Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Blogging
I am enjoying blogging but would enjoy it more if I received some comments. Maybe I need to change my blog focus. If you have any ideas, share with me please. I am getting discouraged.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Aging Parents
My parents and my husband's parents all living-which is a rarity among our friends. Naturally, they are all plagued with health issues. Sometimes, I feel like I am dealing with children.
My mom recently fell and broke her hip. She had not been in the hospital in over 20 years. Things have changed since she was last in a hospital. She was so passive and that is not my mom. I had to educate her on how to be an advocate for herself. I kept calling to remind her to not suffer in silence but let the nurses know she was in pain or needed something. She needed to go to rehab before she went home and my sister and I had to educate my dad on all that was involved before she came home. Mom wanted to go home and not go to rehab because she thought dad could do what she needed. My dad is 75 and is in great shape but still caring for a 74 year old woman with a broken hip requires stamina. Needless to say, mom went to rehab for 6 days. During that time, my dad was able to put up hand rails, get the house walker and wheelchair friendly, and set the bathroom up for convenience. Just as my own children become independent, my parents become dependent. They don't realize they even need my help-just like my children. I am not writing this out of frustration or regret. I am reflecting on how my roles are changing with my children and parents.
My mom recently fell and broke her hip. She had not been in the hospital in over 20 years. Things have changed since she was last in a hospital. She was so passive and that is not my mom. I had to educate her on how to be an advocate for herself. I kept calling to remind her to not suffer in silence but let the nurses know she was in pain or needed something. She needed to go to rehab before she went home and my sister and I had to educate my dad on all that was involved before she came home. Mom wanted to go home and not go to rehab because she thought dad could do what she needed. My dad is 75 and is in great shape but still caring for a 74 year old woman with a broken hip requires stamina. Needless to say, mom went to rehab for 6 days. During that time, my dad was able to put up hand rails, get the house walker and wheelchair friendly, and set the bathroom up for convenience. Just as my own children become independent, my parents become dependent. They don't realize they even need my help-just like my children. I am not writing this out of frustration or regret. I am reflecting on how my roles are changing with my children and parents.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Creativity
How creative are you? I like to think of myself as pretty creative in motivating staff and students. The longer I am an administrator the more creative I find myself needing to be. I love to hear what other principals are doing to inspire students to reach goals. I'll share with you and please share with me. We all want the same thing-students to excel, succeed, reach potential....
I will spend 24 hours on the roof of my school on May 20 if the students at my school read 25,000 books. So far, they ahve read over 13,000 and the year is not half over!
Two years ago I challenged them to read 16,000 and I would eat worms. They met the goal and I ate 6 earth worms and 12 meal worms. MMMM-good. The kids were so excited.
My assistant principal will get slimed if our students collect 20,000 Box Tops to raise $2,000. They have turned in 8,000 in one month.
What are you doing that is creative?
I took my staff to Dafuskie Island Resort for a retreat at the end of last year. It was the best thing I ever did for staff development. Nothing compares to sharing a bed, sink and shower with your colleagues. Get to know someone and you respect, appreciate, empathize and understand why they do what they do.
Please share.
I will spend 24 hours on the roof of my school on May 20 if the students at my school read 25,000 books. So far, they ahve read over 13,000 and the year is not half over!
Two years ago I challenged them to read 16,000 and I would eat worms. They met the goal and I ate 6 earth worms and 12 meal worms. MMMM-good. The kids were so excited.
My assistant principal will get slimed if our students collect 20,000 Box Tops to raise $2,000. They have turned in 8,000 in one month.
What are you doing that is creative?
I took my staff to Dafuskie Island Resort for a retreat at the end of last year. It was the best thing I ever did for staff development. Nothing compares to sharing a bed, sink and shower with your colleagues. Get to know someone and you respect, appreciate, empathize and understand why they do what they do.
Please share.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Passion
Leadership takes passion. As a leader, you need to be sold out to your role. I am. My role as an elementary school principal challenges my passion on a daily basis. I have learned many things about my passion. First, it is often misunderstood for driven witch on wheels. When I share my ideas, I speak loudly, firmly and confidently. Therefore, I am almost always misunderstood, especially in the south. Second, it is often seen as my way or the highway. Because I share with conviction, confidence and a loud voice, it appears to the listener that I am demanding it be my way. That is rarely the case. Of course, everybody likes to get their way once in a while. Third, my passion is often mistaken for me having blinders on and unable to see other people's ideas or point of view. Not true, I want to hear what other people have to share. I learn from what other people share. Because I have such good friends that hold me accountable, I have been able to tone down my passion so I don't intimidate, stifle or overwhelm those I am sharing with.
One time I spoke to a group of people about a topic and a gentleman commented that I could sell shoes to a cobbler. I took that as a compliment because he got how sold out I was to that particular topic. I am completely passionate about being an educator and helping my teachers reach their potential and the students at my school reach their potential.
One time I spoke to a group of people about a topic and a gentleman commented that I could sell shoes to a cobbler. I took that as a compliment because he got how sold out I was to that particular topic. I am completely passionate about being an educator and helping my teachers reach their potential and the students at my school reach their potential.
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