Help Me Help You

Last Thursday, I headed to Sioux Falls to the Teacher of the Year banquet.  It was a great evening to wrap up Mrs. Schaefer's year as our state's Teacher of the Year.  It was also a time to acknowledge the great things the teachers in our state are doing.

Mrs. Schaefer spoke, as did Sean Covel.  Sean is a native of the Black Hills (Edgemont, South Dakota) who has gone on to produce some pretty successful movies.  Remember this one?

Mrs. Schaefer talked about teachers needing teachers.  We need to be a community that supports and encourages each other.  When we are stressed or experiencing self-doubt, we need each other.  We need to hear from those in the trenches with us that it is going to be ok.  When we are stumped on how to reach students, it is our colleagues that can offer us help and guidance.  And as Mrs. Schaefer stated, when the fire alarm goes off while you are preparing to head to recess, it is your fellow teachers that help you get your students outside...without their shoes on.

Sean Covel addressed the crowd on a single word and the power it has, especially in our classrooms.  When we get frustrated at a task and think "Can I get those students to do it?", we must add the word "HOW" to the beginning of the question. How can I get them to do it?  What are the possibilities out there waiting for me to untap?  We have to be willing to challenge ourselves and our peers in order to make great things happen.  When we think about all the ways to do something, it gives up hope that it can be done.

The Observe Me project is a way for us to do these very things.  We need to see other teachers in action. We need to hear from other teachers on how they find success.  We need to hear feedback from our peers.  Instead of thinking "Can I do it?" we need to start looking for "How can I do it?".  We need to stretch...we need to help each other...we need to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations in order to improve.  

Keep leaning on each other.  Keep growing with each other.  Keep encouraging each other.

Do as I Say...

As an educator, we have been assigned with the duty to help students develop into life long learners...into productive workers...and into good citizens.

It is a tough job.  There are days when these duties seem to fall solely onto our shoulders.  It is a lot to ask.  For some students, we may the only people in their lives helping them develop those skills.  For others, we may be another voice telling them what they here at home.  What is it that makes students to put into practice what we may be "preaching" to them?

I believe if we have built trust with students, they are more likely to model the behaviors and actions we know will help them find success in this thing call life.  If they truly know we care and we are there to help them, they will take our word to heart and apply them to their lives.

While the trust part is a major piece, I also believe that we have to lead by example.  If we are telling our students to be learners, are we being learners?  If we are telling them to be creative, are we being creative?  If we tell them to take risks, are we taking risks?  If we are telling them to work well with others, are we doing the same?  

Have you ever been to a doctor who is overweight and had them tell you that you need to lose weight?  It is hard to take the advice of someone who is not living what they are asking you to do.  It is hard to see the value in a task a professional puts focus on, if they cannot put that same focus in their life.

Our students need to see us living those behaviors we have been teaching them.  One of those behaviors I thought about this year is reading.  We are always telling our students to read.  No matter the grade, we are taking them to the library.  We are having them check out books.  We are giving them materials to read.  Do they see us read?  Do they see this as important as we make it out to be?

I walked into a classroom this year and a teacher had proclaiming on her wall that "She is a reader!".  Alongside this statement, she had placed a photocopy of the book cover she were reading at the moment.  This teacher was showing her students that something she was asking them to do was something she was doing as well.  What is great is these books are not only professional books or adult reads, but some may be reads that are targeted to her student's specific grade level.

I am a reader.  I read like crazy this summer.  I love coming home to a box from Barnes and Noble and trying to decide with book in the box I will read first.  I will stay up all hours trying to get through a book...even those I have read more than once.  I didn't stop reading when I was done with school.  I still read every day.  I think that passion may have come from experiencing great novels that took me to some pretty fantastic places.

I decided to do what this teacher has done and let our students know that I am reader.  I found this great website which allows me to type in the name of the book I am reading and up pops the covers for the editions of the book.  I select the cover and a little poster is made for me.  I have placed these posters in my office window that faces the library.  If I am going to support our teachers asking students to carry a novel around, I need to let them that I see the value in reading.  I may also be reading the next book they would like to read.  

It is important for our students to see us doing NOT just telling.  Let them know you are reader...a learner...a risk taker.  Why believe someone that this is the path of success if they don't see you living it?  Step back and examine what you are doing.   Don't be a "Do as I say, not as I do" teacher.   Let students see you do those things you tell them are important.

Here is the link to the website I used to make my poster:  http://whatimreading.org/index.html