State of the Union

"Stop teaching to the test: teach with creativity and passion."
-- President Barack Obama, State of the Union address 2012

Lead a School and Lead a Balanced Life? Probably Not

I love the symmetry of today's date: 1/2/12. It feels and looks balanced. It brings to mind perhaps the most common coaching question I'm asked: How can I do this work and live a balanced life? My first response is: What does a balanced life look like to you? My second response is: people who are drawn to mission-driven work,who are compelled to shift the dominant paradigm of injustice, aren't the kind of people who lead a balanced life. But we CAN lead a healthy life. We can make the usual New Year's resolutions: eat well and exercise. And we can:

• Laugh a lot: science tells us that our immune system loves hearty laughter http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/laughter7.htm. Stanford University is offering a course in learning how to be compassionate beginning January 17, 2012: http://ccare.stanford.edu/sct/2012-stanford-compassion-training



• Practice compassion: http://ccare.stanford.edu/content/being-compassionate-healthy



• Practice kindness: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=kindness-emotions-psychology

We want urgent school leaders around for a long time, so surround yourself with funny people (Kids are very funny), notice when you feel compassion (for yourself as well), and do something kind for people who help you lead a healthier life, and for people who could use a good laugh.

The Science and Power of Gratitude

Gratitude: Robert Emmons, PhD, says that gratitude requires reflection and contemplation. He reminds us that the etymology of “thinking” and “thanking” are the same. In order to feel grateful we: Recognize Acknowledge Appreciate. Interestingly, he also found that in contrast to people who wrote down five things they felt hassled by, the people who wrote down blessings they were thankful for slept better, had more energy, suffered less illness, exercised more, were more optimistic about their future, and felt better about their lives.

Force Field in the Classroom

I recently had the privilege to observe Alex Jarrell teach at KIPP Central City Middle School. It was immediately clear that his Kids are engaged in taking responsibility for their learning, work independently, are infused with a love of learning and a desire to think critically, and have respect for community. When I pressed him to think about how he creates this environment, one he refers to as a Force Field, here's how he describes it. (Posted with his permission):

• Treat kids with respect


• Select rigorous exciting text to read: They feel successful reading


• Scaffold praise
   First, I praise them when they have gone above expectations
   Then I only praise when kids show critical thinking


• Model enthusiasm and zest


• I know every kid can learn

Please post specific things you do, and the way you approach teaching and learning, so our other amazing teachers can build their repertoire too.

Lazy or Imaginative?

Teaching, coaching and leading to deficits is lazy and unimaginative. Teaching, coaching and leading to assets can be transformational and brings out the best in your teachers and in you. As John Saphier of RBT (Research for Better Teaching) reminds us, teachers stay on their jobs longer and do better when they can be creative and know they will never be humiliated.

Love and joy don't undermine structure and discipline.

Coaching Kids Toward Self-Reliance: the 4th of July Question

Yesterday, I posed this question to our incredible Leaders who are participating in KIPP School Leadership Programs (KSLP) Summer Institute at NYU:

To ponder on this 4th of July: How do we hold our Kids' hands while helping them learn self-reliance and independence?

Mara Bond, one of 5 founding teachers at KIPP Raices, currently teaching 2nd grade, offered this jewel as her response, which she has given me permission to post here. (The Leadership Guides she refers to at the end of the paragraph are Institute coaches who are carefully matched with each participant.)

How do we hold our kids' hand while helping them learn self reliance and independence?

As a kinder teacher for 5 years and a 2nd grade teacher for one, this questions hits home! I feel like it requires an ability to embrace the chaos a little bit. You create structure, in order for children to create their own structure. Children also need to be part of the decision making process when you are creating structures (like lines, seat assignments, etc.) so that they understand the WHY. I also believe that you need to take time to talk and listen to your students, which requires TIME, but it is well spent. A lot of these moments are done quietly, not whole group, so that you can be a GUIDE for your students rather then their DIRECTOR. Interestingly enough, I am going full circle in my response, because I feel like in order to help our kids learn self-reliance and independence we need to be like our leadership guides.... listen, advise, and set free.