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I got back from my morning run today, poured a cup of coffee, and read this great article in the paper. [Advice: working out with a partner is a good idea for those of you like me who would rather stay in bed.]

The writer, Joe McCannon, reflects on his first 10 years of his career and shares 11 things about your new career.
[Advice: it’s good to stop every so often and write your reflections down on paper. You’ll forget your good ideas otherwise.]

Here are his pieces of advice for those of you who don’t have time to go read the article. [Advice: read things in their entirety. Nuance and voice are lost in abridged versions.]

1. Seek interesting problems, not prestigious positions.
2. Seek responsibility, not income.
3. Work is all about relationships.
4. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
5. Be good to people.
6. Competence can be a trap.
7.

Comments

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08-08-2009 @ 12:44 AM

Tenessa (not verified) said ...

This is a great list. I'm also at the 10-year mark, and even when you've already learned these thing

I’ve been thinking a great deal about work lately. I hope not too much, at least not at the expense of trying to enjoy summer and some sense of frivolity. But I’ve learned a few things lately.

I use the verb “learned” but probably should use “realized.” It’s been one of those introspective, hard thinking periods of life where you try to tie up loose strands and come to clarity. Something came to me last week: There’s nothing worse for someone who wants to work hard and contribute than not having access to failure.

This might not be a natural thought, but I’m growing to recognize its significance. It is one thing to review your body of work and list off successes.

I read an interesting article the other day titled Avoiding Teachers’ Lounge Traps. The opening quote of the article is as follows:
“When you’re working in a school,” she said, “stay away from the teachers’ lounge.”
Despite having nothing to do with teaching language arts, this is the best advice I ever received.

When I first read this, I immediately understood the writer’s intent and there’s even a part of me that understands exactly what she’s talking about.

But the more I think about that opening line, the more I simmer. If you think about the subtext to this advice, it gets increasingly harder to agree with the advice this young teacher was give.

I read an interesting article this morning at teachhub.com. In it, they provide teachers with the 6 questions they’re most likely to encounter in an interview. Here they are:

1. Tell us about yourself.
2. How do you teach to state standards?
3. How will you prepare students for standardized assessments?
4. Describe your discipline philosophy.
5. How do you make sure you meet the needs of a student with an IEP?
5. How do you communicate with parents?

The article gives some excellent practical advice on how to respond well. Any teacher interviewing for a job – read this article in full!

But something struck me as I was reading these questions. Think of the questions NOT being asked. As English department chair for seven years, I had the privilege of conducting hundreds of interviews of teachers. It was a part of my job I really enjoyed.

Thanks to my friend Sarah Sladek for putting this fantastic video on her site.

To those of us working for, working with, or worrying about today’s young people, this is a great video to get our thinking straight!