I was reading today that relationships were the key in schools and other organizations. I find this increasingly more the longer I teach. In fact, I think that of all the new strategies and tools that I've used over the years, the one thing that has seen the most consistent gains in student achievements is when I focus on relationships with the students and show then that I believe in them and their growing abilities. "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." This is a simple statement that rings true more often than not.
Another post I read that also made me think was about leaders. The author had a list of traits that he found most important in leaders he respected. I would suggest that this list could easily be written about teachers (besides some changes in wording or examples). Here is the list: •Integrity: They know how to build trust, when and how to share information, and are expert listeners. A lack of integrity is a deal breaker for me. If I can’t trust my boss, I can’t stay. •Curiosity: They are internally motivated to increase their knowledge base and to convert their learning into actionable initiatives. They are not afraid to question, challenge, or confront the status quo. •Intellectual Capacity: They are good thinkers at both the strategic and tactical levels. They are quick on their feet and know how to get to the root of an issue faster than anyone else. •Action Orientation: They have a strong bias to action, and they lead the charge. •Social Acumen: They understand how to recruit, develop, and deploy talent, focusing on applying the best talent to the best opportunities. They also know when it is time to make changes and cut losses as needed. •Confidence without Conceit: Their egos are the right size – big enough to go to bat to the higher-ups on behalf of their direct reports, but not so big that they can’t admit when they are wrong or when they need help. •Respect: They treat everyone with respect, from the CEO to the janitor. From: http://blog.mindleaders.com/how-do-good-leaders-rally-the-troops/
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CategoriesJames KlassenI am a teacher. I have held various teaching positions, mostly in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, since 1987. I believe that teachers have the opportunity to inspire deep and meaningful learning and that all learners create their knowledge in ways that are connected to their interests and within their social context. I have observed many waves of educational "reform" come and go and remain hopeful that schools will be transformed into places where all learners desire to be creators and consumers of knowledge and that, together, each member of this community will become prepared to face their world in both skills and attitudes. |