Things Leaders Should Not Say…

25 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Authentic, Culture, Education, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Mandates, Purpose, Relationships, Servant, Teachers, Value

≈ 10 Comments

Remember growing up and hearing… “Do as I say, not as I do?” If it was not heard in your house, then you probably heard it somewhere else. Maybe there is a need for it while you are young and learn to be more mature with age, but when did you really take notice of the fact that “Do as I say, not as I do” phrase quit carrying value?

Better yet, let me drop this phrase on you… “Because I said so…” Heard that lately? The same questions from above can be asked here as well. How about this one… “You signed up for this…” or “Well, this is the way we are going to do it, and if you don’t like it…” One more, “We have always done it this way…”

Let’s look at it from an organizational perspective with leadership…

What is going on if you are hearing that from leadership in your work environment? Questions that quickly come to mind… What does it say about the culture of your work environment, and what is it saying about them, as a leader, directly?

As for culture, I believe that it is set by the group as a whole but is determined and sometimes developed by the expectations of leadership. To start, let me say that I believe culture is learned behavior until an agent of change comes in, or there is a paradigm shift. Too often, we forget that our culture is what we make it, not always what is mandated. However, if leadership is not abiding in and with the same parameters of their own expectations, then a disconnect is easily seen. Once it is seen, that disconnect creates breaks that has a hard time healing.

As for why a leader would have to say the above statements, well… Often leaders will say they operate on a different set of “rules.” Really? Different roles, yes, but rules? Nothing brings resentment to the boiling point quicker than a leader asking someone to do something they are not willing to do themselves, or stating they do not have to follow certain rules because they are in a position of leadership.

Last thought… What we say as leaders matter, how we actively live what we speak out matters even more—any saying that limits the originality or the why of your culture shows a mindset that is unwilling to grow, resentment will build, and relationships will suffer.

If a leader is having to say comments like these mentioned above or any others that come to your mind, then odds are they are very close to losing the culture, the respect, and, most of all, their leadership. They might still be in “charge,” but it is truly by title only. It might be due to their insecurities, knowing they really do not understand how to be a leader.

It would be interesting to hear from readers as to what you think leaders should not say… I bet we could get a pretty good running thread…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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Are we grabbing our student’s attention?

18 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by The Book Chamber in Attention, coronavirus, COVID-19, Education, Leader, Leadership, Purpose, Relationships, Teachers

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Question of the day…

Outside of the fact that a student has to come to your classroom because you teach the class they “have to take,” would a student want to take your class?

I will pause to give you time to answer that…

First, we should state that you actually teach your subject. Ok, with that established, let’s discuss…

Walking around and listening and seeing how and what other teachers do is impressive to me. I have often said that if you can get a student wanting to come to your class, regardless of the subject, they will be better students in your topic. Outstanding teachers have a way of “grabbing a student’s attention.”

Most of the time, it has nothing to do with the subject matter. It could be the teacher’s personality, how they speak to students in the hallway, or their welcoming as students come to the door.

I know we always say, “Let’s make learning fun.” But do we do that? Much of that can be answered with the why students “want” to come to your class. What are you doing differently than other teachers? What are you saying to students? And the critical question might just be, how are you making your students feel?

I heard Josh McDowell, Christian author, and speaker, once say, “You can con a kid and kid a con, but you can’t con a kid.” Our students are much more intelligent than we give them credit for sometimes. It does not take them long to figure you out as a teacher or leader.

The challenge to reach students, especially in the middle of our school situation with the coronavirus pandemic, is getting harder and harder. We have to find ways to grab their attention.

Today and every day is a day that we all have another chance to do just that. Some gesture, some tidbit, some __ (you fill in the blank). It might be nothing more than standing a broom up in the middle of the hallway (see pic for today) and with no strings attached.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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Teaching on a “wing” and a “prayer” – It is NOT what students need right now…

11 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by The Book Chamber in Consistency, coronavirus, COVID-19, Distance Learning, Education, Effective, Expectations, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Lesson Plans, Opportunity, Preparation, Teachers, Technology

≈ 3 Comments

Our hallways are less crowded, classes have fewer students, the parking lot is easier to maneuver, temperatures are taken before room entry, and lunch is eaten in the classrooms. Lessons are traditional for some, virtual for others, and hybrid based on the alphabet of a student’s last name. To top it off, I write this being “masked-up.” People say this is the “new” normal. I say this is what normal is now. Normal is normal, and we play the hand we are dealt with. You are probably thinking, “What a crappy hand!”

Yes, this is where we are with our education of 2020, thus far. One week from spring break five months ago, who would have thought we would be where we are now in September? Consistency of how we teach as we know it, like Elvis, has left the building. Our apple cart has been upset, and it is turned over.

Given all that we have to do differently now, a few thoughts come to mind after five weeks back in school…

Really great teachers are going to excel even better. That’s why they are fantastic, to begin with. They are prepared, on time, delivery of the lessons only changes for the better, and expectations are still high. They always meet and greet students as they have in the past, regardless of whether they live or on the Zoom screen. These are the teachers who go out of their way, no matter what. Not much really needs to be said about this group other than thank you.

Now it gets a little sticky…

What about teachers who are not so great or just not good at all? Yes, contrary to popular belief, they are out there… Odds are, we all know one or two, or…

While some of us are really good at “winging it” and can teach on the fly (it is a gift, but not always suggested), there are some who are staring at the wall, praying that lessons will somehow magically appear on their computers in a zip file that only needs to be downloaded and open. Those who cannot “wing it and fly,” well… their lessons are stuck at the terminal, and the students are getting bumped.

But guess what? There is hope for them. I believe there is an opportunity for these teachers to grow and improve, but there must be a “want to” in them. Teaching virtual and live simultaneously exposes one’s teaching quickly—especially their instruction delivery. However, what an opportunity teachers have now to make sure lessons are pertinent and intentional. Yes, more preparation will be required, and they might actually have to ask for help. The best way to get rid of a “not so good” teacher is to make them a better teacher.

And for all of us, let’s make sure we continue to be intentional with our teaching. Regardless of whether a student enjoys your subject or not, find a way to provide an inviting atmosphere for your classroom, both for virtually and live. This is a consistency that should not change.

Yes, teaching is WORK… more work now than usual. Education will always matter, no more now than at any other time. However, teaching might be remembered more now than ever.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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Lesson plans? They probably do not include these things…

28 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by The Book Chamber in Agenda, coronavirus, covid19, Culture, Decisions, Distance Learning, Education, Educational Leadership, Leader, Leadership, Lesson Plans, Teachers, Understanding, Value

≈ 1 Comment

Lesson plans… who really needs them at a time like this?

First, let me preface that I am not a huge “lesson plan” educator kinda guy. Often times, lesson plans are more of a “dog and pony show” than actually containing value for both the student and the teacher. And for those of you who know me, you know that I believe education should be anything but “fake.” Who should lesson plans be for anyway? I have never had a student come up to me and ask, “What does your lesson plan look like today?” Needless to say, I am more of an agenda/syllabus teacher. Anyway… I digress…

Lesson plans…

Always thought out, methodical, on schedule, time-consuming, TTW, TSW aligned with the pacing guide, etc… (I’m worn out just typing this…)

But what about now? Where is the idea of lesson plans with teaching via Zoom or virtual? Hybrid? Or any other way that is “non-traditional?” Yes, we still need a plan, but how does that look? Usually, what we start out wanting in not always what we get…

Of all the “stuff” that lesson plans are to contain, here are a few thoughts of mine… during this time of the “unknown” as everyone calls it, that lesson plans cannot measure…

Connection – Not with the computer, but you, as the teacher. Find a way to connect with your students. Take a moment to make a moment. How do you write that on your lesson plans? Odds are, you do not… It just comes naturally. Listen to comments being made and chase some rabbits. Call out your student’s names during the lesson. Find out something about them and touch on that at different times. Subtle acts of acknowledgment go further than you realize.

Easability – Yes, that is a word in my vocabulary, and it needs to be in yours. You can teach content, have it relevant, and have it high on Bloom’s taxonomy, but please do not put extra stress on a student. Not every student in every school has the same “learning” capabilities with technology or anything else for that matter. Teach your lessons and facilitate them. As you have probably noticed with the current status we are in, not all schools are equitable and fair with their resources. This is not the student’s fault.

Opporchallengy – Yes, another made-up word that I use… Every teacher, more than likely, is teaching differently. Think about it this way… Whatever way school is set up, teachers have had to build their class culture and day-to-day activities for classes they have never seen “live.” So much is to be said for educators who have the characteristic of adaptability because they see challenges as opportunities, hence my word, opporchallengy.

Strange times to be an educator. I know there are not any quick fixes right now, and I have a lot of questions. I have a few answers too, but nobody really wants to hear them… In the end, our job is to find ways to reach students like we never have before. How do we do that? Not by lesson plans, but with you. You are that one constant in a student’s life. Be the educator they need “live” and not on paper.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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