Another hit…. Seriously thinking about showing some of the video to some of our teachers as our PD days come up early next week! I have already passed them on to other Tech Coordinators and my boss.

Are you going to be at Innovative Learning Conference in San Jose in October? I’m presenting the Global Communications program I started at my old school…

Keep up the good work!

Most early-career teachers are a) sorta surviving and b) barely surviving. Most teaching behavior comes from wanting a) control and b) reacting to the guaranteed loss of control that comes from theory and reality not dancing well together.

Even worse, if they survive the first few years in relative solitary confinement from authentic professional dialog and review, they learn to survive well enough to almost look solid after awhile…before the real damage takes place:

What was pure survival technique in years 1-3 becomes rationalized professional excuse for the next 20 years in the profession. Sort of an odd Stockholm Syndrome where we begin to believe that our awkward early career strategies suddenly can be dressed up legitimately years later when we once again run off the “Class Rules” mimeo.

As was said above in a couple of ways, is is not about the teacher. It is so hard, however, to realize that when you’re trying to sip from the fire hose early on.

Sadly, because teaching is such a solitary affair (shut door; you and the kids alone with no safety net; where’d my adult colleague peeps go?), low level Maslow-esque survival skills and faculty room anecdotes fill the gaps where something more vital deserves to shine:

Authenticity:

Of character
Of intention
Of knowledge
Of eye contact
Of preparation
Of curiosity
Of passion
Of morality
Of care deeply

And maybe that last piece matters most.

A part of me — especially the part that ran a business not too long ago — sides with the point(s) Dan is making re: being “interested” in order to get your “customers” (i.e. the students) to “buy into” (i.e. pay attention to and care bout) whatever we’re “selling” (i.e. our subject, assignment, rules, etc).

Then I think about those hard-to-pin-down master teachers in year 30+ who seem to be so culturally out-of-touch with the current culture of youth, who don’t worry about paying attention to what’s on the proverbial radio any longer, yet who seem to have something even more important to offer instead

Wisdom and Perspective

Me, I’m still a long way from both when I’m really honest. And thus I still hang my hat on the same evolved solution hook that was pointed out in this video.

Dan nails the vital difference b/w being interesting and interested in the vid. All that matters follows that.

Funny thing, however:

That’s really just a human/life truth, whether you’re at a Rotary potluck supper, reading scriptual text, or nodding at a someone to go in front of you in airport security so they can make their plane. IT just so happens to also be good business inside the classroom.

Perhaps most of what all of the videos Dan has put together this summer suggest is that what leads to quality and respect in the real world also does so in our classrooms.

And this ain’t a half bad thing to constantly embrace.