As we conclude our training session, we would like to revisit two brief exercises from Dan Pink's A Whole New Mind coming from his chapter on the sense of Meaning.
Have you ever had a training or meeting where someone used the "parking lot" idea? You probably have. You know, the parking lot is the place where the real meeting happens, outside the actual venue and the earshot of the rest of the participants. That is where the gloves come off and the real questions are asked. "That's all great, but it won't work in my classroom." "I would love to try those ideas, but I don't have X,Y and Z." Whenever a trainer or meeting leader uses the "parking lot" idea, they might provide some method of documenting concerns that cannot be solved by the participants in the time provided. The intention to 1 part increase focus and 1 part decrease complaints. But there's a good deal of merit to the method and to subscribing to that attitude in general.
Pink's exercise is called "But Out." Do you know what would make your teaching more meaningful? Compile a list of some important changes you would like to make in your teaching. What is holding you back? List both and carefully reflect on the legitimatcy of the "But's" (tehe, that's funny) and ways to move past them. You can see Tina Barseghian's post on Mindshift about Will Richardson and Rob Mancabelli's ISTE session, "How to Address Yeah But Objections from Resisters"
Secondly and more importantly, we all need to remember one thing on difficulty days. Why do we teach? What are our goals? Each of us has trying days that leave us angry, saddened and perhaps acting out of character. Pink suggests writing a "One Sentence Vision." Create a one sentence vision statement for next school year. Please prepared to share it to the group. Since it will be composed of only one sentence, you might choose to tweet it as well.
Angela Maiers wrote this post from the students' point of view enummerating what they want from teachers.
Angela Maiers wrote this post from the students' point of view enummerating what they want from teachers.
