Throughout my career I've encountered both positive and not-so positive efforts related to development and change.
For the most part, top-down, exclusive, and secretive events have not been positive. I remember hearing about a new math program that was going to be implemented in September at the poolside one August. That was evidence of poor communication. Another time I heard news of a change that was going to impact me from the sidelines of my son's baseball game. That too was evidence of poor communication. On the other hand, I've received timely memos that clearly outline efforts past, efforts in place, and efforts to come in timely, helpful manners that respects my role and work as an educator--that's evidence of good communication. Recently a change in the system was communicated that way, and that communication resulted in little to no gossip or hearsay, but instead a transparent, timely information share that helped everyone to greet the change with respect, knowledge, and care.
Now it's not always possible to communicate change with perfect timeliness, inclusion, and transparency. Sometimes people on a team who are good communicators may be stymied by another team member that does not share in a timely or transparent manner. That can be frustrating. Or at other times, you can simply not share all the information because you miss something or some other matter took precedence. As a grade-level team we make every effort to keep people connected to our team in the loop of what's happened, what is happening, and what will happen. We do this because we know that the children profit from the ability of family members and teachers to team together to serve children well.
In the best of circumstances, positive development takes on an inclusive, transparent path that identifies the success criteria first, plans the path to that end, assesses along the way, makes needed changes, and evaluates and reflects at the end and then determines next steps. When the whole team is apart of the process, the developmental path is stronger and more successful.
For example, as we grow the science program, our initial success criteria is to successfully teach all the standards. Our secondary success criteria is to embed the SEL goal of teamwork into our effort Later we will assess our efforts and then work to develop our work more in deeper, more creative ways that best build students standards-based knowledge, the science practice skills, and SEL via dynamic multi-disciplinary projects and problem solving. The goals to deepen learning in meaningful, rich, engaging, and empowering ways is the goal of all the curriculum work we do.
Positive development and change also benefits from a servant-leadership mindset. Rather than taking a top-down view of a situation, servant leaders build up from the viewpoints, needs, and interests of those they serve. For classroom teachers, that means looking to the students and their families first when developing the curriculum program. Questions such as what do you need and how can I help you are essential questions in efforts like these. Taking students' points of view, needs, and interests seriously and responding accordingly is integral to this process. Education is not done to the children, but instead done for them and with them--they are the leaders and as educators we serve their needs.
This is an ideal formula for growth, and as I think about it, I'm thinking about how I can stay true to this with my work.
Next week offers a great opportunity as we listen to students present there learning highlights, needs, and interests to family members. I'll be listening carefully and thinking about the program overall as students present and parents respond. I'll be thinking about how I might help the students in ways that are meaningful to them.
I will also consult the data we collect and the goals and expectations set by many others who work in the system and incorporate those expectations and standards into the program too.
Positive development and change requires an inclusive, transparent, and responsive attitude. It won't always be perfect, but we can continually strive to do better.
