Comments on: What makes some teachers take the time to grow? http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/ The Magic of Learning Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:20:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Langwitches http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27590 Langwitches Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:43:56 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27590 @Vicki I agree that we are the only ones that can change ourselves. That being said, how do we "encourage" others to "want" to change for themselves then? Show them the possibilities...share resources with them... present with contagious enthusiasm... until we break them down and they will want to move forward :) @Micheal Older teachers are clinging to what they have taught for years... and new teachers are too overwhelmed... that sounds too familiar. So, who is left to take the time to grow? Do we need to focus on the middle crowd, pre-service group or policy makers/administrators only? Do we not "waste our time" with the ones who choose not to grow? @Julie You are adding the feeling of being undervalued, under appreciated, over extended and exhausted to "having taught the same thing too long" and overwhelmed from Micheal. How can we model and motivate a change from within? I like your combination of creativity and innovation. Can we add that to feeling valued, appreciated, and supported. Let's make magic... @Pam Thank you so much! Do we mix variety too into the magic potion that will make someone take time to grow? @Vicki
I agree that we are the only ones that can change ourselves. That being said, how do we “encourage” others to “want” to change for themselves then?
Show them the possibilities…share resources with them… present with contagious enthusiasm… until we break them down and they will want to move forward :)

@Micheal
Older teachers are clinging to what they have taught for years… and new teachers are too overwhelmed… that sounds too familiar. So, who is left to take the time to grow? Do we need to focus on the middle crowd, pre-service group or policy makers/administrators only? Do we not “waste our time” with the ones who choose not to grow?

@Julie
You are adding the feeling of being undervalued, under appreciated, over extended and exhausted to “having taught the same thing too long” and overwhelmed from Micheal. How can we model and motivate a change from within? I like your combination of creativity and innovation. Can we add that to feeling valued, appreciated, and supported. Let’s make magic…

@Pam
Thank you so much! Do we mix variety too into the magic potion that will make someone take time to grow?

]]> By: Pam Shoemaker http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27582 Pam Shoemaker Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:09:46 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27582 Sylvia, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. I like the mix of topics you write about - new tools, ed leadership, and tech PD (like this entry). I look up to you as I strive for personal and professional improvement. Sylvia, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. I like the mix of topics you write about – new tools, ed leadership, and tech PD (like this entry). I look up to you as I strive for personal and professional improvement.

]]> By: Vicki Davis http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27578 Vicki Davis Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:24:05 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27578 Julie, you are great with words. That makes a lot of sense and yes, engagement is what needs to happen with all of us! It can be overwhelming for the non-techie, I think. Julie, you are great with words. That makes a lot of sense and yes, engagement is what needs to happen with all of us!

It can be overwhelming for the non-techie, I think.

]]> By: Julie Lindsay http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27577 Julie Lindsay Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:26:22 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27577 Silvia, great notes and reflection. Thanks for taking the time to write about our keynote! You know, everything you and Vicki have said here already is so true....however I cannot help thinking that essentially teachers are so undervalued in our society (as a generalisation) that they are not always encouraged to take that extra step to grow. A teacher with a full class load is often so stressed, busy, exhausted it takes a certain will power to even think about moving forward rather than merely surviving. Having said this of course I find it inexcusable still for educators in general to continue to 'teach' the same courses in the same way, year after year. Change starts from within, and continues through creativity and innovation. As you say, engagement is the key, and excitement about change. When these 2 key ingredients are evident magical things can happen in education. Silvia, great notes and reflection. Thanks for taking the time to write about our keynote!
You know, everything you and Vicki have said here already is so true….however I cannot help thinking that essentially teachers are so undervalued in our society (as a generalisation) that they are not always encouraged to take that extra step to grow. A teacher with a full class load is often so stressed, busy, exhausted it takes a certain will power to even think about moving forward rather than merely surviving. Having said this of course I find it inexcusable still for educators in general to continue to ‘teach’ the same courses in the same way, year after year. Change starts from within, and continues through creativity and innovation. As you say, engagement is the key, and excitement about change. When these 2 key ingredients are evident magical things can happen in education.

]]> By: michael staton http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27576 michael staton Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:22:16 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27576 replace I'm with "in". Stupid iPhone! replace I’m with “in”. Stupid iPhone!

]]> By: michael staton http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27575 michael staton Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:20:56 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27575 unfortunately I think the true answers are too systemic to cover as a comment. Older teachers are typically too invested I'm the system they took years to develop, and newer teachers are either overwhelmed or have blunt and sterile curriculum forced on them. I enjoyed your post and summary of the flat classroom's dynamic duo. All the best. I'm subscribed. unfortunately I think the true answers are too systemic to cover as a comment. Older teachers are typically too invested I’m the system they took years to develop, and newer teachers are either overwhelmed or have blunt and sterile curriculum forced on them. I enjoyed your post and summary of the flat classroom’s dynamic duo. All the best. I’m subscribed.

]]> By: Vicki Davis http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/11/01/what-makes-some-teachers-take-the-time-to-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-27573 Vicki Davis Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:55:58 +0000 http://langwitches.org/blog/?p=2227#comment-27573 Thank you for this great reflection and outline. I'm glad to see that you made it through the video that took us almost 100 hours to make between us!!! Your presentation from last year is still one of my all time favorites! I think we all struggle with this - -how do we grow and help others grow. I always come back to this -- the only person I can do anything about is MYSELF!!! I cannot make anyone else grow or even care. However, teaching the tips to help people grow IS something that will work. That, and stripping away the tech-jargon to make things understandable also will make a difference. I enjoyed reading your thoughts -- and, as with all of this sort of thing, I'm thinking on it also. Thank you for this great reflection and outline. I’m glad to see that you made it through the video that took us almost 100 hours to make between us!!! Your presentation from last year is still one of my all time favorites!

I think we all struggle with this – -how do we grow and help others grow.

I always come back to this — the only person I can do anything about is MYSELF!!! I cannot make anyone else grow or even care.

However, teaching the tips to help people grow IS something that will work. That, and stripping away the tech-jargon to make things understandable also will make a difference. I enjoyed reading your thoughts — and, as with all of this sort of thing, I’m thinking on it also.

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