Experience Counts

Posted on January 25, 2012 by The EQ Educator

Recently I was reflecting on my educational background. I grew up in the inner city (Cleveland, Ohio) in a large metropolitan area, where one would probably imagine the conditions being less than positive for any student to receive a “quality” education. We hear this from all around the country, not short of low performing schools, poor teacher quality, and low student achievement. Given these and other barriers to a “quality” education, what can been done for students who attend these types of schools (or any school) such that they can succeed?

From my personal standpoint, EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

I’m not talking about the experience (i.e. teaching experience) level of my teachers; instead, I am talking about the experience I received from my teachers. As a student, all I knew was that my teachers were teachers. I had no knowledge of their academic credentials nor when they began their teaching careers. What I did have knowledge of was how they made me feel as a student.

Was I challenged? Yes. Did they engage me in the classroom? Yes. Did they show an interest in seeing that I achieve? Again, yes. They (teachers) gave me an experience that will forever be imbedded in my memory. One teacher (Ms. Tressler at the time), in particular stands out vividly in my memory. Here was a woman who did not care if you were growing up in the “hood” so to speak. What she did care about was that you’d better come to class prepared to read, write and participate in the day’s activities. She went as far as telling us not to believe everything she is teaching us but to seek to find the answers for ourselves. Ms. Tressler challenged us wholeheartedly. But she also balanced that with a great deal of support.

Understand, however, this was over 25 years ago. Since then, academic requirements, standards, funding levels and polices have changed. But wait! Isn’t teaching still teaching? Can you give students an experience that will compel them to achieve? Can you challenge students to become high achievers? Can you give students an experience so that 25 years, or more, later they can speak positively of that experience? Continue reading →

A College Degree or An Education: Why One is More Valuable Than the Other

Posted on January 20, 2012 by The EQ Educator

No Child Left Behind. Race to the Top. ESEA (that is, Elementary & Secondary Education Act). Public vs. Charter debates. Teacher Quality. Rising College Costs, etc…and the list keeps going and going and going more than the Energizer™ Bunny regarding our education system in the United States.

We have heard from President Obama that we need to increase the number of Americans with college degrees by 2020 in order to compete globally. A bit ambitious but admirable. It has been even postulated (through research) that individuals with a college degree make, on average, $1 million more in a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. Given that we have a propensity to measure value in terms of dollars and cents, this data makes a tremendous case for a college degree.

But does a college degree suggest that one has received an education?

My opinion is that a degree DOES NOT mean one has received an education. Can one receive an education by possessing a degree? Oh yes! Maybe!? I know this sounds oxymoronic but stay with me, please.

For those of us who have degrees, it means that our degree(s) have been conferred upon us:

…with all the rights and privileges and honors appertaining thereto in recognition of the satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements of this degree. (Taken directly from one of my degrees.)

Take a look at yours. I’m sure yours says something similar. But does it say that you have an education? It’s implied, but I don’t think so.

What, then, is an education you ask? Facetiously, I have heard that it is learning while putting formal education aside. Continue reading →

Effective Educators…Part Two

Posted on December 15, 2011 by The EQ Educator

Yesterday’s post provided you with ten ways to become a more effective educator. Here we are with Part Two and as promised, here are ten more items to help you become a more effective educator. So, without further delay, effective educators:

1. Are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity.

2. Believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!

3. Have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement.

4. Get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.

5. Are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.

6. Tap into the collective brainpower of others by reading books, magazines, and articles–anything that is helpful for their own development.

7. Value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end–to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is fundamentally rewarding for them.

8. Are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops.

9. Do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.

10. Not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.

Now you have 20 new ways to go to the next level as a Top Performing Educator. Don’t make any excuses as to why you cannot…JUST DO IT! Regardless of the condition of your surroundings, you can be a difference maker. This can be explained by a quotation by Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning who said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

My challenge to you…are you willing to change for your students?

Effective Educators…Part One

Posted on December 14, 2011 by The EQ Educator

Can you pick out those items below that make you an effective educator? Which ones can you honestly say that you need to work on? Top Performing Educators are effective at what they do and are not defined by policies and procedures. Here are ten things you can work on daily to help you reach the top.

In essence, effective educators…

1. Listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.

2. Are aware of who they are— strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. They know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is “self.”

3. Reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn’t happen.

4. Can easily entertain innovative ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They long for progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.

5. Are open to different perspectives and see possibilities where most people don’t. They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to numerous sides of an issue or opinion.

6. Recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.

7. Don’t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.

8. Think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called “experts” say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.

9. Are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.

10. Do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.

Let me know, in the comments area, which ones fit (or don’t fit) you at this point in time.

Stay tuned for Part Two, tomorrow, where I will share ten more ideas.

6 Ways to Deal With Conflict

Posted on December 12, 2011 by The EQ Educator

You, no doubt, have dealt with conflict. That’s a given. My question to you is, HOW have you dealt with the conflict you have encountered? Below are six ways that you can handle conflict that enters your life…especially on the job.

1. DISTINGUISH FACTS FROM FICTION

When we disagree with someone, we frequently get worked up over not just the incident that happened, but the judgments we made about the situation and the person, the feelings that were evoked in us and the story we make up about what it all means. Take ownership for your own feelings. The other person didn’t “make you feel” a particular way. They did what they did. You chose to feel the way you did.

2. DISTINGUISH MOTIVE AND EMOTIONS

We often assume we know what the other person was intending to do ‘to us’. The only thing we really know is the reaction we had to the other person’s behavior. Recognize that they may not have ‘meant’ to disrespect (or hurt, or ignore or control) you. Also recognize that if you are the perpetrator, just because your motive was innocent, that doesn’t negate the feelings the other person experienced.

3. CONVERT COMPLAINTS TO REQUESTS

Imagine that any complaint (yours or another’s) is really a request in disguise. Next time you catch yourself complaining, stop then ask for it! Make the request to someone who has the power to grant it. Complaining or making requests to anyone else won’t get your problem solved.

4. START WHERE YOU ARE

Open the dialog with “I’d like to say something, but I’m afraid that I’ll… or you’ll…” You’ll be surprised at the impact that sharing your vulnerability will have on the receptivity of the other person. You’ll also be surprised at how easily the important message will now come out.

5. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION, ROLE OR INFLUENCE

Recognize that you may have something to do with the continued existence of the problem. Figure out what actions you can take to solve your own dilemma.

6. FORGIVE AND GIVE YOURSELF A GIFT

Forgiveness is not condoning or even accepting. Forgiving someone in your heart who has ‘wronged’ you, just releases your agony. It does nothing for them. You now have the gift of peace.

The next time you are confronted with conflict, try to remember which of the above ways can help you deal with it.