Embracing the Void

Embracing the Void

I’m sitting in a high school classroom the day after one of the closest elections in American history.  One that is safe to say, surprised the world.  An election that has divided more than embraced, that insulted more than built up, that built walls instead of bridges. An election filled with profanity, scandals and insults.  I have 20 students looking at me. A look of bewilderment on their faces, even from those whose candidate won.  Their looking for answers.  How did the press get it all so wrong?  How did ALL the polls fail to paint an accurate picture?  Why does or did that party hate their own candidate?  Is he really going to build a wall?  Are we going to war...again?  What will happen now?  All good questions that educators MUST face the day after an election that certainly shocked even Trump supporters.  

Great educators do NOT avoid tough topics!

What is more concerning to educators is the growing void that has appeared during this election.  This is not just the usual political party banter either.  It’s bigger than that.  It is a void between conventional wisdom and reality, a void between voter demographics, a void between character and winning, a void between rhetoric and vision, a void between modesty and ego, a void between what we taught students was right about politics and reality, a void between Trump’s “plan” and his own party's vision.  Then there are those kids...20 of them...looking for a clue as to how it all went down.  Some pleasantly surprised, others with dashed hopes...but all with questions.  These are questions one would hope would be answered around the dinner table.  But the reality for many is that it falls to educators to embrace this void and tackle these tough questions.  Great educators do NOT avoid tough topics!

So how does an educator embrace this void?  Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:

Focus on the future...not about winning or losing.  It’s over.  Clinton put up a good campaign but lost.  It’s time to move on.  Focusing on the ensuing process leading up to the inauguration is key.  Create a wall of potential cabinet positions and what each person chosen brings to the table.  Keep the focus on moving forward...NOT reliving the loss or the win.  

Unify the classroom with issues to solve...it’s not about THEM anymore...it’s about WE and US from now on.  WE have issues and real problems to discuss and solve TOGETHER.  Remember to put a face with an issue.  The term “issues” really means people are suffering and WE can fix it!

Celebrate the process...bring your attention back to the electoral process, the popular vote and what happens when you don’t win both?  What history and statistics can tell you (this has now happened 5 times...and only one won re-election by-the-way)?  Focus on who voted (demographics) and why (issues).  This will spur great classroom discussions about education, socio-economics and equality issues.  You know...real issues!

Be the calming force...remember this is NOT a dictatorship.  There is a process with 535 members of congress, 9 Supreme Court Justices and 50 Governors.  When President Obama won in 2008 and took the House and Senate it was not the smooth sailing Democrats thought it would be.  Remember, if you lose your cool you are telling your students they can do the same.  It’s ok to be upset, happy and/or passionate about a candidate winning/losing.  Let students express their thoughts, fears and hopes!  

Hope...in the end ask students what issues they would want to solve if they were president now.  What issues do they see as the most important and more importantly how would they solve them?  Always moving forward...put one foot in front of the other...just keep swimming...you get the idea.  

Lessons of Summer

Summer is here!  It’s a time for kids to shed the book bags, get outside more, and travel.  It is a time kids all look forward to.  I can’t imagine anyone’s child NOT looking forward to summer!  As educators, we can learn a lot from this time of year.  It would be too easy to say that our love affair with summer is that there is no homework or kids can sleep in.  Summer is a time where kids not only get to move, travel, explore and get dirty…it’s an expected behavior.  As parents, we demand our kids get outside, move, play, travel if possible and be more active and social.  We plan for it by sending our kids to camps or making travel plans well in advance.  Being more active is the expectation.

As educators, we can learn a lot from this expected behavior.  We can capitalize on it and harness this in our classrooms.  The single common denominator is movement.  Many outside of education would believe that teachers are “off” for the summer.  That myth needs to be dispelled.  In fact, it takes most of the summer to prepare for the next batch of young bright minds.  For educators, professional development also changes in the summer. Teachers arrive with more vigor; PD becomes more relaxed and collaborative.  Hours of professional development, reading, writing (much like this) and well…movement are all a necessity for teachers to innovate.  We are no different that the kids we teach. In fact, teachers look forward to it!

Learning is enhanced with movement. Research shows that kids who move learn better.

Movement is not just a fad for educators and kids.  It’s built right into the work place as well.  Businesses are moving away from the cubical approach and embracing a new dynamic of creating a more social environment that encourages movement.  It’s built right into out smart phones and watches.  We are told its time to move thanks to our Apple Watch and Fitbits! 

But, we are not powerless to change these policies and educators have more control of “how” they teach than many know.

There are lots of options to finger point at as to what caused our current system.  The old classroom standard, established in 1800's, traps kids in a cycle of sit, listen, lecture and notes that's hard to escape. But that problem is not entirely on educators.  Schools systems are bound by budgets.  Remodeling a classroom is just as expensive as remodeling your house.  It also has great ramifications on your taxes and/or tuition payment.  In addition to these financial issues, many teachers and administrators were born and taught into that very system we are trying to break free of where movement and multiple conversations are seen as classroom chaos (CNN). Teaching old dog new tricks is an uphill battle, but one worth fighting!  Ask any technology specialist or coordinator.  They will tell you that change and innovation takes time, patience and sometimes money. To make matters more difficult, the political policies of today also have a love affair with standardized tests and AP exams, which can trap teachers and students in a system no one seems happy with. When was the last time a teacher or student looked forward to an hour-long lecture or AP exam?  But, we are not powerless to change these policies and educators have more control of “how” they teach than many know.

Creating a classroom culture that incorporates movement can be achieved without content sacrifices and cost.

So how can educators capitalize on this summer time phenomenon?  Learning is enhanced with movement. Research shows that kids who move learn better. (ISTE Study).  Getting kids moving, doing and accomplishing is the great motivator that is the gateway to excellence in education (Edutopia Study).  Here are a just a few steps that may help you get started:

1.    Build in movement within your classroom.  Limit lectures and create more group discussions, debates and presentations.

2.    Math Teachers (and other disciplines):  incorporate more 360 Degree math principles.  Get students up, solving and more peer-to-peer problem solving.

3.    Cross-curricular involvement:  work with other classes and teachers on projects.  Collaborate with other disciplines like art and technology on projects.  In class “field trips” to other classes is a welcomed change.

4.    Project Based Learning (PBL) or Design Thinking:  Add these challenges to your curriculum that encompass collaboration and presentations.

5.    Student Teaching:  Have students teach.  Lead them to incorporate group challenges and presentations of their findings.

6.    Technology:  Use more collaborative tools like GAFE, Padlet, Playposit, maker spaces and more that require group conversations and analysis.

Creating a classroom culture that incorporates movement can be achieved without content sacrifices and cost.  If we have learned anything in America about summer, is that it is the greatest time for our kids to learn, grow and escape the system we are working so hard to change.  But in the meantime…we still have summer

Evaluations, Assessments and Building a Culture of Innovation

Innovation can only exist in an atmosphere where failure is seen as part of the process towards success. 

Evaluations in the work place can be a time of great anxiety.  For some jobs, they have great financial impact and represent a path to what might be a promotion.  But what does it mean when it’s time for evaluations and your employees are worried, scared, even terrified of the outcome.  To be sure, that may be the result of a poor work ethic or incompetence.  Evaluations can be a useful tool to weed out potential legal issues, consistent poor performance and create a matrix for employees to change course if needed (and protect you and the company when dismissed).  But if your entire staff is on the edge, what does that say about the culture of your company/school or you as their leader?  Not good! 

[Evaluations] should be seen as opportunities to build relationships as well as gage performance.

Even in education, faculty evaluations are often met with great anxiety, disgust or outright rejection.  As professional educators, they tend to see themselves as masters of their respective fields.  But building a culture of change and innovation means changing the acceptable beliefs of what evaluations really are, how they are conducted and the meaning of the results.  For most companies and educational institutions, employees see it as a time to criticize and condemn.  But quality organizations can use them to improve performance, increase productivity, team building and establishing a culture of innovation.

Sometimes the best tool we have is simply to listen.

There is no great secret as to how to accomplish this.  Imagine what YOU would like to see in an evaluation process for yourself, co-workers and of course, your boss!  A concern among many employees is having a voice in the company and establishing a consistent line of communication.  If employees feel that there is no outlet for support or that communication is a one-way street, this becomes a breeding ground for discontent and your company will suffer.  Here are a few steps that just might help your institution get started on the right path.

Building a culture of innovation through evaluations:

1.     Give them a voice!  If you have created an outlet that has a revolving door of ideas and a safe way to express concerns, then you are on the right track!  Your employees also need to know that you are available to listen.  Sometimes the best tool we have is simply to listen.  This will make large gains in fostering a professional relationship.

2.     Provide constructive feedback…often!  Feedback is not just for evaluation time.  Make this a regular part of the work week.  Set weekly goals and check in often to see how they are going.  Create that relationship of accountability and honesty early.  It will pay big dividends later.

3.     Leadership evaluations.  As the company or school leader you set the standard and level of accountability.  Creating a quality sustainable company culture starts with leadership.  Put yourself out there!  You should be evaluated by several aspects of the company.  Even in many quality educational institutions, school leaders are evaluated by students, parents, fellow educators and board members.  Not only is getting this feedback critical, but how you handle that scrutiny is key in the eyes of your employees.  Remembers, leadership means you go first!

4.     Employee Evaluations.  Evaluations can come in many different formats.  The smaller the company, the more informal these can be sometimes.  They do not need to feel like the Spanish Inquisition after all!  These should be seen as opportunities to build relationships as well as gage performance.  When evaluating someone try and remember that this is not personal.  Regardless of how you feel about an employee’s personality, political beliefs or other world views, you are evaluating their performance and work ethic.  Be sure to set a specific time frame for completing these.  Don’t let these sit on your desk for long.  Remember how you felt when your boss didn’t give you feedback quickly after your evaluation? 

5.     Team Building.  The real question is whether or not you want to have employees, or a team.  There is a very big difference.  The more positive reinforcement you give and the more honest feedback you offer, will determine the talent and experience level of your company.  Evaluations are opportunities!

Innovation can only exist in an atmosphere where failure is seen as part of the process towards success.

Evaluations are critical in developing a company culture of inclusion and transparency.  Once that is in place, innovation within your company or educational institution can begin to grow.  Providing employees with the right outlets to express ideas and then the safe path to follow and develop those ideas is key.  Innovation can only exist in an atmosphere where failure is seen as part of the process towards success.  How do you get them there…start with evaluations and build your relationships from there!