One of my greatest strengths, I’ve been told, is my ability to focus on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative. I see challenges as opportunities to grow and learn. To get better. To improve. To demonstrate my strength of character. To lead. I make the conscious choice to always remain positive.
The following are some of the positive things happening for me at work right now:
- A team of 12 teachers and admin in our school came together to make our Innovative Learning Designs Team for our school.
- In the team of 12, there are 4 different groups, each having different inquiry questions which they are going to focus on answering over the next two years.
- Together, we put together a proposal for an Innovative Learning Designs grant and I am happy to say that our team was successful with our proposal and received $25,000.00 to purchase mobile technology to support our inquiry questions.
- As a team, we collaborated to decide on the best ways to allocate the $25,000.00 in grant money and placed our order this past Friday.
- While we are focusing on finishing this school year with enthusiasm, it is also exciting to see that so many of our teachers are also excited about what the new year has in store. Some are in their element. Some are a bit apprehensive (probably wondering what they signed up for). Some are pretty quiet. And some are overwhelmed. ALL are excited and looking forward to the new learning and collaborating with one another to best meet the needs of our students.
- Two of our teachers have involved their students in an inspiring collaborative project with students in a school in Michigan. It is clear how much the students are learning in this process. You can see some of the project on their wiki.
- We just had an upgrade to our internet at school. While we will be getting open wireless at the end of June, last week’s upgrade will help make our internet faster and, hopefully, a bit more stable.
- My administrative study group on 21st Century Learning had our last session together last week. It is always nice to see them and talk about what we are doing in our schools. Each of us always leaves our meetings with something new to try or to think about. Sometimes, we leave our sessions a little overwhelmed, but that’s better than the alternative, I’d say.
- I continue to build relationships with the members at school: teachers, students, parents, and other staff members. While it is very busy, we are all getting to know each other a bit better. The other day, I had lunch with 8 of our Education Assistants. It was great to sit down and laugh with them. What a great group!
- I have some really great books I just purchased. I know I will learn a lot from each of them. Here are the books I’ve just purchased (yes, I’m going to be pretty busy reading this summer, I think):
– What School Leaders Need to Know about Digital Technologies and Social Media
– Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others
– The Real World of Technology
It’s a choice. So while, one could focus on the negative in challenging times, I choose not to do that. I choose to focus on the positive. I choose to focus on the things I have control over. I choose to be the best mother, wife, educator, and leader, I can be here and now. I choose to focus on the things that matter: things that make a difference.
What do you do in the face of adversity?
How do you respond?
Do you dwell on the negative or pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on, striving to be your best?
What choice do you make?
It's All About Learning 