Monday, March 1, 2010
Chapter 4 Blogging Statement
Chapter 4 (p.97) discusses what skills and knowledge about group process are essential to the job of a curriculum leader. The text offers four sets or clusters of group process skills; The Change Process, Interpersonal Relations, Leadership Skills, and Communication Skills. Read over these four group process skills and briefly describe which skill you feel would be the most important for you to further develop within yourself and why?
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I feel that communication skills are the most important skills that I could further develop within myself. I feel that I am overall, a good communicator because of my job and coaching experience. However, I feel that good communication is a key to a smooth running school. As a school leader (principal) you are constantly communicating with many different people, whether they are teachers, students, parents, superintendents, or other principals. Good communication is so important when dealing with so many different professional positions. I feel that good communication is a key concept when speaking and working with curriculum development because the development of a curriculum is such a group effort. Therefore, good communication must be there so things run smoothly and effectively.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all four of these group processes are very important to ensure success in your school. I feel the most important one for me to further develop would have to be the change process. If I had the opportunity to become a principal, I know this would have to be one of the very most important things that would have to happen within the school. It is something that is not easy to do with a school, students, veteran teachers, and a community that could resist change. Therefore, I feel I would need to be much further developed in this group process. It would require vision, motivation, decision-making skills, and confidence to get everyone on board with what needs to happen for our school to make positive changes. Since I think this is the most difficult and tedious thing to do, I would have to choose this group process to improve.
ReplyDeleteJason M
I feel that I would need to develop furthur my ability to make change happen. Since I do not have an extensive teaching background, I would need to gain the knowledge needed to be able to convince staff and teachers that change is needed. I need to be able to completely understand teachers duties and needs in order to help them to create the changes they need to do their jobs and make our school more productive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ty, communication skills are the most important skills I could futher develop. I try to be attentive and understanding when in conversation with others. Often, I am trying to respond instead of actually listening. This is a major fault of mine that I need to futher develop.
ReplyDeleteThe group process skill that I would most like to further develop within myself is Communication skills. I would like to gain more experiences in being in front of others and communicating in an effective manner. Principals must communicate to teachers, parents, the community, administration, and students. The stakeholders are looking to the principal to provide vision and direction to the school. I would like to continue to become more proficient in casting vision to others and communicating to others in a way that people feel led, heard, understood, and inspired. I think that communicating is a skill that is practiced, developed, and one can learn to excel in. This would be an area that I would like to focus on.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that communication skills are the most important and it is something that I could further develop within myself. The book states that the leader must communicate effectively and be able to lead members of the group in communicating effectively. He or she must also be a proficient discussion leader. I really agree with what the book is saying because I feel like effective communication is the key to a successful school. If communciation skills are good then everyone is able to come together and do what is best for the students. Therefore, I feel like this skill is very important and one I want to improve on if I ever become a school leader.
ReplyDeleteAmy Woodard
I feel that communication skills are the most important and I could further develop them within myself. If comunication skills are good within your internal community I feel that this would be a successful school. After all everyone is working to assure success for the students. As a leader communication skills are very important and are an ongoing improvement as times change. I feel that this skill is one that I and all leaders of a school would need to improve on to have success for all. Jamie Cain
ReplyDeleteI need to further develop my "leadership skills." In particular, my organizational skills need improvement. I very much dislike the necessity of detailed documentation, paperwork and the bureaucracy of school leadership. When I become a principal I will most certainly need to focus on this area.
ReplyDeleteMarlin
If I were to become a principal, I feel I would most need to work on change process skills. Change is very difficult for some people and that is something that I don't understand a lot of times. It can be difficult for people to realize the changes that you make are for the betterment of the school. It will be difficult for me to not just make a change and expect people to follow through without asking. I will have to lead by example as stated in the book and be willing to make changes myself.
ReplyDelete~ Jennifer Campbell
I feel that it would be the most helpful for me to develop the leadership skills. I must take on a role of being a better manager. My personality makes me want to step back. However, when something is near and dear to my heart, I can take a stand. I need to become more comfortable with taking a a role as leader. I need to work on being able to manage various processes.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to become a principal I feel that I would need to work on my leadership skills. I agree with Marlin on the fact that I am not a paperwork person and particularly do not look forward to keeping up with all the paper work and red tape that becomes a part of life for all principals (although a good one delegates these tedious jobs, in order to focus on the more hands on part of the job.) I feel that the leadership area that deals with documentation for the school would be a challenge for me. I don't have a problem being a leader and managing others, but having to complete work that I feel is "tedious" (no matter if it is or not) is a hard thing for me.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Ogle
The change process is the one that I feel I need to work on. Change is something that many people have a hard time adjusting to. As an administrator, I would be involved in getting myself as well as others to change in many different areas. Myself dealing with change will be difficult in itself, let alone dealing with a faculty and convincing them to go along with me.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Wilson
I feel that The Change Process is the skill that I need to develop more. I can see with my several years of experience as a teacher that I can get in a lull about so many changes. I also can relate to where change is most definitely needed. My decision making seems to be to try to satisfy everyone where I need to focus on what is best for the school. Just like in my classroom, when I see how the students seem to grasp more of the concepts I am teaching when I integrate technology and interaction between them. Where as I used to feel more comfortable lecturing them and having them give me feedback. I see now where my teaching has greatly made a change in the last few years and the excitement of the students to want to learn more. Although traditionalists think change is not good, but to be an effective leader you have got to get others on board and help lead them to make the necessary changes.
ReplyDeleteIsrael Easter
I also agree with Israel. I feel that it is imperative that an administrator does not get caught in a rut of content. Over the decades many changes have taken place within the educational setting that are a necessity to keep up with the ever changing world. Sometimes I catch myself acquiring the philosophy " don't fix what's not broken'. Alot of times this is the philosophy to cling to, but in education a system must acustom to change to keep up with the federal and state guidelines.
ReplyDeleteI feel I need to work on The Change Process skill most. As a teacher, I am often looking at what is best for me and my students, rather than what is best for the school as a whole. I also have seen all of the changes that have occured in the 5 years I have been working, and see how many people resist change. I do not mind change as long as it is for the better of my students. I am a part of a team that will be instrumental in the implementation of a new math program. Getting others involved and excited about a change will be part of that role. As an instructional leader, getting others involved in change will be key.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Reed
I feel I need to work on Interpersonal Relations. Working in a small school setting, our group dynamics are limited. So, Im not exactly sure of all the challenges in front of myself in this context. I am confident in my leadership and communiction skills and I have see the change process done correctly and in a not so successful manner. It will be an exciting journey.
ReplyDeleteShane Reed
I feel the most important one for me to further develop would have to be the change process.
ReplyDeleteChange for me is always hard if it isn't my idea. This will be a challenge for me and for those who have to work/interact with me. I will always have to be concsious of this. If I find how to master it within myself, hopefully it will help me with my staff or group.
Jake Leonard
I personally feel the need to improve my communication skills. I realize I need to improve my ability to reach many different types of individuals effectively. As an administrator you have to make yourself really clear when communicating with all staff members, parents, students, media and central office personnel.Communicating with the media concerning special events taking place in the school can be a great source of positive public reations. Effectively communicating with the media during a traumatic event could be really difficult, you could bring the community closer or make some individuals angry. Being a better listener is also a communication skill I would like to improve upon. Misty Zyvoloski
ReplyDeleteI believe that developing the change process would benefit me more as an administrator. Change is a touchy subject in education, you are either willing to accept it or dead set against it. When bringing forth change in a new school with teachers from both sides of the fence developing skills that bring the staff together is vital. If there is change that is needed for the well-being of the students then it is the role of the admistrator to be the facilitator. Therefore, I believe that further developing skills to help bring about change in my school will not only benefit myself, but my staff and ultimately the students as well.
ReplyDeletezack dotson
I believe I would chose the change process for me as an administrator. Change is needed in a school system and if someone who is leading a school is willing to accept change it may help the process go smoother. I believe it will benefit me and all educators in the school.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the change process would be the most vital for me to develop because it is hard to change sometimes. Without change a person will not get better in their job and without the willingness to change in a group the school will remain status quo. This status quo shifts over into the education of the students. If we want students to prepare for the changing world, then we have to change ourselves in our committees, way of thinking, and way of teaching first.
ReplyDelete