Excellent discussion on the first two chapters of the book. We will try to post every Monday, giving you one week to read and respond. Remember to add your name so that you can receive credit!
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- What is the collegial atmosphere of your school like?
- What's your personal sense of belonging like at your school? How has that changed over time?
- How connected are you with administration? If it could be better, what would that look, sound, and feel like? What are some ways that could happen?
- How well do teachers connect with students at your school? How well do you know your students? How do you balance knowing your students and making positive connections with keeping a professional working relationship with them?
- How well do you know the families of your students? How well do they know you? How can connecting with families help your students learn more?
- What kinds of connections do you have with the educational community beyond your classroom and school? How do your own experiences match some of the current challenges and trends in education?
Suggested Activities:
- Create a list of the colleagues with whom you already feel connected. Create a list of colleagues with whom you would like to connect.
- Find a group of colleagues who would like to collaborate and choose a focus: a book group, a discussion group, or walk-and-talk group. Choose a first meeting date and get started!
- Invite your administrator(s) in for a visit. Keep it simple and low-key. Let them know ahead of time what you're doing and what you want them to see and give them a couple of days advance notice.
- Try the activity from Don Graves' book: A Sea of Faces: The Importance of Knowing Your Students, p. 3–4. Create a three-column chart. In the first column, write your students' names (in the order in which you remember them). In the second column, write something personal about each of them (Susan likes to paint, Mark watches Nascar, Latia has a younger sister, etc.). In the third column, make a checkmark if you have connected with each student about that personal knowledge in the past couple of weeks.
- Find one way you can better connect with families. Try it and share with a colleague.
- Choose a way to link in or connect with educators outside of your building/district. Join a blog, subscribe to a publication, attend a conference, or sign up for an online course. Share this connection with at least one other colleague at your school.
This chapter made me a little sad. As an adult I find that forming connections and making friends both professionally and personally is much more difficult. I was shocked to hear the statistics of how students proficiency went up as the school focused on relationships. It does make sense though. This is a topic that I often talk about with Matt because as transplants into such a tight knit community, we often make excuses as to why we sometimes fail to make connections. What this chapter outlined however is that in order to form these relationships often we must take the initiative. NO MORE EXCUSES! I love the idea of meeting one day for a happy hour! I find that food often makes for a lighter less stressful environment too "get to know each other." I think I am going to try and start a bunko club! Some of my best years I can think of teaching were the ones where my colleagues and I were on an intramural volleyball team (The Spicy Jalapenos!) or the Bunko club in Auburn, or when we met for happy hour in Tampa. These professional connections really made work and the culture much better. That said, I think I need to make the time and effort to reach out and create these relationships knowing how important they are! Please be on the lookout for a Bunko invite!
ReplyDeleteFood is definitely a segway to building relationships! Although, after reading Chapter 2 we need to be careful about the food choices we make. ;) Looking forward to a Bunko invite!
DeleteSign me up for Bunko!
DeleteI feel that the collegial atmosphere at Check is very healthy. We are so blessed to have a workplace and learning place for our students that is packed with quality people from the top down. Folks here truly care for, and about each other. As soon as many students pour through the doors each morning, they begin to seek out teachers to hug. That says a lot. While reading this chapter, I came across numerous positive interaction strategies that already exist at Check. I'm sure that I know my band students better than any other students here. After all, I've had them in Gen. Music class since Kindergarten, and now work with them daily as 6th and 7th grades. We have a lot of fun in band. Fun learning, fun building friendships, and fun working together for a common goal. I know most of my band parents. I had quite a few of them as band students as well! I always try to take a moment to say something good about their child and/or class. Conversations are almost always positive. Students, Parents, Principal, Teachers, Office Staff, TAs, Custodians - I thing, each group is very proud of what we have here at Check. I pray the atmosphere will remain this way. No wonder other schools are jealous. No wonder why people want to work at this school.
ReplyDeleteI truly agree with you about the positive atmosphere! I am SO proud when I say I work at Check!
DeleteCES is a special place. When you walk in, you can feel that people care about each other and care about our students. We are blessed!
DeleteI love, Love, LOVE working at CES! I have been asked multiple times why I didn't want to transfer to FES this year from people who know I live closer. The simple answer-I already work at the best school with the most wonderful people! The amazing thing about CES is that last year, even when I hadn't been here long enough to build the relationships and friendships I now have, everyone came together to support my family through the tough year that we had. I know relationships go a long way, but it absolutely says something about the kind of people we get the joy of working with daily when they come together for a person they barely know. I absolutely love my team! I can't imagine a school day if I didn't have them and the relationships we have developed. They are not only a support system during school, but out as well, as they have all become some of my best friends. You can just feel the love and community the second you walk in the door and I attribute that to how much we all appreciate each other. We are connected in and out of school and constantly care about each other's non-teaching lives as well. I also love some of the upcoming events we have for next year that will help us connect better with our student's families. I feel I have strong connections with all of my students, but lack that same connection will all of their families. We can always get stronger, but I feel that our collegial climate is top-knotch. I would LOVE to see us do more activities outside of school, making time for each other in different ways...maybe even some sports teams for some healthy competitions and habit building! :)
ReplyDeleteWe had school volleyball teams one year and played each other. I'll talk it up with the other principals and see if that is something we can explore!
DeleteI love this idea! It would be a blast!
DeleteI love working at CES! The student relationships and staff relationships are amazing! I feel like I can talk to anyone at CES about anything and that they actually want to hear about what you have to say! When I did my practicum, student teaching, and long term subbing in Washington Co. schools I felt semi-comfortable but never totally welcome. The different departments for the most part were close but no where near as close as the team I have at CES nor the inner grade relationships which I love. Also, I am very excited about our gain of 3 new teachers this year! I hope that I can help make them feel just as well as all of the staff made me feel when I started!
ReplyDeleteThe student to teacher relationships are also wonderful here but last year, I have to admit, sometimes I would get jealous of Mary because I felt like she had more time to bond with our 6th graders than I did since she has them for 2 class periods, BUT then I realized this year how incredibly lucky that I am that I get to have them for two whole years in a row which really makes our relationship stronger.
As for extending our relationships, I would love for us to continue/ re-vamp our walking "club." The author did make a very good point when he said to make sure that it is routine (same day always). This year it has kind of fallen apart because we haven't make it as routine, which relating back to the first chapter, makes it even more of an excellent idea.
Lastly, I absolutely LOVE working in our community- we have great parents, grandparents, and volunteers. I always wanted to return to FCPS since it is my alma mater;however, sometimes I wish I did have slight anonymity because out of this entire school year, I have not been to the grocery store once when I did not see a parent of one my children. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing them and that they know who I am and want to talk, sometimes I even approach them to talk, but there are a few times that I would like to go grocery shopping and turn off my school brain! Plus it really does make you aware of what you are always wearing and look like :)
& what you are buying! ;) I love our little walking club - even if we have only walked a handful of times this spring. I like the idea of planning on the same day.
DeleteKnow that I am super jealous you get them for two whole years! You get the excitement of watching them become more adult like and see the changes more than I do! This year is great though because at least I get to be with them sometimes!
DeleteI miss being at Check everyday since I have been on maternity leave!! I feel such a love and connection everyday when I am there. I have built some amazing friendships and professional relationships in the 5 years I have been there. It is so special to me that I have been able to share huge life moments (marriage and baby) with my CES community. Everyone is so supportive of each other and really check in on each other. I believe the students see that and is one of the reasons that students love coming to school. They can see a loving and caring environment and feel safe and supported. It has also been a pleasure to have multiple kids from the same family in my class; or children that are related. I have been able to really connect with the families that way. It is nice to have former parents want to come up to you and chat and share with you how their children are doing. One of the reasons I love Back to School night!
ReplyDeleteI would like to connect with educators more outside our community. I recently joined Twitter...yeah I know I am late in the game. I am still trying to figure it all out, but I have started to follow some educational organizations and blogs. If you have any recommendations let me know.
Go Leslie!! It's never too late to join Twitter! Check out some of the people I follow (@MrsJCromer) they are always teaching me something!
DeleteWhen we first decided to move to Floyd I remember a conversation that I had with a dear friend of my mom's, who used to work at Check many many years ago. Her comment to me was "Oh, Check is just such a special place. You will be lucky to work there and for your kids to grow up there". She was beyond right. My first realization of that was when Leslie Conner was ill and there was a spaghetti dinner for his family. I was overwhelmed by the number of people in line to support this family. I left the school in tears knowing that this was truly a community who loved each other. Being a "transplant" with two kids in many different activities, I do sometimes feel that it is hard to make connections with staff outside of school for "fun" because I am so caught up in the lives of my two little ones. However, during the school day I love that teachers always smile and laugh and the "silly" things/dress that go on. It gives the kids a chance to see us let our hair down a little and not be so serious all the time. It makes them want to come to school because we all want to be there.
ReplyDeleteMy other favorite part of this chapter was the quote by Mickey Corso about "being good with children, but not so good with adults". I chuckled and underlined it because that is exactly how I feel on those parent open house nights, SOL nights, and any time I'm talking with parents. I like the little people a whole lot better!!
Regarding the collegial atmosphere of my work environment, as an itinerant employee, my situation is unique. Overall, I will say that each school I work in has been welcoming, and most everyone has been friendly and helpful; overall, FCPS is a positive atmosphere, esp., in the K-12 schools, where I spend most of my time. Since I am engaging in a book study with CES folks, I can safely and openly share that in conversation beyond the schools, more than once I have said that I call CES “the sunshine school.” Each school has its own culture, and CES feels consistently upbeat. It is clear that all who work here are so happy in and proud of their workplace and team. Some days it feels especially uplifting to be at CES. My son enters kindergarten in the fall of 2017, and I feel so reassured that he will attend CES. Thank you to CES for being who and what you are.
ReplyDeleteDespite the various forms of welcome I feel in FCPS, I would not be telling the full story if I omitted that being in a non-traditional teaching role can be isolating. Sometimes, literally/physically, I am isolated as I meet with students in whatever nook is available for the moment. Other times, it is isolating because, I know, especially during crunch times during the regular school year—like SOL time-- that I have been regarded as someone who doesn’t “get” the day-to-day of a teacher’s life, someone who is not with these students each day nor in this school each day, so I am removed and don’t see the big picture, that I don’t understand “how it is.”
In contrast, I do get it, and I have the utmost respect for every bit of what every teacher is offering of her/himself in the “field.” To be fair, each educator role has its unique challenges and rewards.
As a specialist, I have found some shared understanding of in some other specialists, including, for math, ELL, library, and art. While I am not always near one of these folks when I need a moment to share, to vent, to ask for affirmation, I can email one of them and get some direction or feedback. These occasions have sometimes served as turning points for my day. On other occasions, even with these folks who share similar circumstances, I remain on the outside in my still somewhat “newbie” status.
In terms of greater collegiality, I would like to better know the parents of the students I serve. I need to brainstorm some ways to better allow for this. In terms of greater educational community, I am working hard, at the Regional level to be involved with other gifted personnel in Region VI, which is sometimes challenging, because we are a bit far flung. Still, I am already looking forward to the first Region VI meeting in September, as well as the first gifted conference of the year, also in September. Time to talk with folks in similar positions. Finally, I will continue to strive for further collegiality at the schools within the county, by continuing to be myself with everyone and connecting over professional items but also but also through sharing and taking interest in folks’ real-life beyond the schools. (That activity Anderson sites of Graves’ for connecting to students would be beneficial to use with respect to colleagues, too.)