Curriculum & Instruction
I believe that curriculum and instruction should take on a higher degree authenticity. Curriculum should not be created with lessons that were designed around a concept that is presented in a phony spoon-fed scenario. Curriculum should be meaningful and relevant to the world around the student. Along with relevant and authentic scenarios to teach concepts, I feel it is equally important to include social and emotional awareness into the curriculum. Learning academics to be college and career ready is fantastic until we create a society who can't get along in social settings because they lack basic social skills in the most common of social settings: school. Furthermore, instruction should be collaborative and group focused.
For example, I would like students to have the voice and choice in the topic they are learning about with clear guidance on how to be successful in mastering the skills to best learn about. Ideally, project-based learning would be the curriculum and instruction would promote research, problem-solving, team-work, and presentation.
Parent & Community Involvement:
I believe it is valuable to include parents and the community in the schooling process. First of all, it is the children of the parents whom we are educating after all, so why not include them in the process? Parents are the people who care most about the children in the schools. They could be a valuable asset as well. Many parents are skilled or knowledgeable in something that could be shared. Imagine having students learn from the experiences of genuine scientists, community workers, or leaders. I have always sought to build relationships with the parents of students. I invite them to volunteer or share expertise.
For example, as an education leader, I would invite parents into after school clubs, or as guest visitors / speakers to share their hobbies or skills.
Discipline & School Culture:
I believe discipline comes with accountability and ownership. I feel it is important to teach children the skills need to communicate effectively in order to solve problems in ways that are better than simply acting out violently or destructively. Many times they don't have the skills to communicate their feelings, so they find themselves in undesirable consequences because of it. Committing to understand the levels of behavior and skills to be positive and effective myself will help me to model to colleagues, parents, and most importantly students the best ways to approach problems in a social setting. Modeling kindness and respect will go a long way. Creating a culture of character is important to me.
For example, I would include curriculum that supports practicing great character traits is something I find valuable. It is well worth the investment to include time in a school day to teach children the qualities and traits of well-liked or successful people. I would also include recognition of students who displayed great character traits.
Technology:
I believe technology must be integrated into schooling. Excluding technology is not an option. In today's society we are citizens of greater online communities. Students should understand that as researchers and presenters of the internet, they have a responsibility as a global citizen. As educators we need to respect that a greater global society exists and we are all accessing it daily to further out knowledge. With that being said, we want our children to know how to navigate it successfully and safely.
For example, in today's society, we are also digital citizens. We have the capability to interact across the world with others. We can obtain information in many different forms. I feel it is the responsibility of the adults around that child to teach him or her the norms of being a digital citizen.
I believe that curriculum and instruction should take on a higher degree authenticity. Curriculum should not be created with lessons that were designed around a concept that is presented in a phony spoon-fed scenario. Curriculum should be meaningful and relevant to the world around the student. Along with relevant and authentic scenarios to teach concepts, I feel it is equally important to include social and emotional awareness into the curriculum. Learning academics to be college and career ready is fantastic until we create a society who can't get along in social settings because they lack basic social skills in the most common of social settings: school. Furthermore, instruction should be collaborative and group focused.
For example, I would like students to have the voice and choice in the topic they are learning about with clear guidance on how to be successful in mastering the skills to best learn about. Ideally, project-based learning would be the curriculum and instruction would promote research, problem-solving, team-work, and presentation.
Parent & Community Involvement:
I believe it is valuable to include parents and the community in the schooling process. First of all, it is the children of the parents whom we are educating after all, so why not include them in the process? Parents are the people who care most about the children in the schools. They could be a valuable asset as well. Many parents are skilled or knowledgeable in something that could be shared. Imagine having students learn from the experiences of genuine scientists, community workers, or leaders. I have always sought to build relationships with the parents of students. I invite them to volunteer or share expertise.
For example, as an education leader, I would invite parents into after school clubs, or as guest visitors / speakers to share their hobbies or skills.
Discipline & School Culture:
I believe discipline comes with accountability and ownership. I feel it is important to teach children the skills need to communicate effectively in order to solve problems in ways that are better than simply acting out violently or destructively. Many times they don't have the skills to communicate their feelings, so they find themselves in undesirable consequences because of it. Committing to understand the levels of behavior and skills to be positive and effective myself will help me to model to colleagues, parents, and most importantly students the best ways to approach problems in a social setting. Modeling kindness and respect will go a long way. Creating a culture of character is important to me.
For example, I would include curriculum that supports practicing great character traits is something I find valuable. It is well worth the investment to include time in a school day to teach children the qualities and traits of well-liked or successful people. I would also include recognition of students who displayed great character traits.
Technology:
I believe technology must be integrated into schooling. Excluding technology is not an option. In today's society we are citizens of greater online communities. Students should understand that as researchers and presenters of the internet, they have a responsibility as a global citizen. As educators we need to respect that a greater global society exists and we are all accessing it daily to further out knowledge. With that being said, we want our children to know how to navigate it successfully and safely.
For example, in today's society, we are also digital citizens. We have the capability to interact across the world with others. We can obtain information in many different forms. I feel it is the responsibility of the adults around that child to teach him or her the norms of being a digital citizen.