Transformational vs. Informational

Last summer I read a book about transformational teaching and it truly opened my eyes to why I become so frustrated with other educators.  I agree with the authors almost 100% about why and how we teach students; however, there are several teachers I have encountered in my short career that probably would not agree with the principles discussed throughout the book, Transformational Teaching by Rosebrough and Leverett. 

For those of you reading who are unfamiliar with transformational teaching, it is basically the why and how we teach- to transform the whole student.  Contrary to transforming students is the common practice of feeding them information so that they can regurgitate their knowledge on a test.  Transformational teaching involves teaching problem solving skills and identifying areas of strength and weakness in each student in order to challenge them to become the best they can be. 

I always dreamed of being a transformational teacher- a person who touches the lives of others.  Unfortunately, I feel as though I have gotten away from doing just that.  In the book the authors mention that teachers can only control 14% of the factors that affect whether a student learns or not.  Throughout the past two years I have been extremely frustrated with a lack of resources, which I felt had been holding back my ability to meet individual needs of students, as well as the attitudes of others in my building.  The resources I speak of could be anything from a table with chairs to technology.  While the attitudes of some of the fellow teacher are that of if a student does not understand a concept the first time they haven't tried hard enough. All of which I have realized this year as simple excuses. Transformational teaching doesn't need any of these things.

If I become an administrator or are viewed as a leader, as I aim to some day become, I hope that I can inspire teachers to become transformational and change the lives of the students in the building.

Stress Level of Educators

No matter what your connection is with a school, as changes continue to take place, stress levels continue to rise in an already stressful career field.  Change is something I actually enjoy in life; however, many teachers went into the teaching profession for opposite reasons- they wanted to work at one school for thirty years, raise their children in that community, and then retire.  In my short teaching career I have taught in four different schools in four different counties, with my longest tenure only two years.  I have even taught in New Zealand as well as the United States.  Please don't hear me wrong, I haven't looked for change, but with a husband that was active in the Army, it is something that was and still is inevitable in my life. 


Sometimes I wonder if policymakers understand how stressful it is to teachers when every five years they are creating overhauling changes.  Wouldn't admendments or gradual changes be better for both the educators, students they teach, parents who are trying to advocate for their children, and the families of educators? 

Summertime

It is finally that time of year that most teachers look forward to- summer!  Normally I look forward to the empty scheduled days as well; however, something is different this summer and I think I finally figured out what it is.


Without knowing all of the changes that are ahead for teachers in Tennessee, in regards to the First to the Top and observation changes, and especially in the county where I work, where we are getting a new superintendent and head of instruction, this summer I feel as though I'm sitting on the back of my heals waiting for all the changes.  Normally, people would enjoy the down time, but that is not who I am.  I am a go-getter that is constantly moving and doing, so this down time is killing me.  I guess on the bright side of things I have at least had a chance to catch up with my ancestry research!