How will you build capacity for future endeavor and success?
What will you do?
I read multiple comments by educators who are clearly honing their virtual teaching/learning skills this summer. I was inspired by their efforts and comments. I was also reminded about how important it is to continually build your capacity for better teaching, better learning, and better living.
It's easy to simply talk about this, and it is more difficult actually developing a pattern to make it happen. This is even more difficult when your goals may be different than your colleagues. For example, one of my goals is an all-for-me goal, and as I write, I realize that it's important to gather a team of others who share that goal.
Overall, I have the following goals this summer, goals that match the pandemic limitations.
Greater intimacy
I want to build my personal relationships with greater intimacy and by that, I mean deeper, better conversations and support for one another. Often we're in a rush, and this is a time to slow down and think about who these people are, the promise our relationships hold, and how I can support and develop these relationships with strength.
Strong family culture and positive relationships
I'm going deeper with my research related to quality relationship building--I know that deep, meaningful, productive relationships lay the foundation for good living and good work. I want to understand this with greater depth and will read, reflect and write about this over the summer.
Anti-racism
I'm focused on the book, White Fragility, this summer via reading, reflection, and connecting with others via an online book group. I want to translate this learning into better anti-racist living, teaching, and advocacy.
Brain-friendly math teaching and learning
I will read and study Boaler's book, Limitless Mind, to understand how I can boost brain-friendly teaching and learning in math and across all disciplines.
Tech skills finesse
I am going to finesse my skills with a number of tech tools and skills that I'll forward with students and my grade-level team in the fall. I'm excited about sharing this learning with students as I know it will empower them to be awesome learners, self advocates, and successful, happy people.
Health
As always, I'm striving to put health and fitness high on the priority list. I tend to negate this in favor of other goals, but I know that this is very important in order to keep up with my wonderful, energized colleagues, family members, and students--I want to be in tip top health as I love having good energy to enjoy all that life has to offer.
