You
know the saying, “There are only two things in life that are certain: death and
taxes.” Maybe we as educators should add a third thing to that list: Change. As
one school year ends, changes for the next year are already underway.
John
Galbraith (an American economist), said, “Faced with the choice between
changing one’s mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost
everybody gets busy on the proof.” Change is probably not on anyone’s list of
favorite things to do, but it is an inevitable part of life, and in education, things don’t stay
the same for long. Accepting this will help you deal with change more
rationally so that you can make the most out of changing circumstances.
We
know that change can be stressful. The
key to navigating change successfully is your perspective before changes surface. Set aside a small amount of time in the
coming weeks to anticipate changes that may be coming during the next school
year. Think about both important changes that are certain and also changes that
you think could possibly happen. Consider
the Boy Scout motto and “Be Prepared.” To be ready for change, you can:
*Anticipate
what might happen: think now about changes both certain and potential
*Find
out all you can about the reasons for the change
*Think
through potential consequences
*Understand
options
Brainstorm
possible actions you’ll take if that change should occur. Then think about
things you can do now to be prepared for the change. What are the signs you
should keep an eye out for that might mean change is imminent? How can you prepare
if you see these signs?
Reflecting
on change in advance means you won’t be caught off guard. And you won’t get
bogged down by surprise and stress when changes actually happen.
Once
you have mentally prepared yourself, you’re in a position to support others
during the change process. (Remember the flight attendant’s instructions about
applying your own oxygen mask first?)
Consider
other’s potential fears and anxieties. If you are armed with information and
have thought through optional responses, you’ll be able to address potential
concerns before they arise, making the transition smoother.
Whether
it’s a change in curriculum, administration, testing, scheduling or some other
aspect of the school experience, when you are prepared for change you can use
it as a lever for achieving your goals for improved instruction.
And
what about those potential changes you’ve thought through that never comes to
pass? Even if the changes never happen, your preparation for specific changes
will help you be more flexible and adaptive overall. Your peace of mind will
increase because you know you are prepared for what might be just around the
corner.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
Ideas
for coaches - Planning to forget:
The
power of one-on-one conversations in coaching:
One
of my favorite protocols for debriefing after reading (during PD or with
students). Just ask, “What are the important ideas in this chapter?” and use
the Affinity Mapping protocol to see what surfaces:
A
Pinterest board with series books for intermediate grades to shop for this
summer:
This
article about teaching writing; I especially appreciate the list of 3
disinsentives for teaching writing found on p. 8:
That’s
it for this week! Happy whatever-you-are-doing!
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