Education Blog
WHAT we do vs. HOW we do.
While I was in Chicago last week working with a consortium of schools, we spent a portion of our time exploring the following idea:
WHAT we have to get done is rarely going to change. Whether it’s state testing or No Child Left Behind mandates or monthly staff meetings or grading papers. Much of the life of an organization and the work of individuals within the organization is often prescribed.
However, HOW we choose to get that work done is almost always up for re-thinking. Making even minor changes in HOW we get our work done can have massive implications in our organizational effectiveness as well as our individual job satisfaction.
Sick of your department meetings? Hold them at a coffee shop after school instead of in a classroom. Feeling physically stifled during the work day? Go spend your planning hour outside. You can grade and plan just as effectively in the sun as you can at your desk.
This ain’t rocket science.
Read More >>Update: Applications for Staff Culture Survey are Still Being Accepted!
Hello everyone.
In the two weeks since we first put this opportunity out into the ether, we’ve gotten an amazing response. (Please read this post if you need some more info.)
In the initial call for applications, we noted that we needed your applications by March 19th. While that would have been ideal, we don’t want to shut the door on interested schools.
So here’s the situation: the real key for us is that we have our school data by the time school staff leave for the summer so that we have time to work with the data over the summer.
Read More >>Opportunity to Participate in a Pilot Study of a New Staff Culture and Teacher Job Satisfaction Survey
Hello everyone.
Many of you probably have already heard of or have been contacted about the new survey I’m developing my good friend colleague Scott Butler. The following email went out on our listserve a few weeks ago and the response has been tremendous. We’ve heard from school from California to Maine and from Texas to Canada. It’s awesome.
However, I think there are still plenty of spots open, so I want to get the word out as much as possible. Feel free to forward this posting onto your colleagues in other schools as well.
Here’s the info:
I am really excited to provide you information regarding this
opportunity for your school. The following email shares the information you’ll need to consider your involvement:
Search Institute is continually seeking new ways to support and enhance
asset work in schools. Much of this work has focused on Developmental
Assets in students.
Video: Maybe THESE are the good times!?
Here’s a brief recap of a fantastic day I spent with schools and community members in the Chicago area. The day had two separate events. From 9-3 yesterday I worked with about 10 schools as they thought through some staff culture improvement work. Very cool stuff they came up with. Then in the evening, I gave a community event to parents, teachers, business folk, and anyone else who wanted to show up.
I built much of the evening around this quote from Emerson: “This time, like all times, is a very good one if we but know what to do with it.”
I filmed this little recap while waiting for my flight out of Ohare. So yes. I was a guy sitting in the airport talking to his computer.
Read More >>
Recent Entries
As a former teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the issues that educators face every day. I hope that by writing this blog, I can share some insights (as well as a sense of humor) on teacher job satisfaction and school climate, and spark conversation about how to improve our schools.
—Nathan Eklund, M.Ed
Senior Education Consultant
Comments
Post Comment | Comments (1)