Today was my first day back to work from an eventful summer and I didn't know what to expect. After all, teachers had the summer off, too, so it would probably be quiet... right? I put myself out there as available to all teachers at two different sites saying "hey, let me know if I can help you think through some ideas for the upcoming school year" in a welcoming email.
Sure enough, a handful of folks stepped up, and I needed to be ready.
The summer cobwebs are still thick, but I know that my role as an instructional coach means that I need to bring my best at all times. One, in particular, really pushed me. He is a psychology teacher who has always been forward-thinking with technology and seeks his own professional development in many ways. Today, though, he asked me to come to his classroom and think through some ideas.
After catching up, he showed me a list of 12-15 things he had done last year (all of which are great by themselves), shared how he uses the chromebooks daily, and then his challenge:
What else can you do to push me?
While that might not have been exactly how he asked it, that's how it felt, and I loved it. How can I help someone who is already pushing the envelope? In what ways can I be of value?
We worked through a few ideas, tinkered through the details, and ultimately came to a few solutions, but that isn't the important part that led me to reflect on the meeting.
As we get more comfortable with our abilities, it is common to feel like you're "good" and don't need help. It is common to coast with learning new things and seeking people who can give you the extra push. The difficulty is making the time to reach out, find someone who has different experiences, and ask them to push you.
Find someone who will push you to be better, take more risks, and improve; your students deserve it.
Happy "Supportive Push" Fishing
Sure enough, a handful of folks stepped up, and I needed to be ready.
The summer cobwebs are still thick, but I know that my role as an instructional coach means that I need to bring my best at all times. One, in particular, really pushed me. He is a psychology teacher who has always been forward-thinking with technology and seeks his own professional development in many ways. Today, though, he asked me to come to his classroom and think through some ideas.
After catching up, he showed me a list of 12-15 things he had done last year (all of which are great by themselves), shared how he uses the chromebooks daily, and then his challenge:
What else can you do to push me?
While that might not have been exactly how he asked it, that's how it felt, and I loved it. How can I help someone who is already pushing the envelope? In what ways can I be of value?
We worked through a few ideas, tinkered through the details, and ultimately came to a few solutions, but that isn't the important part that led me to reflect on the meeting.
As we get more comfortable with our abilities, it is common to feel like you're "good" and don't need help. It is common to coast with learning new things and seeking people who can give you the extra push. The difficulty is making the time to reach out, find someone who has different experiences, and ask them to push you.
Find someone who will push you to be better, take more risks, and improve; your students deserve it.
Happy "Supportive Push" Fishing
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