translate to a better-educated educator — it also creates a teacher advocate for collaborative learning. AND that, quite simply, is where we are going! It’s easier  to differentiate, assess, and KNOW our students using this form of pedagogy, vs again, that traditional sit & get model. 3

We’re challenging our teachers to complete a “connected bingo” this month, knowing that if do  they’ll have changed the dynamics of their classroom, and the mindsets of their teaching!

Connectedly,

Amber