Giving directions. It's not as simple as it sounds. Well, it usually is to the one giving the directions because they are already there - or have been there. But what about the one on the journey? Any journey - how to get to a particular destination be it a place or the completion of a task...giving directions should be an easy step by step process, right?
Maybe...but first things first: That person you are guiding - where are they now? Where are they coming from? What tools do they have available to help them navigate? How will they know they are successful in their journey along the way - not just at the end? Recently, I traveled some curvy mountain roads to get to an AirBnB. I tried using the GPS on my phone. When I put in the address it said, "address not found." I called our host and he was able to guide me (disclaimer: I was a passenger - not the driver) and with his knowledge of the landmarks I would encounter on my journey, he was able to give me feedback and help my family know we were on the right path and successfully navigate the country roads to our destination. His directions were clear and detailed. That type of scenario has likely faced by many of us. In public education, we also face similar struggles in our journeys. As teachers, we look to principals and other district leaders to help us navigate. Clearly communicating the steps and processes and guiding with transparency. Hopefully our guides know where we are and the terrain we are likely to encounter, but sometimes that is not the case and there is struggle. What happens when our students struggle on their journey? Are we able to anticipate the curvy roads and obstacles that they might face? Are we able to teach our students how to navigate through the obstacles they face in their learning journey - not remove them, but guide them to remove the obstacles themselves? Are we bringing them into the journey or expecting they go on it because everyone else is... As I enter the new year and my DTL journey continues, I remain steadfast in my belief that to guide others in their journeys, I must be knowledgeable enough to help them anticipate the frequent changes. I must also never lose sight of the very real situations they have in their classrooms. Therefore, when I create directions or plan professional development, I will always do my best to take into account where my audience is, where they need to go, and how to zig and zag around the obstacles they may encounter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJeannie Timken Archives
March 2023
|