#leadupchat focuses on school leadership broadly, culture, changing paradigms, and the growth mindset. It's an Ed movement focused on Leadership, Culture, Growth and Shifts on Saturdays at 8:30am CST, founded by Jeff Veal (@heffrey) and Nathan Lang (@nalang1).
Welcome to #leadupchat! I'm Todd, an elementary principal in CA, and I will be your host for the next hour of one of best Twitter chats around! Our focus will be on the power of pushing the pause button to reflect on our year!
Hi everyone! Colleen from Omaha. Former kdg T. Current ECE program evaluator, author, and zookeeper to 4 monkeys. Self-reflecting is MY FAV! Happy to be here. #leadupchat
It’s a beautiful morning in South Carolina and I got started on the coffee a few hours ago. I’m fully caffeinated and ready to learn with all of you. Happiness can be found in a cup! I’m Latoya, a state level ed leader in the beautiful state of SC! #leadupchat
Morning, friends! Brewing coffee...big yawn! Much needed extra sleep this morning! Bethany from Arkansas...had to check out this topic and see some awesome people in my PLN. #leadupchat
John, dialing in from Mexico City. Got my fingers warmed up with #edugladiators and now I'm going to see if I can keep up with the good folks of #leadupchat
It’safternoon here in Kuwait. Glad to join after missing it for some time. This is Ilene from Kuwait. In higher ed but interested in all edleadership #leadupchat
Hoping to shake off some disappointing news from yesterday. I know this crew will remind me that there are passionate leaders everywhere making the right choices for students! #leadupchat
This chat has so many great educators! We have California, Omaha, The Bronx, South Carolina, Boston, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, and more represented this morning!
Multiple Perspectives! #LeadUpChat
A1: on the mission of continuous improvement for our Ss and schools, it’s important to take the time to reflect what needs tweaking and what went well that you can build on #leadupchat
A1-Reflection can lead to key changes that can help for next year. What are things we need to stop doing and what are things we need to start doing? #Leadupchat
A1: Because teachers can be insane. Without the reflection on both we tend to do the same things over and over expecting a different result. We look at the students not the practice as the problem. If it hasn't work year after year...it is not the students #leadupchat
Q1: A1
Teachers must stop to reflect on what worked and what didn’t work. A break will also allow time for teachers to reflect on their year and BREATH before starting a new year #leadupchat
1) This is what I love about being in education. We get to spend time truly reflecting on what worked and what didn't work. We're given the chance to make changes each year, and it's the school that makes those necessary changes for kids that ultimately succeeds. #leadupchat
A1. Pausing and reflecting is where growth happens. If we don’t stop and take the time to think and reflect we very easily get stuck in pattern teaching. #leadupchat
A1: Reflection is vital to creating new and better experiences! Without reflection on what worked and didn't work, how can there be a clear understanding of where to go next year? That reflection time is key! I always take reflect on the beach in a foreign country #leadupchat
A1: Reflective practices are so important. Need to always think about what worked (so you can keep and make better) and what didn’t work (so you can modify or scrap). Can’t just keep moving forward without thinking about the past #leadupchat
A1 Some things are worth repeating and building and some are not. We can spin around in ideas but upon reflection realize we have not really accomplished what we set out to do. #leadupchat
A1 Celebratig the small wins can be so powerful for your school culture. As leaders, we should honor the work of our teachers and students by making sure they know we see it. There’s always somewhere to go, but you’ve also got to appreciate the path #leadupchat
A1: Reflection gives us the opportunity to build on what we did well and rework some of what could've gone better. Too often we just throw initiatives out rather than examining and improving them. #leadupchat
A1. Reflection is the powerhouse for continuous improvement. The time we spend reflecting on successes and opportunities increases our level of self-awareness. It makes us more conscientious and equally more deliberate and intentional in our everyday interactions. #leadupchat
A1: I have so much to learn and work on. Collaboratively discussing and listening to topics to learn and focus on next year. We need to learn more on social and emotional learning. We will also be doing edcamp style faculty meetings. #leadupchat
A1. Anyone else wish they would have spent more time reflecting? Once I grabbed a critical friend and began reflecting that way it was a game changer for me. #leadupchat
A1 Reflection is absolutely necessary for growth. We learn from our mistakes but we also need to recognize strengths so that we can build on them. #LeadUpChat
A1 We need to reflect on this school year while it is still fresh in our minds. Reflection helps you to take your successes or stumbles to the next level! #growthmindset#leadupchat
A1-Reflection can lead to key changes that can help for next year. What are things we need to stop doing and what are things we need to start doing? #Leadupchat
A1: it's impt bc we 1) deserve to sit with the successes of the year and enjoy the work we have done for kids, families and staff, and 2) it helps focus on what we need moving forward #leadupchat
A1 When we take the time to reflect we can find the #Why! Why we got the results? Why we planned the activities? Why we had success? If we don’t know the WHY it is hard to grow and improve. KNOW Your WHY. #leadupchat
A1: We get busy and it's tempting adopt the attitude of let's just make it but to be a successful you have to build in time to celebrate the successes and identify the stumbles and learn from them. If you don't do that intentionally then it doesn't get done! #leadupchat
A1: Reflective practice is a road map. Without it we travel blindly. It should inform all decision-making as to what to keep doing, what to tweak, and what to scrap. It is all about growth and strategic decision-making #leadupchat
A1)You want to do everything you can to replicate the successes and understand why there were stumbles. The process of stumbling and identifying the reason why is just as important. #ContinuousImprovement#leadupchat
A1 We need to build on our sucesses & our challenges. We don’t have to start new every year. It’s important to regularly pause & reflect: ask if what you are doing is helping kids. Keep students as your focus; look to transform/change when we aren’t having an impact. #leadupchat
A1: Reflection doesn’tcome naturally to mant ppl, so thinking abt pusing a pause button to allow us time to reflect is so important. What went right? What went wrong and how can next yr be even better? And let’s give ourselves and team a pat on the back for a gr8 job #leadupchat
I've sat in too many September meetings where we all said "what did we decide to do about this?"
---Pause is the chance in May to keep this from happening.
#leadupchat
A1. Reflection gives us also a sense of autonomy and mastery-that is a sense that we have an impact on the end result; that things happen because of us and not in spite of us. That feeling motivates folks. #leadupchat
A1: No matter how great the year may have been, surely there were mistakes made and lessons along the way that need to be noted. It is also impt to look at what went right to garner the energy to push through with optimism. #leadupchat
A1: This time of the year is a great time to gather colleagues to reflect. I also have enjoyed teaching and planning with staff this week to remember our #purpose! #leadupchat
A1: Because the successes and the stumbles are both so important to the process. Learn from and make changes so that the stumbles are building blocks, but don’t let them overshadow the amazing things that are happening #leadupchat
A1: It's also a good time to reflect on the many (way too many) initiatives that are not implemented, are not working, and can be taken off the table. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A1: The only way to move forward is to reflect back.
Celebrate the good but always know there is room for improvement. Collaboratively think about the changes that need for growth in the future.
#leadupchat
A1 Reflect on what works to focus on areas needing added support or learn where things may need to change as a result of working/not working. #leadupchat
I agree...it's one of the things I struggle with...I need to take the time at the end to be as honest with myself about what worked so I can head into the next year better prepared!
#leadupchat
I've sat in too many September meetings where we all said "what did we decide to do about this?"
---Pause is the chance in May to keep this from happening.
#leadupchat
A1: Reflection helps us build on the little successes from the school year, and tweak things from what learned through mistakes. It’s important to focus on the positive and not cross over from reflection to over analyzing. (Sooooo guilty of this)
#leadupchat
A1 We push pause to think about the activities of the year that went well & those that didn't. For those that did we think about how we can make them better. For those that didn't we determine causes for failure,reflect on lessons learned & make changes for next year #leadupchat
A1 It’s easy to get bogged down in yh stumbles along the way, particular right after they occur. Pausing to focus on the successes allows the positives to shine through. #leadupchat
1) Failure to reflect at the end of the year is like climbing to the top of a mountain and starting down the other side without pausing to reflect on what you've just done.
#leadupchat
A1: Experience is NOT enough. It's the rapid, iterative constant reflection that accelerates growth: What do we say and do?
How do we hustle, grind together, and make magic?
What do we value? Who are we? And more importantly...Who might we need to become? #leadupchat
A1. Reflection must be balanced. We ought not focus only on the things we need to make better, but we also need to celebrate those things that went well. That’s how we keep the fire burning! #leadupchat
A1: It's also a good time to reflect on the many (way too many) initiatives that are not implemented, are not working, and can be taken off the table. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A1: Reflection doesn’tcome naturally to mant ppl, so thinking abt pusing a pause button to allow us time to reflect is so important. What went right? What went wrong and how can next yr be even better? And let’s give ourselves and team a pat on the back for a gr8 job #leadupchat
A1 If I don’t take the time to reflect on the year I’m likely to remain stagnant and not grow along with the students and their needs. I love this easy-to-use revamp list from @Catlin_Tuckerhttps://t.co/nw7ZMHONYC#leadupchat
A1 we started holding strategic meetings with a variety of teams in May and even June - with food and fun.
>> And we docucment and set the course for September.
>>Then my admin team worked all summer on our May decisions.
#leadupchat
A1: It's so crucial to take a moment or moments to reflect on the school year. My @piratelearners created our last set of SMART Goals to reflect and energize our minds to succeed & ignite our passion to end the school year! #leadupchat
A1: Reflection is an essential part in growing & moving forward. We need to take time to reflect on areas we did well in, need to grow in or forget about. Without it we are “stuck” and our #KidsDeserveIt that we would #betheone to do better. #Leadupchat#LoveLiteracyLearning
A1: Experience is NOT enough. It's the rapid, iterative constant reflection that accelerates growth: What do we say and do?
How do we hustle, grind together, and make magic?
What do we value? Who are we? And more importantly...Who might we need to become? #leadupchat
A1b: it also keeps the changes and plans in your mind for decision making - we have our PD plan, assessment strategy, coaching plans, and intervention plans ready before summer this way! #leadupchat
I agree. I find that educators tend to hyper-focus on the mistakes & negatives, which can be so draining. It's absolutely necessary to recognize what went well if we want to grow. #LeadUpChat
A1: Reflecting on the current year’s success helps fill our buckets for next year and feelings of progress help us avoid burnout. It also reminds us of what we want to continue and build on for next year. #leadupchat
A1: This aspiring school leader also wonders: Why the end of the year? How can we encourage ongoing reflection to improve practice and operations WITHIN the school year? #leadupchat
Like the inclusion of process here, Lorrah. Alludes to the fact that if we desire to get better we must go through the iterative practice of learning and doing. Requires an investment from all team members to get better each day #leadupchat
A1) We can’t lose sight of the opportunities right in front of us, because we are too concerned about next year. We must keep a balance. Our students need us to finish, with them, strong. #leadupchat
A1: Reflecting over what worked and what didn’t is the momentum we all need to keep growing. I truly believe when we stop reflecting we lose our ability to evolve as educators. #leadupchat
A1: Questions invite reflection. Reflection invites inspiration. Students deserve leaders who will pause, ask questions & reflect on the impact their decisions have had. Then, act on the inspiration that comes when we are open to learning from the past. #ChaseImpact#leadupchat
A1: Questions invite reflection. Reflection invites inspiration. Students deserve leaders who will pause, ask questions & reflect on the impact their decisions have had. Then, act on the inspiration that comes when we are open to learning from the past. #ChaseImpact#leadupchat
So true! If there is ever a place to find that balance between constructive reflection and narcissistic, destructive wallowing, it's here on @Twitter. My #PLN has kept me out of the rabbit hole many times #leadupchat
A1. A lack of reflection sends a clear message to me: there is a belief that the person carries that says what I do doesn’t matter & I have no power over the results. I just don’t believe that, but it’s easy for some people to “go through the motions” w/o intention #leadupchat
A2: I think educators are challenged by their failures and do not want to face them. I think the reality they will have to face in those reflections, causes them to think about everything that did not pan out the way they wanted #leadupchat
a2: It's hard to stop and reflect when you're still going. Important to find the time to pause and look back. May be short-term pain, but result in long-term gain. #leadupchat
A1: it’s easy to get caught up with all of the things we think we need to do better next time, but having a moment in the summer to pause and think about the *wins* too gives us a chance to reflect more holistically and bring great practices back into the classroom. #leadupchat
A2: Lack of time for reflection? Might have something to do with state teacher evaluation schemes that make May and June into document drills rather than time for thoughtful reflection. #LeadUpChathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
#leadupchat A2 time for reflection can by a luxury. The end to “get through the curriculum” can be very real! Some teachers don’t to look in the mirror, can be hard!
A2 Perhaps we are so engrained in what we have always done, we may not see the need to reflect and implement change. We are not all naturally reflective or see the need to be. #leadupchat
A2) This is a busy time of year, and it’s easy to get caught up in all the things going on, especially the negative: it’s harder for some to make positivity/ optimism louder in these situations #leadupchat
A2 I think so much happens in a single day, that it is hard to reflect if you are not doing it on a regular basis. I journal almost every day and then reflect on that at the end of the year #LeadUpChat
A2: As someone downthread mentioned, reflection is not something that comes intuitively to everyone. School leaders need to model reflective practice. #leadupchat
A2: I saw some posts about lack of time for reflection. Personally, I believe it is more that the discipline has not been built than lack of time. One makes time for what is important to them. #LeadUpChat
True! And the right questions will lead us to see the impact our decisions have had. #ChaseImpact means we celebrate those things that resulted in the impact we were seeking and change those things that did not. :) #leadupchat
A2 By the end of the year we’re all tired, we just want to be done and move on. It can be dangerous to give in to this fatigue as it builds a fixed mindset like, “there’s nothing I can learn from this, let’s just focus on next year”. #leadupchat
A2: teachers are doers man. They are constantly on the go. Knowing the number of things on their list, we have to provide them with and remind them to use time to reflect. #Leadupchat
A2-We can be sprinting so fast to the finish line that once we cross we are exhausted. By the time we catch out breathe, the next race is starting. #leadupchat
a2: It's hard to stop and reflect when you're still going. Important to find the time to pause and look back. May be short-term pain, but result in long-term gain. #leadupchat
I agree with that totally! If we really want to ensure the time is taken for important reflection and planning then we need to give the time. #leadupchat
A2 If we have the belief that we all want to get better and grow we need to provide the framework and TIME to make the reflection process happen during the teachers day. It has to become a priority and admin need to LISTEN. #leadupchat
A2. Soooooo many educators feel depleted from the year bc they don’t take time to take care of themselves DURING the year. We place the needs of others before our own and have nothing left to give! #leadupchat
A2:
It’s difficult for teachers to stop and reflect because we are too overwhelmed from the current school year to think about the upcoming school year #leadupchat
This year, I am taking a staff meeting and giving it as time for teachers to reflect...
Maybe give them some guiding questions, but just the time to find a quiet spot and reflect on their successes this year and what they want to change for next year...
#leadupchat
A2: Not everyone is a reflective person. Some need to be shown how to reflect. Provide templates of questions to help. Model the practice for people as well #leadupchat
A2b: We also have not had many good models for this type of reflection. How many of us experienced this type of reflection when we were in school? How many experienced this in teacher ed programs? Let's build those models! #LeadUpChat
A2: I know it can be hard bc at the midpoint of the year we are already focusing on the next year already - I think for teachers it's hard to remember how far the students have come and to take the credit for that growth - until next year's class shows up! #leadupchat
A2) It is essential to continual improvement that we take the time to truly evaluate the practices and supports we have implemented the past year. #leadupchat
A1: Reflection is important because it helps drive instruction. Figuring out why something didn't work well will allow Ts to improve the concept next time, or try something different instead. #leadupchat
A2: reflection can be a scary thing. We can remind ourselves that we are allowed to reflect on what went well!! Reflection is not always about finding what needs to change or what didn’t go well. #Leadupchat
A2 Fear of admitting failed attempts, inability to recognize that we are all learners who need to re-evaluate decisions, the “I have always done it this way mentality.” #LeadUpChat
A2: Reflection is a skill like any other - we must be taught how to do it, provided support in doing it continuously, practice, and receive constructive feedback. #leadupchat
This! When we commit to #ChaseImpact, we measure all we are doing and determine which "things" are having the desired impact. Narrow our focus to getting really good at those things that are having the right impact. #leadupchat
A1: It's also a good time to reflect on the many (way too many) initiatives that are not implemented, are not working, and can be taken off the table. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A2: The time element. We have so many end of the year activities. This is why the reflection process should be an ongoing, integral part of what we do. Not just another check list item at the end of the school year. Quarterly, midyear reflections are powerful! #leadupchat
A2) Some don't reflect because they think they're good enough. Others fail to reflect because they're afraid of the hard work it might require of them. The reasons are varied, but they're all equally dangerous.
Thankfully, I don't know too many people like this.
#leadupchat
A2 Always be the issue of time/energy. More than that, it’s incredibly difficult/vulnerable for educators to truly reflect on what great/not so great impact they had. We need to model it; as admin find a way to give reflection time. I take your classes, go reflect. #leadupchat
A2: Being mindful and reflective is a skill and a habit that can be developed and improved. Some are better at it than others. Extremely busy people that have developed the habit of being reflective will find time for it.
#LeadUpChat
Reflection can also be uncomfortable because when you're looking forward to summer, who wants to think about their (perceived or actual) failures? #leadupchat
A1 In reflecting on challenges and successes, we often notice something - or someone - phenomenal (that we perhaps didn't recognize during the busy-ness of living.) Taking a closer look at the good often inspires similarly-wonderful ideas for the future. #LeadupChat
A2: At the end of the year it is hard to see the forrest because of all the frickin trees. End of year is loaded with extras and emotions which makes pausing to reflect a major challenge and at the same time more necessary. #leadupchat
A2. It's always harder trying to learn about what you are doing knowing that you will probably need to make some changes, than simply keeping doing what you are doing like you are doing it (not only in education) #leadupchat
A2 Time, which is ironic b/c you ultimately spend more time when trying to scramble and remember why something did/did not work the first go around. Also it can be uncomfortable to praise yourself or face the fact something didn’t work and needs improvement #leadupchat
A2: reflection can be a scary thing. We can remind ourselves that we are allowed to reflect on what went well!! Reflection is not always about finding what needs to change or what didn’t go well. #Leadupchat
A2: Pride. We put in so much time building and it takes so little to take it apart that we hesitate. But do we want the strongest structure over time? That is the question we need to reflect on. #leadupchat
A2) Heard of the #MBTI? https://t.co/zTKS1HKOFe The personality type overwhelmingly attracted to education does not lend itself to embracing failure, taking big risks, etc You need to create a safe environment for reflection and the possibility of seeing failure. #leadupchat
A2: Starting in March, the next school year is all "up in your face", so you have to wrap up one year and ramp up another simultaneously. It can be easy to just make a task list for survivial. Being reflective and intentional may not happen if it isn't on the list. #leadupchat
Sometimes it’s hard to reflect and admit when a practice wasn’t the best plan for kids. Educators are humans and may not want to make time when that’s the case. But, when we do, we can start the conversations required to make the change for kids. #leadupchat
A2 The time is not there or not a priority for school districts/leaders. if it were, it would be a part of the work day instead of the assumption that educators will do reflective work and practice on their own time #leadupchat
A2: It's difficult for teachers because it isn't part of their daily practices. Teachers would also benefit from school leaders engaging in the process and modeling the importance/benefits it has on the school community. #practicemakesperfect#leadupchat
A2: The payoff is huge but less visible right away. It's also hard to justify when there are so many demands and external pressure on us that's more time-sensitive. #leadupchat
A2. Our staff has put in a tremendous amount of work, giving, implementation, analysis, follow through, ...so it is a very exhausting time of the year. #leadupchat
A2. Shameless plug but seriously...my new book talks about the importance of educator wellness. If folks finish the year feeling it of balance they spend their time catching up instead of preparing. Y’all ought to check it out: https://t.co/BodQc4FTqt#call2action4ed#leadupchat
A2 I don’t know if reflection is taught as something that should occur. As I coach Ts, that is an important expectation to strengthen and/or improve practice. Without it, intentional practice can be missing. #leadupchat
A2)The issue is we focus on reflection too late in the game. Start early and do it often. We focused on finishing the year right now. We see the end & sprint to it. Must be intentional. Can’t make reflection just another year end task. It won’t work. #leadupchat
A2. It's always harder trying to learn about what you are doing knowing that you will probably need to make some changes, than simply keeping doing what you are doing like you are doing it (not only in education) #leadupchat
A2: I believe many teachers are intimidated by the time of the year. Teachers have an immense challenge of balancing testing & deadlines. We must find the time 2 pause- &reflect. When doing this we find the WHY of ending the school year. #leadupchat
A2: True reflection requires real vulnerability....admitting what’s not golden yet. Goal setting based on self-perceived shortcomings. That can be difficult. Not everyone is motivated to dig that deep. #leadupchat
Yes, it's hard. In our school Ts teach 12 seventy minute classes per week & have 11 seventy minute planning periods, and still most take work home #LeadUpChat
This year, I am taking a staff meeting and giving it as time for teachers to reflect...
Maybe give them some guiding questions, but just the time to find a quiet spot and reflect on their successes this year and what they want to change for next year...
#leadupchat
A2: Leadership reflects performance. #leadupchat
To what extent do school leaders engage in quality reflection publicly and privately? How might we weave refection into every meeting? Each conversation? How do we walk the walk?
A2: Reflective practice is work, it takes time, and it can be humbling...all while being a packed time of year. While it can highlight successes, it can do the same for failures. It is about viewing missteps as an opportunity for growth versus a stamp of failure. #leadupchat
A2: Starting in March, the next school year is all "up in your face", so you have to wrap up one year and ramp up another simultaneously. It can be easy to just make a task list for survivial. Being reflective and intentional may not happen if it isn't on the list. #leadupchat
A2: As many have said already, all are tired and just want to finish, so Ts need to be able to jot down their feedback throughout the yr instead of just waiting til the end. Then putting all that feedback together can be a way to gather and learn and celebrate. #leadupchat
A2) It's easier to *hope* for other people to make changes that will help improve my situation. It's harder to look in the mirror and make the changes we know need to take place. But, it's far more effective.
#leadupchat
Usually, when I hear “taking the time” (for any activity) is a barrier, I ask, if it’s a priority (& a benefit, as reflection has proven to be for adult learners), then how do we “make the time”? It could be a systems problem > solution. #LeadUpChat
This year, I am taking a staff meeting and giving it as time for teachers to reflect...
Maybe give them some guiding questions, but just the time to find a quiet spot and reflect on their successes this year and what they want to change for next year...
#leadupchat
I recently heard this awesome statement: Success is growing from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Not just going from failure to failure...growing from failure to failure. Isn't that great? #leadupchat
A2. People respond to being overwhelmed in three ways in my opinion:
1. They get paralyzed and do nothing.
2. They finally ask for help and chip away at it slowly.
3. They do the minimum to survive.
There is a big difference between surviving and thriving. #leadupchat
It starts by being willing to be vulnerable to both positive and negative feedback...
Do you ever ask your community (students, teachers, staff, parents) about how you are doing and then share the results and your action steps based on those results?
#leadupchat
A2: Leadership reflects performance. #leadupchat
To what extent do school leaders engage in quality reflection publicly and privately? How might we weave refection into every meeting? Each conversation? How do we walk the walk?
A2-We have to stop beating ourselves up when things did not go right. Make adjustments and try again. Build on the positive and learn from the challenges. #leadupchat
A2: Reflective practice is work, it takes time, and it can be humbling...all while being a packed time of year. While it can highlight successes, it can do the same for failures. It is about viewing missteps as an opportunity for growth versus a stamp of failure. #leadupchat
A2 Due to the nature of our work, educators are constantly focused on moving, doing, growing, & supporting others. Reflection takes time to pause & think about our own practices. We must devote time to reflect on our own growth so that we can be a benefit to others #leadupchat
A2: Barriers To Reflection
1. Educators don’t add Reflection to calendar/schedule
2. Teams tend to avoid Reflection, b/c of Fear of Conflict
3. Some people feel like a failure and are too hard on themselves
when they pause and Reflect
4. They don’t have a plan
#LeadUpChat
Having ideas of how best to help others when they exhibit these ways of responding would be excellent. Perhaps listening with a well placed suggestion? #leadupchat
A2. People respond to being overwhelmed in three ways in my opinion:
1. They get paralyzed and do nothing.
2. They finally ask for help and chip away at it slowly.
3. They do the minimum to survive.
There is a big difference between surviving and thriving. #leadupchat
All very true... One step in the right direction is creating a culture where it is safe to accept the mistakes we make and reward the attempt to learn from those mistakes. No one says it better than #Nelson! #leadupchat
This resonates with me because of how tired we all truly are at the end of the year. Despite this, I tend to find the energy to do things that I want to do; it's just hard to muster it up for the things that I need to do sometimes.
#leadupchat
Great question, Todd! I was just thinking about that & I stumbled on your tweet. I think sometimes we don't value Reflection enough & time is spent too much on finishing checklists. Time to shift that paradigm! Thanks for the inspiration, Pal! #leadupchat#ChatCameo
A1: Before jumping right in the next year, we need to stop, rest, and reflect. By taking some time to rest and reflect we improve ourselves and our practices. No one should plan without reflecting on necessary changes. #leadupchat#edchat#reflectioniskey
A2. Shameless plug but seriously...my new book talks about the importance of educator wellness. If folks finish the year feeling it of balance they spend their time catching up instead of preparing. Y’all ought to check it out: https://t.co/BodQc4FTqt#call2action4ed#leadupchat
A3: My birthday is August 25th. I use that as an excuse to travel and reflect on a beach right before we return to work in September. #nycteacher#leadupchat
A3: Schedule the time! Make it happen! Once again, it is a discipline. Tie the time to a self-treat, like a trip to a coffee shop or a hike. #LeadUpChat
Dr. Schmidt 🥇🏆🏅 Purposefully planning the gift of time for his staff to reflect, & guiding them through that thinking. Five-star #edleadership right there! #LeadUpChat
This year, I am taking a staff meeting and giving it as time for teachers to reflect...
Maybe give them some guiding questions, but just the time to find a quiet spot and reflect on their successes this year and what they want to change for next year...
#leadupchat
A2: I listened to a podcast recently that stressed the importance of having margins in our lives--the way a business seeks margins. At times, we push "full steam ahead" when we would benefit from intentionally placing space in our lives. The "pause" is important. #leadupchat
A3: I recently spent an entire flight coming back from a conference creating a T-chart reflecting what has gone well and what needs to change for next year #leadupchat
I admit...I’m riding the struggle bus! I love to look toward the new school year, but deadlines and emotions of children and adults this time of year keep me wrapped up. I haven’t been purposeful enough about taking the time for myself to pause and think. #leadupchat
A2: One reason it can be difficult to reflect on the previous year is that we get excited about the new year and want to move forward, and we feel pressured by time. Taking some of that time to reflect, connect, and improve will make the next year better. #leadupchat#edchat
A2 Such a whirlwind at the end! I think most do reflect on their past; but, when school's out. Perhaps providing a time & space for those conversations - not in the midst of the craziness (at the end of 1 yr - or - at the beginning of the next!) Perhaps a retreat? #leadupchat
A1: Reflective practice is important because it helps you to improve your instructional practices as an educator. Having this practice in place can help you grow as a teacher and improve student learning. #leadupchat
A3: "Finding the Time" for reflection or anything else important:
1). Turn off audible e-mail and text notifications.
2). Give yourself 45 uninterrupted minutes every day - in a quiet oom other than your office. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A3: I think the key to finding what did/didn’t provide the desired outcomes is to reflect throughout the year. For me, trying to recall what happened in the fall in May is tough. A lot has happened since then. #Leadupchat
A3 It is not a matter of finding the time, you need to make the time. Make it a priority! We always find time for those things that are important to us. Schedule it. Make it happen. #leadupchat
I agree. That being said, it's an ingredient in the recipe for improvement. I read a book that said: "the best leaders are dealers in hope."
Some folks need to sit down to strategize about improvement b/s they really struggle, but we need to give them hope.
#leadupchat
I use to do it when I drove an hour along the Mississippi River. Great quiet time to think. This was before days of cell phones came to be. #leadupchat
A3: The time should be part of the end of yr schedule and followed by some kind of celebration of accomplishments. We usually have a luncheon after our wrap up #leadupchat
Absolutely! I like to ask these questions.
1. What are 2 things I can do to help you?
2. What’s 1 thing you can take care of with some support that would reduce your feeling of being overwhelmed!
3. What are the most urgent/pressing things & what things can wait? #leadupchat
A2: Ts don’t know what to do sometimes with those reflections. As a coach, I strive to help them see all the positives from the year & that as fuel for next year. We also discuss what they’d like to change & come up with a plan to do it! #leadupChat#LoveLiteracyLearning
Q3: Building on @MsGonzalez138, we make time for our priorities; “making time” requires assessing & shifting what we see important (and by extension how we spend our time). #leadupchat
I Agree @mafost@PrincipalOgg .So if we reflect in May, then as we being the new year we can implement those changes or modifications in our processes or guidelines. This will help move us forward in our work. #LeadupChat
I've sat in too many September meetings where we all said "what did we decide to do about this?"
---Pause is the chance in May to keep this from happening.
#leadupchat
A2b I tried something new this year and built time in for a “stroll down memory lane” Ss and I looked at projects, tests, drive, etc and reflected on what we liked, where we improved, etc. The fact I did it with them made it less intimidating (for me too!) #leadupchat
A3: Has anyone used the “weekly roundup” practice from the Together Teacher’s collection? It’s a great template for hitting pause and grabbing a few moments of reflection at the end of the week! #leadupchat
Leaders must give ongoing feedback to promote reflection. If we are a culture of isolation and box checking, then we are taking opportunities away for deeper learning and growth. #leadupchat
I admit...I’m riding the struggle bus! I love to look toward the new school year, but deadlines and emotions of children and adults this time of year keep me wrapped up. I haven’t been purposeful enough about taking the time for myself to pause and think. #leadupchat
I admit...I’m riding the struggle bus! I love to look toward the new school year, but deadlines and emotions of children and adults this time of year keep me wrapped up. I haven’t been purposeful enough about taking the time for myself to pause and think. #leadupchat
Q3: I also don't think reflection needs to be a solo activity. I have a couple of close, trusted co-workers, and we talk at least once a week off-campus and share our successes and stumbles. #leadupchat
A3 As school leaders we make it a priority with scheduling and PD. As teachers we can do the practice with our students. bringing students into the process will change perspective #leadupchat
A3 This summer I am attempting to take one day of the week and dedicate time to reflecting on what I can improve and tweak my plans. You have to schedule it or you won't do it. #LeadUpChat
A3: The days fill all too quickly. If we aren't intentional and strategic about making time for true reflective practice, then it won't happen. Prioritizing the practice is imperative. Chats like this help push us into these types of thinking #leadupchat
A3 We dedicate all of our staff meetings in May and June to reflecting, planning and gearing up for our goals next year. Recognizing that people are tired, especially the last few days, we try to keep it as light and fun as possible. #leadupchat
Fear. When I mentioned that I was going to create a survey for S reflection, a colleague said that she could never do that because she is afraid of what they might say. That's the goal. Learning what worked well and what didn't helps us grow! #leadupchat
We had a history T who did amazing socratic seminars. When other Ts observed & were intimidated, he quickly let them know that the first 3 attempts were failures. #LeadUpChat
A3: If you don't you won't make the best of your teaching and the Ss experience. I make missteps all the time. If I didn't take time to step back and look I would be lost in the forest of crappy teaching #leadupchat
Great question, Todd! I was just thinking about that & I stumbled on your tweet. I think sometimes we don't value Reflection enough & time is spent too much on finishing checklists. Time to shift that paradigm! Thanks for the inspiration, Pal! #leadupchat#ChatCameo
A3: The Panda Planner 🐼allows educators to reflect daily, weekly, and monthly. It is affordable. This tool allows you to reflect at the end of each grading period and at the end of the school year. #LeadUpChat
A3 I have my students reflect on their year using @Flipgrid. As part of their reflection I ask them to tell me what I did well and the areas I need to improve on. As part of my director’s end of year meetings we spend time reflecting and discussing ways to improve. #LeadUpChat
Q3 (part 2): A good first step is to closely assess how I am currently using my time - if I track how I use my time (or how I have used my time over the last year), I can notice gaps between my desired priorities and my actual/enacted priorities. #leadupchat
Teachers need to have the confidence to take chances. That confidence comes from being empowered by school leaders and knowing it’s okay to fail. We either win or we learn.
A2: Barriers To Reflection
1. Educators don’t add Reflection to calendar/schedule
2. Teams tend to avoid Reflection, b/c of Fear of Conflict
3. Some people feel like a failure and are too hard on themselves
when they pause and Reflect
4. They don’t have a plan
#LeadUpChat
#leadupchat
A3..Making a plan to foster reflection overtime. ..beginning of year and throughout. Reflection on demand doesn't work bc no one is open and ready=relationships
A2: The time element. We have so many end of the year activities. This is why the reflection process should be an ongoing, integral part of what we do. Not just another check list item at the end of the school year. Quarterly, midyear reflections are powerful! #leadupchat
I think we and others need to start looking as education as a CAREER rather than a JOB - if we are given more of the resources and accountability for reflective practices it will become something routine rather than a chore #leadupchat
A3 summer! When the building is quiet and conversations can be had without the frenetic pace. Prior to summer, I find it has to be scheduled, intentional time where nothing else is allowed to take precedence. Reflecting takes time and sometimes, guidance #leadupchat
Q3: Listening time in the day. I am extremely lucky to work with a reflective team. Teachers bring great insights and relections on our challenges and next steps. Taking the time to share lunch or to chat is important! #leadupchat
A3 In yesterday’s team meeting, the Principal spoke to each of us (the APs) and said we need to think about what we want for our Ss as they move to the next year/level. Reflection becomes an intentional pause. #leadupchat
A3: I have to make the time. For me, I have to narrow the focus to a couple of specific areas or I am unable to truly reflect. When I do that, I can organize thoughts and make plans to share with others. #leadupchat
A3 Each day I jot down a QUICK note on my daily slides (class agenda) in the presenter section about how the day went. Then when I do have time I scroll through and can make changes for next year #leadupchat
A3: My advice is to take back your morning! I spend 30 minutes b4 checking email to think about what I accomplished the day before, what I'm grateful for and what I need to accomplish to make today successful. #leadupchat
Absolutely! I like to ask these questions.
1. What are 2 things I can do to help you?
2. What’s 1 thing you can take care of with some support that would reduce your feeling of being overwhelmed!
3. What are the most urgent/pressing things & what things can wait? #leadupchat
A3. WRITING or journaling. The challenge of doing this as a busy mama is making the time and setting a routine. I’ve found that 5 am is my new favorite ME time and now look forward to the alarm clock going off. #leadupchat
Wouldn't it be great if we all stoppef this madness at the ends of the year and walked out Ss through a process of reflection. How can we intentionally design days for reflection & elevate S voice? #modeltheway#leadupchat
A3: When I was a Principal of a dual track school, I only had 3 weeks to "turn the school" before teachers were back. Preparing for our school leadership team retreat was my way of pausing. It forced me to reflect, celebrate, then look to the next year. #leadupchat
Unfortunately, not going to be able to make it those. I may make a cameo at the #NPC18 in Chicago. Definitely need to meet you in person this year! #leadupchat
A3: It's hard to hit the pause button. It often feels like while you're pausing and reflecting, the world races on without you. That may create FOMO. It sounds FOOLish, perhaps, but to many driven, dedicated educators, it's really about the fear of opportunities lost. #leadupchat
A3: Joining in from Rockwall, Texas. I have scheduled time with my mentor @TMag29 each month. Then I continue to reflect on my own time by journaling the story I want to tell! #leadupchat
This chat is going fast and furious!
Great ideas being shared all over the place on the importance of pushing pause!
Don't forget to add to your PLN and follow new educators!
#leadupchat
A3 important to schedule formal reflection time - we use an end of the year teacher institute to reflect forward - using the past year to design for the next #leadupchat
A3: My advice is to take back your morning! I spend 30 minutes b4 checking email to think about what I accomplished the day before, what I'm grateful for and what I need to accomplish to make today successful. #leadupchat
Q3: I print out a monthly calendar for July and August. I write in days and activities that account for family time, personal time, and professional time. During the school year when it's difficult for me to find a "balance," this forces me to do so. #reflecting#leadupchat
A3 What gets scheduled, gets done. Reflection requires intention. We must be deliberate in scheduling time for individual & collective reflection, so that we can not only process our own thoughts but hear their thoughts from our team members on ways we can improve #leadupchat
A3: I believe it’s important to reflect as you go. Take notes on the speedbumps. It can be hard to remember any issues from September when reflecting in June if we don’t have notes. #leadupchat
A3
Incremental Reflection.
Shared with the staff.
1) Write a one sentence reflection each day.
2) On Sunday, publish your 7 sentences in a blog post.
3) Share with your staff, your weekly reflections.
#leadupchat
A3. WRITING or journaling. The challenge of doing this as a busy mama is making the time and setting a routine. I’ve found that 5 am is my new favorite ME time and now look forward to the alarm clock going off. #leadupchat
https://t.co/zCXo70M6C6
It’s a great tool for “taking stock of the work, but not doing the work itself” and having a plan for the week ahead. I love it as a final practice before I head out for the weekend! #leadupchat
A3: Leaders find a space for reflection. Saturday morning, at a library, at a coffee shop, at the beach, at the gym. Reflection is critical to growth and growing your team! #LeadUpChat
A3 I try to make the time. Regular Twitter chats and podcasts give me time to stop, reflect and share with others. It gives me the opportunity to learn and grow as an educator. Reflecting alone is one step, sharing/reflecting with others is much more powerful. #leadupchat
True. A school and a district need to show that they VALUE self-improvement, risk-taking, innovation. Leaders show what the values really are. They establish that culture. #LeadupChat
A3 principals come in mid summer to debrief the past year - successes, challenges, plans, strategies to move forward - lagging information is a reference but not the focus #leadupchat
#leadupchat A3. Be small and deliberate. Ask yourself what is one practice of my teaching that I would like to stop (or improve)... What is ONE new practice I'd like to try...Plan for small changes, not total renovations.
A3) If you need help focusing, get a journal. I love the 5-second journal. (Takes more than 5 seconds though!) But the questions help you stop, think, plan, reflect. It's a start! #leadupchathttps://t.co/f69lQcdNNJ
Biggest takeaway from question 3 from you rockstars is that we need to SCHEDULE time to reflect.
Otherwise, those other things that happen during end-of-the-year craziness will keep us from this valuable time!
#leadupchat
A.3 #leadupchat
It's very difficult to find the time but you just have to do it! AT the end of the year, write a letter to yourself or jot down a list of things you would like to implement or do differently. Open that letter/list in September and go from there. It works for me.
A3 Desire! My summer's for reflecting on the best of what we've just experienced. Plus, sharing conversations w/ colleagues who will dream of more powerful things together. (Those challenges of the past? Figuring them out, too, w/ support.) Then read, research, plan! #leadupchat
A3. I’m pretty intentional about reflecting. Writing is a hobby and fun thing for me and so I blog/write which also happens to be my mode of reflecting. I think when we make reflection something we do and not just think about like blogging, it’s more powerful! #Leadupchat
A3:My school uses PDdays to divide up into grade levels and review curriculum with our ELA/Math coaches.We dissect our curriculum, decide what worked/didnt, and plan revisions....Collaboratively.Every member of the grade revises something over the summer.Per session $#leadupchat
A3: I value the time in the evaluation process. Putting reflections of my team in writing brings great joy & time for deeper reflection of past, present, and future. #leadupchat
I agree! Twitter chats help me reflect on what's important and also helps me synthesize my thoughts that then improve my ability to communicate with those around me. #leadupchat
A3 I try to make the time. Regular Twitter chats and podcasts give me time to stop, reflect and share with others. It gives me the opportunity to learn and grow as an educator. Reflecting alone is one step, sharing/reflecting with others is much more powerful. #leadupchat
Yes. I'm convinced the best teachers make this a routine in their classrooms each year. They ask the students for feedback, they look at it honestly, and they make necessary changes.
#leadupchat
Now that would be a really fun challenge ... wouldn't it? Condense your lessons to haikus! Love it! I know you were kidding, but really ... you could! It would make kids think! #leadupchat
A3: It needs to be scheduled into the day, which is challenging but cannot be left undone. We must come together to do this with clear a focus for the reflection so the thinking and input are meaningful. The quality will be based on the culture of the system. #leadupchat
A.2 #leadupchat
At this time of the year, it is difficult to stop and breathe when there are many important issues being thrown in our direction. For example, state exams, graduation, reorganization, etc. Life just gets in the way and we just have to find the time to prioritize.
A3: Leaders find a space for reflection. Saturday morning, at a library, at a coffee shop, at the beach, at the gym. Reflection is critical to growth and growing your team! #LeadUpChat
So true - informal reflection happens everywhere from the middle of the night to a walk or gardening or even in the shower - becomes our metaphorical context - formal reflection involves time with others and must be sacrosanct #LeadUpChat
Sometimes yes, but many folks struggle with accurately articulating what they are feeling. It’s easy to judge others, yet extremely difficult to assess yourself and do so with accuracy. The flaws of being a human! Thank God for our ♥️ hearts! #leadupchat
A3
Incremental Reflection.
Shared with the staff.
1) Write a one sentence reflection each day.
2) On Sunday, publish your 7 sentences in a blog post.
3) Share with your staff, your weekly reflections.
#leadupchat
A3. WRITING or journaling. The challenge of doing this as a busy mama is making the time and setting a routine. I’ve found that 5 am is my new favorite ME time and now look forward to the alarm clock going off. #leadupchat
Q4: My biggest success this year is the collaboration with my team. We work together so closely and I have learned so much from my coworkers. #leadupchat
https://t.co/zCXo70M6C6
It’s a great tool for “taking stock of the work, but not doing the work itself” and having a plan for the week ahead. I love it as a final practice before I head out for the weekend! #leadupchat
A4 Two things that seem to go hand in hand - giving up control and tweaking our individualized PD so that it's running smoothly now & giving great results #leadupchat
A4 Learning and growing with #globalcollaborations Teaching/learning with classes and schools across the world has opened my heart to possibilities. Making an impact with kindness challenges, visiting schools has forged meaningful relationships. #leadupchat
A3 I try to make the time. Regular Twitter chats and podcasts give me time to stop, reflect and share with others. It gives me the opportunity to learn and grow as an educator. Reflecting alone is one step, sharing/reflecting with others is much more powerful. #leadupchat
A4 I have been transitioning a traditional HS Civics curriculum to be totally Project based and have been having good results. Next year I plan to jump in completely from day 1! #LeadUpChat
A4: I teach a dedicated SEL freshman seminar. Honestly this year I have had a lot of success incorporating mindfulness and bullet journaling into my SEL classes. We do a mindful moment each day and that has been super helpful. #LeadUpChat
A4: Classroom success - More thoughtful curriculum design and increased intentional practice opportunities. Personal success - growing as a learner and going back to school. #leadupchat#edchat
A4) I get really excited about the growth I see in all my teachers, but especially in some of my beginning teachers. When you see the theoretical, "I want to love kids," turn into the actual, "I love kids," and to see them teach well because of it is pretty cool.
#leadupchat
@curriculumblog I agree with all of this, except I believe excellent leaders make space. They recognize the value and power in self reflection and awareness. Priorities matter. #leadupchat
A3: Leaders find a space for reflection. Saturday morning, at a library, at a coffee shop, at the beach, at the gym. Reflection is critical to growth and growing your team! #LeadUpChat
A4) Well, I redesign instruction in schools ... so for me, my biggest success was moving more schools to see the power in student-driven classrooms and having more Ss thank me for designing #LATIC. When Ss stop to thank me, write me letters, etc, my heart melts. #leadupchat
A4 My instructional focus for my 3rd-5th graders has been Making Inferences. Loved when my Ss made comments like "Yay! We're making inferences today", when my evaluator was sitting in my classroom!" #leadupchat
A4 one of the greatest moments this year was when my Ss genuinely had this reaction to a performance task my team and I designed based on @Estimation180 and @ddmeyer activities #leadupchat
A4 Having intentional conversations about school culture, creating a common language for these conversations and building an awareness of where we see our culture in action #leadupchat
A4 I feel like it has been building relationships with parents especially our school community council members. They push my thinking and we have had the best discussions about education. #leadupchat
This lack of pausing perpetuates the idea in education we just jump on bandwagons without true reflection & evaluation before doing the next shiny thing. #leadupchat
We cancelled the May Faculty meeting and everyone agreed to visit two classrooms by doing “Learning Walks.” The staff reflected about how to improve process and who they might want to see next year! #leadupchat
A4. After 40 years of "going to school each day" transitioning into life after school with the tremendous help of all of you on Twitter. THANK YOU! Planning this summer book study #FAR is going to be fantastic! #Leadupchat
Q4 (Part 1): As a literacy coach, I supported a principal in addressing a proble he noticed across the school (too much teacher talk / teacher-centeredness). I began with collecting data with him (student vs teacher talk time across classrooms)... #leadupchat
A4: new school mission/vision, new communications strategy, new mascot, logo, and gear, oh - and HUGE student growth! From 65% on GL reading to 95%! And top interim scores! And new trainings for teachers - Orton-Gillingham! #leadupchat
A4 visiting with novice teachers from across the district this past week and seeing their confidence and positivity about their own learning this year #coacheshelp#LeadUpChat
Planning on getting feedback on curriculum units from students in a formal way...usually I have a conversation about it with them but this year I plan to give a survey so that I can remember what they had to say this summer when I am making revisions to it #leadupchat
Q4: My greatest success of this school year was yesterday when a scholar said “I would like to shoutout Ms. Jordan for keeping me on track during the Math state test” #leadupchat
Q4 (Part 2): We shared that data & research on the importance of student-led discussion in middle school with all teachers, which led to staff-wide goal-setting. Next came PD to provide a range of discussion protocols, tools, strategies teachers could implement... #leadupchat
Bullet Journals have also added a lot to my class. Students love to process material this way and I believe they retain more and make more connections. #LeadUpChat
#leadupchat A4. My greatest success thas been balancing my time and meeting 99% of my deadlines. Has literally never happened before. My IEPs are done on time, my lesson plans are actually printed before class, and I've carved out time to learn new aspects of the school building
A4: Giving up what I thought I knew. Giving away more power and control. Loosening more structures. Creating more light. Seeing more people play to their natural strengths, talents and interests #leadupchat
A1: Teachers must model and demonstrate the characteristics of being a lifelong learner to their students on a daily basis. Embracing mistakes, not accepting the status quo, growth mindset, metacognition and reflection are a few examples.
#HackLearning
A4 My biggest success this year was getting my reluctant ELs to speak more. I just compiled @Flipgrid videos that they did each month this year and put them side by side. The growth in oral proficiency is amazing. #LeadUpChat
@Mr_TubbsSS I jumped into inquiry-based algebra this year. Drastically different but assessing shows huge potential & climate change is amazing. Ss what to work on things they see results in #leadupchat
A4: Contributing to a RFP and being awarded a contract that will result in thousands of students experiencing personalized literacy instruction. #BlendedLearning#leadupchat
A4. I’m so proud of the work of our team. We’ve built a strong school improvement framework for our state, some excellent support tools, and are on our way to really implementing a great continuous improvement model. The hard work of a great team is irreplaceable! #leadupchat
A4: My biggest success as a principal this school year finally being able to communicate my school story and my goals for the school so that others can walk away and say , " dang, she is serious! " #leadupchat
Exactly I asked each of my teachers to let me know what's one thing they will do differently now to end the year as strongly as possible. I'm going to share out the responses so everyone can see them. #CultureOfLearning#leadupchat
A4: Bullet Journals have also added a lot to my class. Students love to process material this way and I believe they retain more and make more connections. #LeadUpChat
A4Leaders have the responsibility to build up others. The greatest success that we have seen this year is the increased leadership capacity in both our Ts & Ss. This is the result of a conscious investment to tap into leadership potential & encourage purposeful growth #leadupchat
A4: I had a phenomenal year professionally. I just feel really good about a lot of things that I did, made happen, and achieved. That being said, I already have several “revamps”, new ideas, challenges & goals lined up for next year. #LeadupChat
Q4 (Part 3): Teachers visited each others' classrooms as they tried out these new strategies; principal made non-evaluative, support-oriented visits. 3 months later, school reached goal (increase in student talk across classrooms). Win for school-wide growth! #leadupchat
A4 Empowering a bunch of little kids to envision how they can best lrn; providing engaging resources, insightful books & a willing spirit; & watching them go - & grow! An incredible year of responsive teaching! I've lrnd much & gotten ideas from my new Twitter PLN. #leadupchat
A4 Transitioning to HS Admin working with Freshman. It has been a great experience but definitely have some ‘do differently next time’ moments. Looking forward to moving up to sophomore year with Ss! #leadupchat
A4: This year I have enjoyed working with community partners to build more opportunities for students to think like expert artists and scientists. #leadupchat
Thank you Long Beach Arts Council for our third grade design thinking class. Thinking like architects and artists on field trips and at school. #proudtobelbusd
A3: Reflection for me is an absolute necessity. I need to think about what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve. My problem has been in recording these reflections. Twitter chats has helped me in this area, but I need to do better. #leadupchat
A3
Incremental Reflection.
Shared with the staff.
1) Write a one sentence reflection each day.
2) On Sunday, publish your 7 sentences in a blog post.
3) Share with your staff, your weekly reflections.
#leadupchat
A3. WRITING or journaling. The challenge of doing this as a busy mama is making the time and setting a routine. I’ve found that 5 am is my new favorite ME time and now look forward to the alarm clock going off. #leadupchat
Location, location, location. As leaders it's important we provide and support experiences that disrupt the norm and cause moments for divergent thinking and reflection. #leadupchat
A4- I was able to get at least one teacher from every content area (more in most) to replace a test or paper with a #MakerEd project. I met my goal from the beginning of the year in a new position. #leadupchat
Weed the garden! And keep focused on deep implementation of a couple powerful ideas! Love the research of @DouglasReeves & try to live it! “Having too many goals is like having none at all.” #LeadUpChat@MillisSchools
A1: It's also a good time to reflect on the many (way too many) initiatives that are not implemented, are not working, and can be taken off the table. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A4: Establishing trust as a Head of School by meeting with each of the 150 Ts. Took a while but each conversation helped give me a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of the school culture #leadupchat
#leadupchat A5 I realized it was very naive to think that I could start a collaborative project in a school with uneven collaborative practices. I started then running on my own but I've hit the wall. It's made me feel powerless.
A5 I had my Ss set a monthly reading goal in January. I got busy and did not revisit and continue. Will be more intentional this next year! #leadupchat
A5: Implementing new tech into our curriculum. Next year I am going to be the project champion and I hope to learn from the falls of this year so that we, as a school community can and will make gains next year #leadupchat#growth
Q5: As a coach, with one particular school I approach the end of the school year without any clear sense of impact - on teachers, instruction, school leaders, or students. How can I be more deliberate about setting goals, collecting data, and tracking my impact? #leadupchat
A4: So many things went right this year! One of my favorites was hacking learning with an amazing group of teachers in our #WCHackersClub So many amazing things for students came out of Ts having the freedom to hack! @lorrah_hogue@dswank40@mlklionpride#leadupchat
A5) After a solid year of PD the previous year, I think our PD model had too many moving parts this year. Too many changes and sometimes low-quality offerings distracted from the choice we offered. Look forward to increasing focus and improving quality next year.
#leadupchat
Q5: Some of the reluctant Ts continued to try and obstruct progress. Disappointing since I have been working with them to get them on board for 4 yrs. #leadupchat
A3: I’ve reading your suggestions, and I am just looking at what I think will work for me. What saddens me is the idea that I’m forgetting some important lessons because I didn’t take the time to write it down. #leadupchat
A5: Voice and Choice was hit or miss. Some brilliance...some resistance. The Ss that grew the most embraced the idea but years of controlling and telling is harder to break through than I anticipated. #leadupchat
Q5: As a team we are trying to incorporate more authentic media and debate into our lessons - we are getting better at it for sure, but it’s not at the level where we want it to be #leadupchat
Thankful for #LeadUpChat in the trusted hands of @tsschmidty while pulled to another commitment for family. Always got to take care of the home team! Missing my tribe today!
A4: The Math Task Force
(65 Teachers) unpacked standards, analyzed the math program, wrote unit assessments, and designed a Guaranteed Curriculum For Fayetteville Public Schools. #LeadUpChat
A4: Establishing trust as a Head of School by meeting with each of the 150 Ts. Took a while but each conversation helped give me a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of the school culture #leadupchat
A5: After my students had completed their narrative writing projects, I attended #NCTE and heard so many awesome ideas. I’m ready to totally overhaul my writing plans and can’t wait to return to #NCTE18 as a presenter and a learner. #leadupchat#edchat
A4: We had 3 brand new teachers on our K team this year as well as new literacy curriculum. Being able to help guide & support them through a year that was successful for them & their students was wonderful. I"m so proud of them & team for all we have accomplished. #leadupchat
A4 My instructional focus for my 3rd-5th graders has been Making Inferences. Loved when my Ss made comments like "Yay! We're making inferences today", when my evaluator was sitting in my classroom!" #leadupchat
A5 Some personal projects did not take off like I wanted them to. I have struggled in balancing time with work, family, friends, relaxing. I have reflected a lot about prioritizing and scheduling time to eliminate barriers/obstacles. Always looking forward. #leadupchat
A4: I’m really proud of the fact that I’ve been focused on building capacity - helping others grow into leaders. Modeling risk-taking, enabling opportunities for others speak up & lead, mentoring. I’m seeing the results & it makes me so happy! 🤗 #LeadUpChat
Without reflection we fail to become more aware; personal-ly, organizational-ly and future-ly. Disruption as a mindset requires us to continually reflect on our assumptions and mental models and how they influence our thinking. #leadupchat
A5: Being proactive about the required observations and not feeling so pressured at the end. I go to classrooms all the time, but want to enjoy what’s going on, interact, sometimes catch up on some emails...and I put the required observations on the back burner. #leadupchat
A5: Getting more parents involved with our school. Had great plans but it just didn't work out. Not giving up though we will just keep working it! #leadupchat
Q5: One event that did not work out too well this school year was: my attempt to use kahoots in the classroom.... yeahhh reading before roll out is very important #leadupchat#oops
A1- it’s so important to reflect on the school year to know what went well, and where you need to grow/what you’d like to try differently the following year. Reflecting is huge not only for us, but for our Ss as well #leadupchat
#leadupchat
A5: One area that did not work out as planned was spending more time with my mentee for interclass visitations due to scheduling conflicts. Need to advocate more for my new teachers.
A5. There is ALWAYS room for growth. Our team wants to improve our comprehensive connection and build a strong coherent relationship with the districts and schools we serve. We can’t work on school improvement in isolation. Alignment with district efforts is a must! #leadupchat
A4: One success is leading a group of Ss to do a community service project in which they had to do the work. I’ve been able to get some of these Ss motivated to want to do more. #leadupchat
Did you happen to read this article? Would love to know your thoughts as you are certainly a lead learner in the area of literacy! https://t.co/KbH9rJR50Z#leadupchat
A5: Communicating the Message is not a single meeting, event, newsletter, or email. Find ways to communicate and keep the focus on the main message or procedures. #LeadUpChat
Reflecting with a keyboard on one monitor & ed news on the other, we keep up with our profession. No one wants to be a dinosaur (those are all dead). #leadupchat
A5: My dual life requires missing some class to travel/train and I felt I lost momentum a few times due to absences. Next year I plan to be more intentional with sub planning and scheduling to maintain momentum when I am absent. #LeadUpChat
I can relate to that feeling. Keep the momentum going with those you have on board. I am going to try making small steps non-negotiable when it comes to school goals and what is the right thing to do for our students. #leadupchat
I was thinking about what questions I might ask if I did it again. This year was what you like most about the school, if you were me what would you focus on and what should I know about you to help you reach your potential. #leadupchat
A5 I took for granted Ss knew how to use Google Classroom to have a meaningful discussion, w/o giving them guidance. After the first (lessthanperfect) discussion I went back and taught them about what to do to have an EFFECTIVE online discussion #leadupchat
A5: Change is a process that requires time. There are no quick fixes. To support others It's important to follow this equation when strategically planning for change #leadupchat
It's important that reflection is not about how you are going to get things to work out the way you want ... but how to get things to work out the way others and the situation needs. #leadupchat
My coaching of my coaches - need to be more intentional about their growth and how that will translate to teacher growth and student growth #leadupchat
A5: Still no genuine collaboration in the ELA department. I am not an authoritarian type leader, half the team didn't respond to my leadership style, and I did not know how to adjust. #leadupchat
For busy leaders and teachers working on their dissertation (and perhaps frustrated that they were stuck this year) - free and non-commercial one to one support. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
#leadupchat A5. Not a personal limitation, but a school one...after parkland, our Maslow's hierarchy of needs kicked in. The time spent for educational growth became time spend reviewing safety plans.
A2-We can be sprinting so fast to the finish line that once we cross we are exhausted. By the time we catch out breathe, the next race is starting. #leadupchat
A5. It’s not that it didn’t work, but rather ( our work with the purpose of grading) its a long process in looking at practices and discussing what to change. Work in progress as we move forward. #LeadUPchat
A5 I tried getting all the Ts at my school to record @Flipgrid videos introducing themselves as part of a faculty and staff page. Got half the school to do it. Not a failure but half mission accomplished. #leadupchat
I have realized I miss teaching. Pushing papers and putting out fires gets tiresome. Any ideas for how to incorporate teaching into my busy days is welcomed #leadupchat
Wow! That is a phenomenal idea! When you favored their clsrm visits over a faculty meeting, it sent a huge message about what you value! Plus, it started them thinking about what they could read/focus on during the summer and set the tone for similar work next year. #leadupchat
Agree, Nancy. Leaders are charged to facilitate a resolute focus on key goals that our schools should work toward. This includes removing distractions that attempt to divert our attention away from tasks that will bring the realization of the success vision #leadupchat
In reply to
@NLGustafson, @DouglasReeves, @MillisSchools
A4: In the classroom, I’ve been able to help my Ss see the power in learning from each other and admitting when you need help. Good math is not done in isolation. The Ss worked together to learn how to do modular origami: #leadupchat
A5 continuing to find ways to create student agency. On our way as we break down the visible learning elements of universal instruction while using blended learning strategies/practices/pedagogy to engage all learners @hstaker#leadupchat
For improved grading practices, I've had good luck with the "science fair" approach in which early adopters of grading reform show their colleagues improvements in achievement, discipline, and attendance. More persuasive than traditional PD. #leadupchathttps://t.co/jJcGOx85a1
A5 Making classroom observations & walk throughs a priority. I often let myself get pulled off track by other tasks. Need to be more mindful, focus on what's important, and learn to say "no" #LeadUpChat
Setting high expectations and a dream with a deadline helps promote change. Taking the risk together and then taking time to reflect collaboratively allows us to capitalize on a shared experience which promotes meaningful learning. #Leadupchat
Ilene,
I feel you! I started with reading books to classes...
Then, I crafted a Google doc that teachers could sign-up on to have me come in and either teach a lesson with them or for them...
I am doing more of this next year!
#leadupchat
I have realized I miss teaching. Pushing papers and putting out fires gets tiresome. Any ideas for how to incorporate teaching into my busy days is welcomed #leadupchat
A5: I set up a #flipgrid topic for educators at a conference to reflect upon learning via video right there on the spot. It didn't go well. At all. I guess people don't prefer to reflect while at conferences like this. #leadupchat See: #HamstraHighlights: https://t.co/Rm2M92NRkS
A5: Currently in reflection mode on a team collaboration that did not go the way I expected. Conducting a root cause analysis and seeking to understand different perspectives before determining a plan for moving forward. #leadupchat
A4: Being able to change a student's mindset about a subject is not the easiest. I was able accomplish that with a student who just hated math this year. Now, she's the one that participates every chance she gets and wants to do math first thing every morning. #leadupchat
I’ve missed it too! So much that I now am subbing in classrooms and implementing social/emotional learning with kids while the T takes a mental health day. #leadupchat
A5. Although I have tried really, really hard this year, I still struggle with balance. I need to be sure I am taking time to exercise & enjoy my family while I am working hard. This seems to be an eternal challenge for me. I’m good with that. Work hard. Play hard. #leadupchat
60 minutes until #LeadLAP with my friend & fellow Massachusetts Pirate Leader @casehighprinc to help all Pirate Leaders discuss & navigate the seas of change/disruption in our schools/districts. Should be an excellent discussion. Be there in 1 hour for #LeadLAP#MSAAchat
A5 We wanted all teachers to work on using tech in their teaching for collaboration and creating and let go of some instructional strategy they felt was not working as well. Some were fantastic and some did not make change. #excuses#leadupchat
When I wanted to visit every classroom every day I had someone show up at my office door saying, "time to go!" That person stood there until I got up and left the multitude of tasks - supportive friend! #leadupchat
A6: schedule weekly 1:1 sessions with my coaches - having them set goals and focusing coaching based on that and the work they are doing with their caseload #leadupchat
A6: My first steo is to attend PD on the tech tool so that as project champion, I really can lead my team! Anybody have $1000 for my ticket to Utah? #helpasisterout#leadupchat#masteryconnect
A5: I learned alot this year about working with students facing incredible challenges. I am reflecting on how to build strategic intent, in addition to in-the-moment support. #leadupchat
A3- I reflect a lot while I run. It’s a great time to be in my head and think about the day, week, month, or how the year is going. I later chat with my team and we reflect whenever we get a moment #leadupchat
This is an area I’d like to be more intentional about, too. I set up some solid foundations & better communication this year. Next year I’d really like to strengthen that capacity. #LeadUpChat
A4: I forgot one HUGE success this year. I finished my Master’s program, which included conducting my school’s first student voice panel (was inspired by what I saw in Rio @mexusmx). #leadupchat
I struggle with this too. The negativity affects everyone so I need to do something about it, but hesitate because I don't want to make it worse. #LeadUpChat
I j.u.s.t l.o.v.e hearing all of the "failure"!
It means we're striving, trying, pushing ourselves!
#leadupchat
Keep failing forward.
Keep expanding capacity.
Keep it up!
A6: One that leads to action. I think reflection is the first 50% in the most important thing we can do as Ts. The action makes up the other 50%. Becoming better only occurs when we put reflection into practice. One step at a time, 5% better per year is 5% better #leadupchat
I always get a bit disappointed when I hear others complain about "initiatives thrust upon us" when there are so many opportunities to know what's coming and why (most of the time). #leadupchat
A6 Part 1: As an aspiring leader, I have to recognize that not everyone is going to respond to my leadership style and it is on me to adjust - just as I would in the classroom. #leadupchat
A6 Part 2: I need to become more comfortable being directive when the situation calls for it, even though it is no way my preferred mode of interaction. #leadupchat
A6 I have been reorganizing my time and purposefully scheduling time. As I see where my new journey takes me next year in my role, I am putting the time for what makes the heart grow. I am finally seeing the impact and my adventure continues. #leadupchat
A6) Systems thinking is critical in leadership ... and it's important to remember that each interdependent node in a system has to be healthy ... so create space and time to write, reflect, read, take action, etc. #leadupchat
A6 Stop. Collaborate. And Listen. But seriously, stop (and reflect), collaborate (with other content areas), and listen (to advice and ideas from my PLN). #leadupchat
A6 Starting Tuesday we are going to work together to set up teacher/class blogs for reflection and growth. Next year the beginning of digital portfolios for all students. #growingpains#goodforstudents#leadupchat
Q6 I have several areas so my first step is to take some time today to identify the one or two areas I still have time to focus more attention on before school ends. #leadupchat
A5 My challenge: Really making my professional blog happen! (Because I've created Wednesday deadlines each week on my classroom blog, it happens!) The professional one will be my summer focus for sure. #leadupchat
Being sponges - taking in as much information as we can and broadening our resource base to gather as much as we can - and to keep our conversations going! #leadupchat
A6. We will take the prioritized list from our staff and make adjustments and modifications ( based on our Mission and Vision) for the new school year. We’ll share this with the staff in early August. #LeadUPchat
Each of the superskills of leadership (from my book on executive function) requires reflection to build. Taking time to do that is so important. #leadupchat
Q6: I may start with a root cause analysis - it's worthwhile to invest some time on the front end to be sure I'm properly diagnosing the challenge or "problem" before trying to fix it. #leadupchat
A6 Stop. Collaborate. And Listen. But seriously, stop (and reflect), collaborate (with other content areas), and listen (to advice and ideas from my PLN). #leadupchat
A5: I really wanted to implement more tech this year with my Ss, but their needs were so deeply foundational that it didn't make pedagogial sense to add that layer. When a 5 year old has never seen their name in print or talked about "color", greenscreening must wait. #leadupchat
A6: My first step is taking a look at what needs to happen in order to successfully implement my goals. I also need to take a look at the individuals around me and see how their knowledge and expertise can assist me! Asking for help is always a sign of strength! #leadupchat
Well fair enough. I don't really have that option so I keep trying to move us all along. I have some fantastic teachers that lead and that really helps. #leadupchat
We need to clean out the "garage of district initiatives" What is priceless that we should keep? What needs to be recycled? What goes to the dump? What is toxic waste that needs to go, but be handled with care? #leadupchat
Q6: I may start with a root cause analysis - it's worthwhile to invest some time on the front end to be sure I'm properly diagnosing the challenge or "problem" before trying to fix it. #leadupchat
A5: I was hoping in my action research project I could get the school closer to seeing the power of student voice. I feel like the project moved us an inch forward, but there is a long way to go. #leadupchat
Begin with shifting to a beginner mindset. See learning as a journey, rather than a destination. Seek bigger, better questions and take time to explore them. Don’t rush to solutions. Be a cognitive pioneer, connecting a wider breadth of dots. #leadupchat
A6: I think it would be interesting to have a day where folks shadow other positions on the other side of the divide to see what they experience. #leadupchat
A6: Start the process of asking questions what did we do as a school for parent engagement that worked? Why did it work? What did we do that did not work? Why? Alter methods for next year and create an action plan. #leadupchat
A6 Stealing @mjjohnson1216's great idea & will have an accountability partner make sure I get into classrooms daily. Thanks for the idea - simple but powerful! #LeadUpChat
A "cognitive pioneer"...what an awesome term!
Plan the journey, lay it out in front of you...and then get started!
Thanks for sharing, my friend!
#leadupchat
Begin with shifting to a beginner mindset. See learning as a journey, rather than a destination. Seek bigger, better questions and take time to explore them. Don’t rush to solutions. Be a cognitive pioneer, connecting a wider breadth of dots. #leadupchat
I j.u.s.t l.o.v.e hearing all of the "failure"!
It means we're striving, trying, pushing ourselves!
#leadupchat
Keep failing forward.
Keep expanding capacity.
Keep it up!
Just came back from a conference with @gcouros He said, "Quit coddling them Michelle" and he was right, we have to move forward with what we know is good for our students. #leadupchat
I had monthly meetings this year. Weekly check-ins, even if done remotely via GHO, @Flipgrid , etc. (coaches in different buildings) could be a way to make the team stronger & set more distinct short-term & long-term goals. I’ll consider that during summer break... #LeadUPchat
A5: Implementing new tech into our curriculum. Next year I am going to be the project champion and I hope to learn from the falls of this year so that we, as a school community can and will make gains next year #leadupchat#growth
#leadupchat
For continued growth, I need to be more present with colleagues and stress the urgency of co planning and looking at data, co reflecting ...as this is vital for student improvement and gives educators the opportunity to grow as a professionals.
Totally agree! Educators are such a caring group of people that they too often enable, especially with at-risk students. Great insight you just shared - thank you! #leadupchat
In reply to
@PrincipalSmart, @carlameyrink, @specsol, @gcouros
A6 I am actually in the process of doing it right now. Showing the grid/page to the Ts who are reluctant to post a video so they can see how easy it is. #leadupchat
