It has been about 5 months since I began this blogging thing. I’ve worked at developing a way to discuss and explore topics of education that are of interest and relevance to me. One of the things that I have done is to develop these through my own experiences over time.
Last night, my kids went to the movies. Now, I really wasn’t interested in going to the movie, not because it wouldn’t be good, Bridge to Terrabitha, but I didn’t want to sit in the theatre. So, I took my “A Whole New Mind” with me, went to Tim Horton’s and read. I read through the section on stories and began to reflect on what this means to me.
Now, anyone who has been reading a bit knows that a few weeks ago I did a major self-reflection. I did some mirror gazing and realized that there were some areas that I really needed to develop and a few areas that needed some permanent cleansing. I began to do that, dropping a few of the balls that I was carrying without picking up any more. I’ve found that I’m more focused and my energy is coming back.
I’ve also started to take care of myself a bit better. My exercise program has been going okay and my wife and I decided that maybe a – gulp – diet program might be in order. For a guy who’s weight never got above 165 until this year, this is a MAJOR change. So, as I read through the section on Story, I began to realize that this was one area that I really needed to focus upon. I like to tell stories, compare notes with other administrators through our stories and develop ideas through exploring possibilities through stories.
One of the things that I’ve always done well is solve problems. If there is an issue between students or if something has gone on, the students have come to know that I will ask questions and listen until I have a pretty good picture of what is going on. I let them tell their story so that I can piece events together. However, I realized that I don’t always do this when a student is sent to my office by a teacher. Now, if you’ve read a few of my blogs, you know that there is a group of students that we, as a staff, with whom we are struggling. As I read through this section I realized that I haven’t really allowed them to tell me their story before I jump in. I’m more like a physician, trying to diagnose the problem than listening to see what the underlying causes might be. For this group, I might have realized this too late. However, it does make me realize that I need to “be in the room” and “actively listen” without trying to diagnose and prescribe. These students have a story that they really want to tell but, for some reason, my listening has been very poor.
As a professional, I’ve started a reflective journal. It was a suggestion of my superintendent to reflect on what I do each day. As I’ve done this, I’ve come to realize that the more I spend time listening, the better the relationships within the building. The more I thank people for their contributions and ask them for their ideas and listen to them, the more things are running smoothly. And it’s only been three weeks!
My journal has helped me to see the relationship between what I do, my actions, and what happens, the outcomes. As I was reflecting on what I had read, it became clearer and clearer that, to help students, I had to spend more time listening to them while they tell me their stories.
I love to tell stories. I like to think that I have learned some lessons through my life and have something to offer. I like working with metaphors and analogies and use them in my class often. My goal, now, is to help the students develop these same skills so that, together, we can begin to tell our stories and using the tools of web2.0, begin to tell our story so others can read and respond.
So, as I relfect, I see that this process of blogging that began about 5 months ago has been part of my reflection. I will continue to do this as I have developed a network of people whose stories I read to help me be improve and think deeper. This article came from a combination of Dave Sherman’s, Janet Cleary’s and Langwithes’ stories. Thanks
6 responses so far ↓
Thanks for the mention. I am not sure if what I am doing on my blog is really telling stories or just telling it like it is. Anyway, I am glad you included me in your interesting post tonight.
– Dave
As someone whose weight never went about 170 before administrator, and who is now around 180, I’m with you on the diet and exercise thing.
Juggling all this *and* finding a way to take care of ourselves isn’t easy.
Me May 2004:
http://www.beaconschool.org/~clehmann/gallery/Prom04/IMG_0545
Me this winter:
http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1832&issue=apr_07
Oy.
It is so important to be introspective like that, especially in our field of education. If we’re not well, then our professional life (and our students) suffer the consequences. I’ve found that blogging is a great way to step back and take a look at ourselves. Kudos to you for making the necessary changes. Now, I’ve got a few of my own to make…
Dave, your story of your daughter was a prime example of how we tell stories to transmit a message. I could fully appreciate what you were going through as I have a daughter who is in the similar situation. Her motivation isn’t quite as strong as your daughter’s but I’m impressed with all that she does by the way of sports and still maintains top marks in her class.
Chris – this whole weight thing has been too weird. I was the type of person who at whatever I wanted and didn’t gain a pound. In fact, during stressful times, I’d have to eat more. Now, I’m watching the scale climb. So, I’m determined to keep up my workouts and start running again. I’m even contemplating a cleansing diet (yeesh) to get started this summer. What has happened to me???
Rick – I’ve found that the voices like yours give me the necessary encouragement to make these changes. I then find that other voices give me the ideas to begin the whole process. I know that I’ve really begun to look at things in different ways since I began blogging. Good luck with your changes!
Time for self-reflection……….wonderful! Does this mean that as we develop a sense of balance and extensive insight, we become better coaches understanding the need to provide regular opportunities for self-reflection?
I think reflection leads to more risk taking as we develop the courage to lose sight of what we think we know….. and go find a different way. If reflection is seen as an adventure then surely great learning has to follow!!
How can we teach children to act upon their reflections?
Eve,
I think, that if we are going to teach our children to act upon their reflections, then we need to teach them about reflection, give them time to do reflection and help them to build upon those reflections. One of the things is that, in a world which embraces instance access and instance gratification, reflection is overlooked as we race from one event or activity to another. Especially with students living in a “test for knowledge” atmosphere where knowing means being able to do well on an exam and then move on to the next set of criteria, little accord is given to reflection on what they are doing or what they have done. We are seeing a clash of philosophy which is is only going to get more intense, I think. Thanks for the great question, Eve.
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