Anchor Conversations

As part of my personal summer professional development, I have jumped back into the PD wonderland known as Twitter.  PD in the twittersphere is so amazing.  It is self-driven, boundless, encouraging and collaborative.  Reestablishing my PLN, has been a wonderful thing.  As a result, I have jumped into Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf's Lead Like a Pirate.

As I embark on my 3rd year as a middle school counselor, I realize now, and embrace, my role as one of the educational leaders in my building.  Looking at this book through the eyes of a leader, has been eye opening.  I am asking myself questions not only as a lead to help teachers and other staff members, but also the students.

I am currently reading the sections on anchor conversations.  I asked myself how can I use the anchor conversations with students.  As a counselor, I feel this gives me a guide to build relationships with my students.

The more I read this section of  Lead Like a Pirate the more I realized that this is for communicating with students as much as teachers.  What student couldn't benefit from these same ideas that Beth and Shelley as leaders to have with teachers?  

After my 12 years in the classroom, students want to know that they are appreciated, respond to you when you notice the impact on what they have done, grow when you work with them and discuss the learning (collaborative conversation), honor their voice and choice and having them reflect on what they have done.

As I am set to start my 3rd year as a middle school counselor, I am planning on how I am going to have these conversations with students.  One of my goals last year was to have a conversation with every student once.  I did a decent job and talked to about 75% of students.   Now that I did that last year, the idea of anchor conversations will give me a chance to focus discussions and make them more meaningful to the students and give them something to build a connection with me.

People respond and do so much more when they feel appreciated and valued.  That is why it is important to choose words carefully and to build on the things that people do well.  One of my core beliefs as an educator is to value the relationships with students.  The students will do so much more for you when they know that you are invested in them.  The way you speak to students will determine the work and effort they give you.

As I have finished Lead Like a Pirate, I realize the importance of interpersonal communication.  Beth and Shelley talk about how important it is to have these anchor conversations with teachers to foster their growth as educators.  The same mentality is true with students.  How you talk to them and address them will impact your journey together.  

The old educational cliche is true:  Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care!  It is important to nurture that belief and show kids how much we care about them as people and not just their test score.  When they feel valued as people and we invest in them as people, their test scores will show this!  

Drop ANCHOR and have those conversations with kids to show them how invested we are!!

The Pursuit of Growth

When someone asks me what the worst thing an educator can have, my answer is simple. Complacency.  What could possibly be worse than not trying to improve and making oneself a better educator?  Nothing.

As teachers we ask, want and even demand that our students challenge themselves.  If this is the case, why do some teachers feel that they are not required to put in the same effort?  I have never been the teacher who was satisfied year to year.  I was always redoing this and reworking that.  I needed to find different ways to meet the needs of my students.

As this summer break has started, I have committed myself to growing myself as an educator, counselor and more importantly, a leader.  I have delved back into the Twittersphere to connect with some amazing educators from all across the county.  I have also dedicated myself to reading books that will help me grow as a professional.

The best way to get students to shoot for growth is to model what growth actually is.  Growth, learning for the sake of learning.  To make ourselves better at what we do.  I am doing this to make myself better, not for a pat on the back, a raise, or even a letter grade.  Working towards growth is an exercise of formative assessment.  Research something, try it, see how it works, reflect on it, and continue or start over.  What better tool or example could we give students than showing them first hand how to work on actual growth for growth's sake?

I just finished my second year as a middle school counselor (grades 5-8).  I am very pleased with how my first two years have gone.  By no means, do I feel that I am an expert counselor and have all the answers.  I also am still trying to figure out what my counseling program should look like.  Trying to hit college/career, social emotional and academic areas can be overwhelming.  So this summer, I have made a conscious effort to reading books that will inspire me to grow as both a counselor and educator.  (I am also sprinkling in a few books for pleasure)  Below are some pics of the books I am reading.

As a counselor, I felt it was my duty to read (and watch) 13 Reasons Why.  With the popularity of the Netflix series, I wanted to be prepared for students who have watched the series.  I needed to know first hand what the book and series was about.  I am not in any way a proponent of how the series portrayed the actual suicide; however, I do feel the book/series brings to the front burner the importance of knowing the warning signs of suicide and show students what to look for.  This will give me at least 1 maybe 2 classroom guidance lessons.

Mindset by Carol Dweck was a very informative read.  It has truly challenged my as an educator, a person and a parent.  How we act and speak to others have a direct impact on them.  I am challenging myself continually be in the growth mindset and not a fixed one.

Lead Like a Pirate is the book I am currently reading.  Beth Houf and Shelley Burgess capture the reader's attention and spark that enthusiasm that educators need as teachers and leaders.  There are so many tools that I am going to use during the year!!  This book plays off the PIRATE acronym that Dave Burgess wrote about in Teach Like a Pirate.  (P-passion, I-immersion, R-rapport, A-ask & analyze, T-transformation, E-enthusiasm)

Social LEADia is my next book and is on the way (I will have it on 6/28).  This book guides educators towards empowering our students to be good digital citizens.  If we do not show our students the proper way to use social media, who will?  What kind of digital citizens will the be?  I cannot wait to get started on this one!!  I am sure there is a blog post waiting in the wings.

After reading the books I have, I already have a plan on how to improve my role and how to better. That is what growth is all about.