Look In: Improving Your Craft in Areas You Control

As I think about my job responsibilities this morning and the areas I wish to grow in, I want to look in. Yes, the decisions, schedules, structures, and colleagues around us impact our work, but we often don't have much control over those areas of school life. What we do have control over is the aspects of school life that are in close proximity--areas such as the daily schedule, learning experience design, listening, response, and our own preparation for teaching well.

With this in mind, I short list again priorities with the following questions.

1. How can I  make the classroom atmosphere and structure more conducive to dynamic learning?
2. How can I design learning experiences with and for students with greater strength?
3. How can I respond and work with students and colleagues with a demeanor that's positive, uplifting, rightly challenging, encouraging, truthful, and kind?
4. How can I help colleagues who ask a question or demonstrate a need?
5. How can I seek the help of thoughtful, supportive colleagues to learn more and teach better?
6. How can I continue to grow my repertoire of skill, knowledge, and presentation?
7. How can I contribute to the larger organization in ways that make a difference?

Looking in is an important part of the work we do as educators. It's also important to look out and work towards systematic change, but as Steve Gross, Chief Playmaker of Life is Good, suggests it's best to "look out" and make the changes beyond our control with others, and to recognize that our impact on that change will take time and we may not even get to see the results of that work.

So for today, I'll look in, and do what I can to improve my craft and service to children. Let me know if you have suggestions in this regard.