Category Archives: Education

The ones who change the world…

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“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

– Steve Jobs

Connect. Explore. Create.

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This week I am attending Independent School Management’s conference on “Leading the 21st Century Elementary School”. I have been profoundly improved as a leader and educator, and am determined to wrest from all I’ve been inundated with this week a way to bring tangible opportunities for growth into my practice as teacher and educator back at TPS.

Woven throughout the entire week has been the constant reminder of the equal importance of leading and educating in a way that is moved by mission and centered on children. Institutions are not the only organisms driven by mission, people are as well. One of the exercises they asked of us early on was to, through a variety of steps, create a personal mission statement:

I exist in order to explore my world inside and out, give genuine care for others, and promote reflective growth, creativity, and connectedness in my personal and professional communities.

One of the leaders encouraged us to try and choose three distinct words for ourselves that represent who we are personally and professionally. A “tag line” of sorts.

Connect. Explore. Create.

4 principles of social-emotional health

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It is well-known that schools are training grounds for more than just content. In fact, I would argue that some of the most important learning children do is not related to academic content at all. It is the stuff of relationships, manners, conflict-resolution, community involvement, etc. It is the often unscripted curriculum that happens every moment with often unpredictable timing and depth.

At a recent conference a fellow participant shared what she and her school have identified as the 4 core tenents of social-emotional health. They explicitly instruct, practice, and assess these skills. They are:

1. Self Awareness

2. Self Management

3. Awareness of Others

4. Management of Relationships

Everyone of any age is somewhere on the spectrum of developing competency in these 4 skills. Where are the children you teach? Where is your school? Where are you?