I'm in no way a tremendous fan of country music (although I love what all you gain when you play it backwards- you get your truck, your job, and your wife back). However, driving in my Jeep the other day, a song came on the radio that just fit the moment; top off the Jeep, beautiful day, open road, and plenty of Voxes running through my mind. It was Toby Keith's "A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action." I had been thinking about Joe Mazza's challenge to us this week in our #ptcamp small groups to begin to articulate our primary takeaways and nail down some specific next steps for how we might implement in our individual community. Here are a few questions Joe challenged us to process and what is resonating in my heart and mind as I begin to process and move on them:
1. How can you be the best advocate, inspirer, leader, facilitator, relationship-builder for home-school partnerships?
For me personally, I'm using the STOP-START-CONTINUE model to put some legs to this for myself:
A. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will STOP doing?
I lead a lot of initiatives in our school (Strong Fathers, MENT2BE mentoring, etc) where I can easily tend to operate as a lone ranger at times. I try to do everything myself and fear it will not get done the way I would like to see it get done (I know, open butt, insert head). In doing so, I'm missing out on a tremendous opportunity to invite many parents and community members into the process. These are incredible platforms for engagement, allowing more people to get skin in the game, build sweat equity together, and expand partnership.
B. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will START doing?
Since I teach elementary drama, I do not have one set classroom. This gives me some physical margin to have the freedom to move around. I want to begin to LEAD BY WANDERING AROUND. I want to intentionally put myself in places where teachers and families are gathered. While there, I want to work authentically to be a facilitator of connections. I would also hope to model for other teachers what it can look like to connect, tearing down walls and building bridges. Also,instead of taking a window of time just sitting in my room or the teachers lounge, seize those moments to pop in various classrooms and sprinkle encouragement to students and teachers.
C. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will CONTINUE doing?
Those JUST BECAUSE....moments. Seeking out intentional touches through the lost art of hand written notes, phone calls, and seeking out parents at school events. Contact that is not "I have to" but instead "I want to." Parents rarely receive personal communication that is just simply to affirm or point out something positive. For example, "Tim reached out to another students today on his own with great empathy; good job mom and dad." Or, "I see amazing leadership in Lisa and here is why." We spend a lot of time at events around families and yet often have no connection with them. Connections begin by not wasting those events and engaging in intentional conversations that lead to authentic connection.
2. How will you work with those hesitant in this area?
Any change or movement will bring resistance, cynicism, and some fear. We have two amazing tools in our toolbelt that help disarm and relax the people we do life with on our team: humor and stories. There is crazy power in both of these tools. When you can take your work seriously, but not take yourself so seriously, people open up. And then we need to listen. Get to know the journey, the struggles, the experiences of your colleagues and parents. Learn their story and then seek open windows for you to share yours. Look for INTERSECTIONS. Where can your story, these stories of family engagement and changed lives intersect with part of their story. People tend to put their fists up at the latest program or the newest idea; they also do not want to feel that they are inferior and you have come to be there miraculous pill of competence and success. However, just like kids, people love stories. So tell those stories, make it personal, and help them find themselves in the bigger story.
3. How will you develop parent leadership and advocacy? How will you ensure you are not the only one committed to these efforts?
It's an INSIDE OUT journey. Our principal, Jim Detwiler, has some wonderful first steps already in motion. We will begin with our faculty before school begins, sharing out this book, the journey, Voxer, and some of the big takeways for our unique community. Jim also from there is going to launch a PSTAT (Parents School Together Action Team) consisting of teachers, parents, and community members; this team will go through the book, dive deep into partnership possibilities and take lead roles in rippling out to all facets of our school and community. Also, I love the words of John Maxwell: "A leader who produces other leaders multiplies their influences." This is key. This movement is so much bigger the one Lead Learner. Invest and reproduce.
One final piece...I would like to really move to get many of our school district's parents, teachers, and community members on #ptchat this fall. Then at some point, create a post chat or post Voxer hangout where people from our district could continue the dialogue, make connections, and personalize for our schools and district. Lastly, I want to be driven by this great truth to help me stay the course, be intentional and purposeful, and make sure legs are put to everything I've gained on this journey:
WE CANNOT BECOME WHAT WE NEED BY REMAINING WHAT WE ARE.
Chad Caddell
Twitter: @laughwithchad
Voxer: @laughwithchad
1. How can you be the best advocate, inspirer, leader, facilitator, relationship-builder for home-school partnerships?
For me personally, I'm using the STOP-START-CONTINUE model to put some legs to this for myself:
A. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will STOP doing?
I lead a lot of initiatives in our school (Strong Fathers, MENT2BE mentoring, etc) where I can easily tend to operate as a lone ranger at times. I try to do everything myself and fear it will not get done the way I would like to see it get done (I know, open butt, insert head). In doing so, I'm missing out on a tremendous opportunity to invite many parents and community members into the process. These are incredible platforms for engagement, allowing more people to get skin in the game, build sweat equity together, and expand partnership.
B. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will START doing?
Since I teach elementary drama, I do not have one set classroom. This gives me some physical margin to have the freedom to move around. I want to begin to LEAD BY WANDERING AROUND. I want to intentionally put myself in places where teachers and families are gathered. While there, I want to work authentically to be a facilitator of connections. I would also hope to model for other teachers what it can look like to connect, tearing down walls and building bridges. Also,instead of taking a window of time just sitting in my room or the teachers lounge, seize those moments to pop in various classrooms and sprinkle encouragement to students and teachers.
C. With what I have learned this summer, as I go back to my school community, what is something I will CONTINUE doing?
Those JUST BECAUSE....moments. Seeking out intentional touches through the lost art of hand written notes, phone calls, and seeking out parents at school events. Contact that is not "I have to" but instead "I want to." Parents rarely receive personal communication that is just simply to affirm or point out something positive. For example, "Tim reached out to another students today on his own with great empathy; good job mom and dad." Or, "I see amazing leadership in Lisa and here is why." We spend a lot of time at events around families and yet often have no connection with them. Connections begin by not wasting those events and engaging in intentional conversations that lead to authentic connection.
2. How will you work with those hesitant in this area?
Any change or movement will bring resistance, cynicism, and some fear. We have two amazing tools in our toolbelt that help disarm and relax the people we do life with on our team: humor and stories. There is crazy power in both of these tools. When you can take your work seriously, but not take yourself so seriously, people open up. And then we need to listen. Get to know the journey, the struggles, the experiences of your colleagues and parents. Learn their story and then seek open windows for you to share yours. Look for INTERSECTIONS. Where can your story, these stories of family engagement and changed lives intersect with part of their story. People tend to put their fists up at the latest program or the newest idea; they also do not want to feel that they are inferior and you have come to be there miraculous pill of competence and success. However, just like kids, people love stories. So tell those stories, make it personal, and help them find themselves in the bigger story.
3. How will you develop parent leadership and advocacy? How will you ensure you are not the only one committed to these efforts?
It's an INSIDE OUT journey. Our principal, Jim Detwiler, has some wonderful first steps already in motion. We will begin with our faculty before school begins, sharing out this book, the journey, Voxer, and some of the big takeways for our unique community. Jim also from there is going to launch a PSTAT (Parents School Together Action Team) consisting of teachers, parents, and community members; this team will go through the book, dive deep into partnership possibilities and take lead roles in rippling out to all facets of our school and community. Also, I love the words of John Maxwell: "A leader who produces other leaders multiplies their influences." This is key. This movement is so much bigger the one Lead Learner. Invest and reproduce.
One final piece...I would like to really move to get many of our school district's parents, teachers, and community members on #ptchat this fall. Then at some point, create a post chat or post Voxer hangout where people from our district could continue the dialogue, make connections, and personalize for our schools and district. Lastly, I want to be driven by this great truth to help me stay the course, be intentional and purposeful, and make sure legs are put to everything I've gained on this journey:
WE CANNOT BECOME WHAT WE NEED BY REMAINING WHAT WE ARE.
Chad Caddell
Twitter: @laughwithchad
Voxer: @laughwithchad