So, Sherpa Bill talked to me the other day about writing a book about how to use effective teaching strategies in the real world. I think this is a great idea, and I've already started to put chapters together. My thought at his point, is how to make it well received by people who are at school's like I was before. The fact is, there is a high frustration level in these places. And really, no matter what, there will be people who will not want to put in one extra ounce of effort into their teaching to make it more interesting or more compelling or more fun for students. Why should they, when they are being told that the right way to do it is to teach directly from the textbook? Teaching is hard work and good teaching can be downright exhausting. What I noticed, especially last year, is that it is hard to fight the culture of your school. If everyone is worn out, defeated, and simply aren't interested in trying anymore, it's so easy to slip into that mode too.
For this book to be effective, it has to give teachers a reason to work harder than those around them, harder most likely, than they are required to. Again, if someone is telling you that all you should do is what's in the book, that's easier than making up your own lessons, or finding interesting, engaging activities to go with the ones in your textbook. Teachers who read this book will have to a)understand that there are people out there to support them b)be given a new energy to try to use effective teaching methods while still following school and district directives.
This begs the question for me--did I handle being in a program improvement school the best way. For me, personally, I feel good about my choice to leave. I think i will be a better teacher in the long run for having been in a school where people are allowed to be creative, they collaborate and are encouraged to try new things. At the same time, I now kind of wonder if I shouldn't have made a bigger effort to 1)bring my administration over to my way of thinking by inviting them into the room and getting them to see the kids actively engaged. 2) broken the rules a little within reasonable boundaries. I'm not sure at this point. I remember how I felt last year, and am not sure how positive I could have been, but I think there are ways that I could have made more of a lasting impact on the school. My legacy really resides in one fifth grade teacher who has potential to make some change. I actually think he will make a big impact because we share some of the same ideals, and he may be able to play the game better with the new administration. We shall see.
