Dr. Shelly Arneson Author and Consultant
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation
Picture

Happy Communicating
​

Model, model, model

6/30/2019

2 Comments

 
     I know I have mentioned several times that I also teach online graduate courses, but if this is your first time reading my blog, let me catch you up.  I teach Educational Leadership courses for online students at one university, and I mentor lots of doctoral students at two other universities (who are writing their dissertations).  I adore both types of work, even though they are so different from one another.  My masters' level students often get quite surprised by my presence in their discussion threads. I poke my nose in and lurk (definitely not in a creepy way), in a way that I firmly believe all good teachers should do when their own students are engaged in table group discussions or even partner discussions.  Why?  Because we simply need to know what is being talked about in order to get the finger on the pulse of what is happening in each of those conversations. Can I hear them all? Of course not, even when I am teaching a face-to-face workshop.  However, I think it is one of the most important strategies I can share with novice or pre-service teachers.  So, if this is a strategy we expect teachers to use in their classroom, then principals need to use it when they are listening to conversations between their own teachers in Professional Learning Communities or professional development opportunities.  So, if this is a strategy school leaders should use, then I should be modeling it for them when I teach a face-to-face workshop or an online course.  
     I try to model several types of engagement strategies, discussion techniques, classroom management routines, and methods of building rapport when I teach, as well.  I call participants by name, I use chimes to ring to bring us all back together after  a group discussion or activity,  and I use multiple engaging techniques specific to the outcomes we are attempting to reach.  I always am certain to tell my participants that I don't ring chimes because it is "cute"; I ring chimes because music tends to cut through even louder group conversations, which allows me to ask people to pause their conversations and come back to their tables. I, in fact, also tell people that whenever I show a video, it is for a specific purpose.  If they need a graphic organizer to help them keep track of what they are gleaning from the video, I try to provide that, as well  Again, I am trying to model what I think good school leaders should do for teachers, and what teachers should be doing for their students.
     Recently, I got feedback from a participant in a workshop who said, "I didn't like that she used chimes. It was too childlike and it goes against what we are always taught." I admit I was shocked. First of all, hadn't I explained the purpose of modeling? As a principal, I used to use puppets every Friday morning for our news show.  Libby the  Black Lab would tell Mud the Chocolate Lab how she should learn better manners as a growing puppy (thereby teaching the students they should model good manners for one another in the classroom or lunchroom).  I had a bald eagle who would say, in a very professor-ish sounding voice (stick with me), "I have SEEN......" and then he would launch into what he was seeing as good or bad examples of leadership around the school.  When I talk about the use of those puppets, I always jokingly say, "I think I could have taught the students how to multiply fractions using those puppets as they were typically riveted to the news show, not caring that I am not a masterful puppeteer and my lips would move the whole time."  But I also make sure I tell people that not everyone is comfortable using puppets, as a teacher or as an administrator (I'm so wacky, I had about 25 different puppets with 25 different personalities and, therefore, 25 different voices I had to memorize).  I always say to use what works for you! If it feels comfortable to YOU, it will feel comfortable for your audience.  This little piece of feedback was literally the first time I have ever had someone say something that indicated they felt "belittled" by my use of chimes as a transition tool.  I SO badly wish they would have asked about it during the workshop, as I would have turned to the whole group of school leaders and asked, "What do you use to model for your teachers transition tools they can use in their own classrooms?" I have a hunch I would have heard things like, "I do rhythmic clapping" or "I model the call and response I like to see teachers use like 'All set?' and then the students say 'You bet'."  Some might say, "I don't use any gimmicks with my teachers. I just yell at them to get quiet so we can begin our meeting."  Ugggh!  Let's yell to get people quiet. Wait....what???
     Just as those Russian nesting dolls fit so nicely within one another, so I see with modeling what we want to see at the next level of "doll".  Whether it is a set of chimes, a silly song, a call and response, or WHATEVER, teachers are watching school leaders, and school leaders (or potential ones) are watching me to see if I am standing and delivering content (versus engaging them in content). It is incumbent upon each one of us to model different strategies for different purposes.
     Maybe I have mentioned that I am a perfectionist.  While most all the other feedback from that session was extremely positive, I got stuck on that one negative statement. That, indeed, is precisely the type of negative thinking that I encourage people to avoid, by the way.  "Do not let 5% of the group take up 95% of your time", whether that time is physical or mental.  So, I'm posting about it to get it off my chest and be done with it.  :)

So, what do you model for your own children, students, teachers, or others with whom you work?  I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Happy Communicating!!

Shelly
​
Picture
2 Comments
best essay writing service uk link
7/2/2019 08:51:34 pm

If there is a pressure for you to become a role model for your children, then just act natural and try to be the best person that you can be. There is no need to impress people because the best person you can be is the real person that you are. For me, that's being role model already. There are thousands of situations where you can be a model for a lot of people, so we better stay real with ourselves making sure that we can be always at our best.

Reply
Nancy Jung
7/5/2019 07:52:35 am

Important concept, beautifully expressed.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Shelly Arneson

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Tjeerd, Johnragai-Moment Catcher, UnknownNet Photography, Mr. Bombdiggity, wuestenigel, quinn.anya, Chocolate Geek, Jorbasa, Leonard J Matthews, JefferyTurner, Golf Resort Achental, fabola, www.ilmicrofono.it, m01229, Heinrich Plum, Titanic Belfast, Strocchi, Cultural viewpoints from around the world, katrienberckmoes, fabola, susivinh, fourcroft, Sweet Dreamz Design, usarjnco, Eldriva, symphony of love, cordalth, boellstiftung, David Holt London, maryjohum, Tony Webster, Rich.S., ZK-OJQ, davidmulder61, garryknight, ChrisPerriman, mrkrndvs, goatling, YellowstoneNPS, Frederick Homes for Sale, Mary_on_Flickr, yourbestdigs, Dean Hochman, guillenperez, Janitors, rachaelvoorhees
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation