I think my philosophy on teaching has grown in the past few years through two major factors.  1.)  Going to the leadership conference in Barrington at Willow Creek Church and 2.) having daily talks with my husband.   My philosophy has changed from the start of my teaching from a “typical” philosophy statement to evolving into something a little bit more solid.

At the leadership conference it is aimed mainly for business leaders.  I sat amongst CEO’s, CIO’s, CFO’s from all over the world.  This conference reaches into countries that most don’t want to attempt to because of the danger involved.  In this conference heard in person Colin Powell, Patrick Lencioni( author five dysfunctions of a team), Bob Goff ( founder of Restore International), Joseph Grenny (author of Crucial Conversations), BreneBrown (great Ted Talk on Power of Vulnerability, Henry Cloud, and more.  One two day conference and my attitude about teaching changed.

I think Bill Hybels summed up leadership in its finest in the workforce this weekend.  What are the top qualitities of a leader?  What does it mean to love your work and be fulfuilled in your daily labors?  How does this come about.  I listened through two perspectives.  One, the perspective of me in the workplace working for my leaders.  Two in the perspective that I am the leader in my classroom and what does this mean.

• 1.)  Clear and Reasonable expectations
• 2.)  Equipment and supplies to perform the job
• 3.)  Doing what you do best
• 4.)  Getting Recognition and Praise
• 5.)  Supervisor to care as a person
• 6.)  Encourages the development in others
• 7.)  Opionions matter to someone
• 8.)  Sense of purpose/  The mission matters
• 9.)  Colleagues committed to quality
• 10.)  Best friend at work
• 11.)  Talk honestly about progress
• 12.)  Have new opportunities to stretch and grow.

 

I look at these needs in the workplace and really they are very basic.  Hybels talked about how a healthy vibrant culture appears when letting people know that matter occurrs.  This is so true in teaching.

Although they are worded more for boss and employee I think they apply to teacher and student.  I have found looking to the business world on leadership has helped sometimes more than workshops with the trained professionals in education.  Why?  I think because we get caught up in our education brains and don’t see things in a different light.

I rewrote these 12 a s ten teacher statements to post in my room.  I did take the liberty to change the order accordingly.

• • • 1.)  I care about YOUR Education!  Do YOU?
    • 2.)  My expectations are clear and reasonable.  If not….just ask.
    • 3.)  Together we will provide what you need to get the job done!
    • 4.)  Everyone has their own learning style.  I will try to help you reach your potential in how you work best.
    • 5.)  Recognition and Praise is important.  I will give it when earned.  It will never be a lie.  It will mean something.
    • 6.)  I see your potential growth and I will push you towards that daily.   I hope you learn to see that in others and encourage them to grow also.
    • 7.)  Your opinion matters.  Use it appropriately.  I have one also.
    • 8.)  The mission you and I are embarking on is important.  You might not realize it now.  The world out there is tough and I want you prepared.  It is easier to forget knowledge than to have to relearn it after you find out you hate your job and have to go back to school.
    • 9.)  Are your peers committed to quality like you?  Are they helping your grow in class or are they keeping you down?  Are you willing to call them “boss” in your in a few years?  Keep yourself around others that have ambition and concern for their futures.
    • 10.)  Do you know at least one person in the class?  If not, make a friend.
    • 11.)  I will talk honestly about your progress.  I am not a “sell out” teacher where a word search will get you your grade.  I am committed to you and true learning.  Sometimes the truth hurts when you are not doing well.   We can get through it together.
    • 12.)  It isn’t fun to relearn the same thing.  It is important to stretch and grow your brain.  I will provide opportunities for you to do this.

 

My other influence in my philosophy is my husband.  I have learned more from his own personal life experience that I could have imagined.  You see I was the Brady Bunch kid.  I had the two parents, good family, etc.  And well…he was simply that “other” kid.  I think you when you come from a family as I did you start to get the “I’m going to save the world” attitude.  You see kids coming in from poor homes, dysfunctional families and some horrifying situations.  This is where my husband came from.  The questions becomes, “Honey, how did you make it”.  His brutal honesty is what I have learned from.  Simply put, a person does not make it by being babied and enabled.  In fact, (although it seems so unfair) these kids will have to work harder than those children where things are given to them.  I am the encourager but not the enabler.  I have learned to recognize this and it has been hard at times to show tough love.   Many times I don’t have success stories but when I do the rewards are tremedous. My motto is EMPOWERMENT.

I have had to use this tough love in raising my own step children in conditions that were horrendous.  Guess what, they were “those kids”.   We raised them with few days to our name and we fought every interaction of the attitude of “entitlement, victimhood, and enablement”.  Every moral and value taught was a fight.  I experienced court cases, dcfs, and a constant fear that my children were going to be harmed.  Through it all we taught empowerment, and the importance of God and an education.  I have straight A students and one is currently at IMSA and interning at Fermi lab.  My husband KNEW what is important in education and in being human.  Our fight was to make a legacy that is not dependent on welfare and low paying jobs but one that can go out into the world and make change for the good.

I recognize that the role of the teacher is a powerful one.  Constantly I am learning and modifying my thinking.  I keep coming across new situations that through off my previous thoughts.  I do know that simply letting students know you care has never done harm.  I think that this is the greatest attribute I have.