Blogging on my work on my team’s blog…
Ideas.Inspiration.Solutions.
Education is the greatest civil rights issue of our time. It will take solutions around the HOW, not words around the WHAT.
URBAN.LEARNING
Only the educated are free. - Epictetus
Quick Starter for a Team Meeting:
If you struggle coming up with ideas on how to keep your meetings fresh, fun and focused, stay tuned to Urban Learning.
Here is one way to jump start your meeting…
Have every team member take 3-5 minutes to independently identify their major accomplishments from the past week, their main priorities for the following week, and any requests for support from the rest of the team.
Then, do a whiparound where each team member shares their 3 buckets. Engage in quick exchanges and respond when appropriate.
Record the priorities or requests for the team to come back to at the next meeting.
If you are looking to build high levels of accountability and trust within a small team, particularly a leadership team, this might be a good tool to put into practice.
Send me questions or requests.
Photo credit:
http://dribbble.com/shots/93630-discover-vs-start
Check it out » 5 Ways to Get your Student’s Brains Ready for Learning
Read this excellent post on my team’s blog. Sign up to get our posts that are focused on inspiration, solutions and strategies.
At a symposium today on accountability for teacher prep programs. It is an excellent reminder that not only teachers, but those of us that support teachers, are also accountable to our students.
30 Day Challenge - Gratitude for Every Day
For 30 days, show one person gratitude a day. Every day that you do this, you will begin to see great positivity in your life and work.
Here are groups of people that you can appreciate:
1. Colleagues - Who do you work with that deserves your thanks? If you are unhappy with the people you work with, strive to find something you can appreciate. Or, strive to model the behaviors that you would appreciate. The more you appreciate others, the more you will be appreciated.
2. Family members - Sometimes we take for granted the people that are closest to us in our lives. I know I am guilty of this. Show your appreciation for your family and tell them one characteristic that brings joy into your life.
3. Strangers - When you are at a store and someone helps you out, show gratitude. We all know what it is like to experience poor service! If someone opens a door for you, say a sincere thank you. Believe it or not, when you look, there is a lot to appreciate!
4. Friends - When was the last time you thanked the friend who is the first person you call on a bad day? Or, the friend that makes you laugh often? You won’t have to go far before you find a friend that deserves your thanks.
5. Students - Needs no explanation.
How can you show your gratitude?
1. I love to write notes and cards for people. I collect them when I see them on sale and carry them with me. See my post on positive notes. :)
2. Text messages. A nice text that shows your thanks can uplift people in a spare moment of their day.
3. A photo email. If you come across an image online that reminds you of the individual, send it along with a thank you.
4. Photo aps. There are several aps on the iPhone that allow you to add graphics to pictures or make cards. A couple that I like are Red Stamp and Labelbox.
Let me know all of the good things you begin to experience as you focus on the positive. 30 days. Every day.
NGU
