a night of nights
Silent Night, Holy Night
A poem, a broken organ, a legend filled with some truths and facts. Silent Night is typically sung just one night, this night, in the Austrian Alps where it was first performed 200 years ago. If you listen to the stories the song is simply a lullaby-like melody meant for each of us to seek peace. God's peace found in that place where peace is eternal. Sung only this night so we long for peace all year long.
All is calm, all is bright
Funny, at least as I see it, that night 200 years ago starts with brokenness. The Christmas story itself is found in Luke 2 and spoken by school children, Christian congregations and families everywhere on this night is about brokenness. But the truth is that someone "allowed" the organ of the church to fall into disrepair. Some say mice, some say rust, so on that Christmas Eve long ago the choirmaster picked up his guitar and provided the support for this timeless melody.
Round yon virgin, mother and child
The birth of a Savior was born out of brokenness. Brokenness that certainly wasn't easy to fix, or even really understood by God's chosen people. Our own understanding of our brokenness, or fall into sin, is forever debated by theologians and educated folk. I'm not going to define it, but instead, know that I feel it. I can't explain it most of the time, but brokenness abides in our world and impacts all us from time to time.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild
In a broken world, in a location known only to the shepherds, a savior is born. Surrounded by animals, loving parents albeit scared, and shepherds who were told by angels to attend and then told everyone what they had seen and heard.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Because of this event, that baby was born and peace abounds. The strife of all the years before is over. Peace between God and His broken world has come. Sleep is now not only possible but bathed in the truth of heavenly peace. That truth, out of brokenness, surrounds us now! Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber collaborated on the words and melody, but the work was accomplished years before all part of this amazing plan. May the peace of heaven be yours this Christmas and always.
It has always been this simple...
When I was a kid there was a local program on channel 9 that shaped my view of the world. When you're watching a 19 inch Black and White TV my view of the world may have been monochromatic, but it was as deep as it was wide. The show was a Chicago staple called Family Classics and during this time of year, it aired a long list of Christmas Classics.
The common factor in Christmas movies is human conflict and resolution. But that is really the theme of most of our literature, military history, and our very existence. We are built for relationship. Simple really. But not for some.
I'm reminded of these memories because it seems we've lost what really matters in our interaction with people. As much as we drive our news and media coverage with the success or failure of retail during the holidays, we've lost the message of Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street. We've forgotten how both Macy's and Gimbel's finally figured it out.
CNN business reported today that Best Buy's CEO has nothing to sell, yet the company is positioned for success. That's quite a different story from six years ago when the CEO with little experience in the industry appeared on the scene. He used a little common sense and created a vision for success. Looking back at the coverage of this turn around Forbes and the New York Times also commend Joly's leadership.h
There are many lessons to be learned in each of the referenced articles, but it really comes down to a relationship. (It is Christmas after all!) Relationships with vendors and suppliers, with employees and most importantly customers. Kris Kringle had it right all along because that's what "Business 101" is about on 34th Street.
Maybe more importantly, for those of you know the story of the reason for the season, it has always been about relationship. Hasn't it? Merry Christmas Everyone!
My teachers were effective because?
(Published in my Tumblr account March 2013)
A recent post appeared in ASCD Smartbrief and I agree with everything. Well, everything except for what’s missing.
ASCD compiled seven statements and asked “What makes an effective teacher?” The idea was to vote for your favorite and they would compile the data and share the “order of finish.” I love informal surveys, but this
one got me thinking about my experiences in the classroom and I couldn’t vote for just one. My thoughts are in blue.
1. They create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
The classroom and school culture is vital to effectiveness and student success. Administration designs and develops tools for teachers to impact the lives of the students and their families regularly. Teachers typically adapt those tools to their unique classroom demographic that has a history of dynamic change. Community is often overlooked.
2. They belong to learning communities
It’s truly an incredible time to be a teacher. There are more established and emerging locations for teachers to develop relationships that grow themselves personally and professionally. I sat in a twitter online learning community the other night and could not help but smile at the sharing and the professional accountability of the group.
3. They think systematically about their practice and learn from experience
Systematic thought has many definitions. Factors include the environment - input - process - output - feedback mechanisms - and more! The real key to this is the ability to adapt professionally as you evaluate your skill set. Your experiences make you a better educator and those experiences never stop. Step back and look at your career from 30,000 feet and then again from 3 millimeters and then do it again and again.
4. They take responsibility for managing and monitoring student learning
Accountability for learning is, at this moment, high risk. The biggest partners in education are parents and the community culture that surrounds the students outside of our classrooms. That should completely change our role to include the home, family and community. I’ve seen many great teachers stumble over this thought because the ever-changing social dynamic of our culture moves quickly and can easily distance the educator from the student. Think about how different your learning experience was from student to qualified teacher and then think again how many times teachers must re-condition themselves to new, unknown cultural shifts. A business comparison might be well received – the corporate world is traditionally 10 to 15 years behind the curve. Education and high-tech manufacturers must push the limits of the curve to educate tomorrows leaders. The battle is beyond our schools and that’s a battlefield that we need many levels of support to conquer.
5. They are leaders
Seems like common sense, but we’re not talking about the kind of leader at the head of the line, or one leading from behind. I believe that leaders are passionate about service and modeling leadership for students and others so that they take the extra time to make sure that they do hard things. The make choices that hold themselves to honor of the profession, without any ego.
6. They are committed to students and their learning
See the above five traits and share with me how this isn’t just another way of saying all those things?
7. They know their subjects and how to teach those subjects to students
I’ve witnessed educators who have very little ability in their subject area and every student learns. Excellent teaching does have direct correlation to the subject matter, but a good teacher is just that…a good teacher. One would assume then that early childhood educators, who obviously know their curricula well, would be the “best” teachers. Put an excellent high school physics teacher in that early childhood classroom and I’d be tempted to wager a high level of frustration for the students and the teacher, and vise versa. (I actually did this once and was so wrong…)
So what which attribute would you vote for? It’s difficult because while these traits may make for effectiveness there is just something intangible missing. For me I knew a good teacher when I saw it, experienced it, and lived it. Being a student gave me a sixth sense to identify excellence as it affected me. As a parent and as a school administrator I pray I kept the same sense. The student that lives in me looks for passion and a love of learning that translated into my effectiveness scale. I wanted to see one last trait – the effective educator is a life-long learner. Mine certainly were.
Part II -- Amazing Times
(Published in my Tumblr account March 2013)
I really believe that everything happens for a purpose. No accidents, or coincidence but purpose. Last week when I was thinking, and sharing here that true collaboration is and must continue to become the norm for the education community I couldn’t help be notice this week's Time magazine. The cover speaks of the elusive cure for cancer, but the article says something simply amazing.
“The hero scientist who defeats cancer will likely never exist.
No exalted individual, no victory celebration, no Marie Curie or Jonas Salk, who in 1955, after he created the first polio vaccine, was asked, So what’s next? Cancer?–as if a doctor finished with one disease could simply shift his attention to another, like a chef turning from the soup to the entrée.
Cancer doesn’t work that way. It’s not just one disease; it’s hundreds, potentially thousands. And not all cancers are caused by just one agent–a virus or bacterium that can be flushed and crushed. Cancer is an intricate and potentially…"
Yes! That’s it! It’s just not about one "magic” person, because cancer, much like our students are “hundreds, potentially thousands” of different organisms – creations unique as ___________!
As educators, as leaders of students or teams of teachers, we cannot expect to have all the answers. We will, and must deliver a better solution using all the tools. Those tools are found in each other! We are as unique as our students, fellow faculty, co-workers and parents. We must partner with people, no matter what their role, to meet the needs of those we are teaching so they may become life-long learners.
Because of the collaborative efforts of my own teachers, I’m a life-long learner. They never said I shouldn’t or couldn’t…although I’m sure they shook their heads a lot. They built in me a passion for doing my best, even though I didn’t always know what I was doing. They offered me the tools, taught me how to use them, and believed that one day I’d create something of my own. They built the foundation.
Now add all the “new” tools we have today and we live in an amazing time. Simply amazing…
Things other people say
(Publihed in my Tumblr account Summer 2013)
There are great leaders, writing lots of great things about leadership. This link will take you to a great article about a sermon, a walk, and trust. If you don’t have time to read the whole thing, here’s the best part.
“Over the years I have witnessed the powerful changes that occur when team members care about each other and truly have each other’s backs. Trust-based organizations:
1. Execute faster: Stephen Covey calls it “The Speed of Trust”. A trust-based organization spends less time on formal communication and more time getting the job done. Speed = productivity.
2. Innovate more: Employees who know the boss has their back think outside the box without fear of failure or retribution.
3. Produce higher quality work: Happy people simply care more and do better work because of it.
4. Attract Customers: If you think customers can’t feel the company culture, think again. They sense a trust-based organization intuitively and want to be associated with it.
5. Have lower turnover: After working within a culture of carefrontation it’s almost impossible to go back — and they don’t.”
In whatever environment you work in, people are intuitive and generally, they prefer to work in a place that cares about them. But look at the order the author chose. Trust = speed! We spend so much time trying to figure out what’s going on we get nothing done. Then come innovation and high quality, which attracts customers and leads to lower turn over. Completely logical in every way.
Read the blog, when you have time. It’s worth it.
If this is the future - we've already seen it.
(Published in my Tumblr acct in 2013)
In this interview, Mr. Gates talks about being present, the flexibility of learning and the learning environment for college students.
Here’s my little two cents worth. If we are going to create that model we must engage the learner at an early age and continue to design and structure curriculum for the individual learner. Students that are at risk at any level, or those that are just average, may struggle in the “self-motivated” learning model. Students that are driven to compete and succeed may thrive in the proposed environment, but I believe education is about influence. I believe education is about modeling and being there.
We do that by training dynamic teachers. Then we model structure and independent learning. A thirst for knowledge is vital. If not, we create the same programs that failed in the 1970s. I remember them well because I was part of that grand experiment “Personalized Learning” or PLAN, independent, self-paced learning modules. The teacher was simply a resource and the students created the pacing and were motivated by…themselves.
For me it was perfect. Thanks to the technology of the 1970’s I completed Jr. High in 7th grade! Most of High School by 8th grade and then coasted until my Sr. year because I could. Others graduated early, and others…many others just took their time and barely graduated. It certainly wasn’t for everyone and there was no “plan” after Jr. High. It just stopped and all of a sudden you were back in a traditional classroom.
We must think bigger, but we also must think more about our culture and how we support the infrastructures we’ve taken for granted. My family created a solid foundation for learning. If they didn’t my church might have, or the Boys and Girls Club might have. The environment I learned in created a safety net for me to “fail” into. It also created accountability for my successes and knew when my ego needed checking. The challenge to grow in and beyond your environment is vital to success.
Build that first.
To Band Geeks everywhere
Published in my Tumblr acct in 2013
This week has my mind on the role models in my life for some obvious reasons. They are all getting older! Some in their late 70’s and other nearing their middle 90’s…older.
My father passed away nearly 30 years ago and truthfully there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. He had a silent, unusual way of being my dad, at least as I recall. Maybe it was because of his generational understanding of the world, his service in WWII or maybe just because he was a “get it done” kind of guy. Not harsh, not mean, never abusive…I sometimes think I can hear him say, “just stop being so flashy and just get it done.”
I was saddened to hear from a few Facebook friends that my High School band director had passed away on Sunday. He, although he likely never knew, is the reason my trumpet has never seen the dark recesses of the attic. He is the driving force behind me performing for more than 30 years in little small ensembles, bands, and community orchestras. He is the reason I’ve seen most of the world lugging an instrument around and getting to know some of the most amazing people.
He was hard, demanding, and expected great things from people he knew had a talent deep inside them. If you gave your best he rewarded it. As a kid, I was blessed to be good, but I was too lazy to be great and my grade in band reflected it. He knew that and in his own way drove me, not “just” as his student, but in my life.
Looking back now, at the mentors I’ve known, the male role models that make me who I am I see something strange and something incredibly comforting. Each of them, that I can name without skipping a beat, were teachers. Classroom teachers, Music Teachers, Sunday School teachers, Scout leaders…
Today early in the morning, I found myself thinking about those men. My dad, my teachers, those leaders that shared small pieces of themselves with me and my memories of them are priceless.
Someone somewhere is looking at you today. Whether you’re standing in a classroom or in the boardroom you are making a difference in the lives of the people you work with, serve with, lead with, and teach with! You can leave a lasting impression, or you can just be present. I am grateful that my band director chose to be more than present! I can still hear him on the practice field to this day, “Eight to five people, not seven, not nine…eight to five.” Thank you, Mr. Nelson,
Something about me you need to know
Published in my Tumbler acct in 2013
editors note: This fills my very being to this very day, even though sometimes the darkness does cast a shadow.
I grew up believing I could do anything! I suppose if you know me you’d likely say I’m still growing up because I still believe that very same thing. It’s not been the easiest credo in a world where people constantly tell you that “your” anything is impossible.
My first year out of college I had a supervisor, a pastor, that said, “if you would just choose something and do that one thing…you’d be great at it!” My response to him was that “doing one thing” was not my purpose, nor my dream. I’ve learned over the years that I was not put together that way. I believe the very nature of my being is discovery and the thirst for knowledge. I just never had the focus or the attention span to do just one thing as the only thing.
As I said that “I can do anything attitude” is an incredibly difficult thing to protect and nurture throughout a lifetime. It only happens when that spark inside of you continues to ignite a flame. Sometimes that spark fizzles with pessimism and all that other “stuff”.
The reason I spent all those years in education was simply that I wanted to share that belief! Sometimes I succeeded and other times…not so much! Life happens and people change, but I’ll always believe my purpose is to live a life full of the possibility of…anything!
Some days are Diamonds -- Facebook posts that make you smile
Published in Tumblr in 2013
editors note: Lori died in the Fall of 2018, but she will never be forgotten.
Today I was grinning from ear to ear as I read a Facebook post. Before I get too far into this let me just say that the greatest benefit Facebook provides is to connect me with some friends I’ve known since kindergarten. I love them dearly and I truly enjoy reading their posts. Each and every day one or two of them, if not all of them, make my day!
Today was just special because of the context of the Facebook post. The friends you’ve cherished for years…I dearly love them. I value them more each day the older I become. This individual post was special because not only have I known this person for nearly 46 years, but her Dad was a fixture in my life.
The lesson in leadership in this situation is simple. People have value! The relationships we have no matter how small are important. Those tiny connections draw us to compassion and concern and so many other things. As I grow older I realize how much I depend on the uplifting words of a friend. Or how much I think about those people that have impacted my life and made me a better person, for better or worse. In the end, each of them touched my heart and challenged me and allowed me to grow.
If you’ve read through all of this I suppose you want to know what the Facebook post had to say. After losing her dad recently she was also diagnosed with cancer. I’ve watched her grow and learn how strong she was through the entire process. Today she simply said, “I bought shampoo.” And it made my day!
Teachings BEST Practice = Influence
Published on my Tumblr in 2013
The greatest thing I learned in my 25+ years in education was that people long to be taught something new, but the teacher and the method matters. There must be a level of rapport and confidence in the teacher. Just a ask a school parent that doesn’t trust their child’s teacher completely how much learning they believe is taking place in that classroom. GO ahead ask! You’ll find that parent struggling to support the leader in the classroom and in turn, the student will mirror that struggle.
Method matters too! A talented teacher will survey the audience regularly and instead of allowing anyone to drift or fall away from the instruction, they’ll change it up. Not generally on the fly either. They plan for that moment because they’re passionate about the subject and they know the emotional and psychological maturity of their audience.
In business, leadership occasionally assumes the rapport necessary to impact people and successfully teach. It’s very rare simply because the adult learner/employee is “just there to work.” So business leaders must remember to use the same tool teachers use daily. Influence! It is everywhere in the daily operations of every business and if you don’t have influence you’re not using what you should have seen in elementary school.
Bottom line is simply that being in a position of authority doesn’t magically make you a leader in your workplace. You might even manage a great project and put all the pieces in place, but that does make you a leader. A leader knows their people, nurtures them, guides them and cares about their success. Everyone on your team knows it, believes in it, and chooses to follow you because they trust you and believe you will change their lives!