Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose

I'm reading Dan Pink's Drive for the second time. I chose this as a summer read for our key administrators because he makes a great case for how motivation works in the 21st century. Many researchers and writers like Pink ranging from  Carol Dweck, Mihaly Csikszentmaihalyi, Howard Gardner, Chip and Dan Heath, Tony Wagner, Malcolm Gladwell, and many others have begun to formulate what I think is an interesting and useful framework of ideas that will help us move forward with educational reform. Central among their ideas is that we must stop thinking about learning and the School in an Industrial Revolution context.

The way motivation is structured, according to Pink, is that we need to have Autonomy (enough freedom to do what needs to be done), Mastery (the skills to do the work), and Purpose (a compelling reason to do it) in order to produce at a high level and to innovate and improve our world. Teachers need all three in place to do great work with kids and it's our responsibility to frame the mission of the School in such a way as to provide the environment where all three can be achieved. 

My greatest hope is that if our teachers have the tools and the drive to pursue excellence relentlessly, they will, in turn, create the same environment for their students. Roland Barth, at a conference I attended years ago,  said that when the flight attendants go through their pre-flight safety instructions they always remind us to put the oxygen masks on ourselves first, and our children second. We, the adults, have to be healthy and mindful so that when our kids need our help we will be ready and able to give it. 

Things to keep in mind.

On another note, I continue my odyssey toward good health (workout number 4 today!). I'm beginning to feel tighter, my pants are a bit looser, and my head is clearer. Becoming less of who I was is feeling very good. 

Less IS more.

Administrative Retreat - reflections...

Well, I went back to the gym for another workout - this time I didn't feel quite as brutalized as I did last week - a good thing. I'm actually looking forward to continuing on this path throughout the summer  and into the year; my energy level is higher and I am already feeling healthier...

Yesterday we spent the day reflecting and thinking about Casady's identity, our core values, and our plans for the upcoming year. We discussed the role of grades, assessment in general, and the importance of hiring happy teachers who derive joy from their students' success. Central to our work should be the cultivation of strong relationships with our students. Faculty evaluation should be keyed to student performance and their ability to help their students find success.

We also discussed the importance of our "story" in our work to bring the finest educational experience to our community.  We need to hear the stories that define us, and we need to tell our story relentlessly and clearly to make certain that we align our words with the things we actually do. Each and every day, our students need to feel like they are part of something great; they need to know that there's something over the horizon to strive to reach, but they also need to feel like they are making progress and achieving success as they move along their journey to adulthood.

I'm energized by reflective thinking, but as I've begun my journey toward a healthier me, I'm reminded that action (and sweat) are essential parts of the journey. Just sitting at my desk, wishing I were thinner won't really work. I'm excited that the Casady team has geared up for the mission we're on and I'm comforted to know that there are so many who care so deeply about our students.

21st Century Schools

Here's a link to the 21st Century Schools site. A good explanation of why it's important to structure our students' experience in school in ways that address their learning needs and the world in which they live and will work.

Thought-provoking piece on time and education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3oIiH7BLmg
This is a fascinating explanation of how our view of time affects the way we see the world and especially how our kids experience school. Important and entertaining...

The implications for teaching and how we structure school are deep. We need to pay attention to this.

Getting back in shape...

Well, yesterday I finally decided to start exercising again. It's been awhile, and my first workout was brutal, to say the least. I'm hoping to continue throughout the summer in the gym and on the weekends I'm planning on riding my bike around Lake Hefner. Hope to lose the extra padding and move my bad cholesterol down the scale a bit. Stay tuned here for updates.

Summer is an interesting time - the shift from busy busy busy to a more relaxed pace allows me to think bigger, more strategically, and to put on paper those things that need careful thought. The administrative team will be having a retreat at my house on Monday the 28th - we're looking at our core mission and planning on implementing three to five school-wide initiatives that will focus our energies for the next few years. I'm particularly excited to discuss the ways we assess learning and how we agree on the competencies we teach as our students make their way through the school. Faculty professional development and time for dialogue will be vital as they are the practitioners who make it happen day to day.

Casady is a great school and it's getting better every day. I continue to feel inspired by those with whom I work and especially by the kids who have chosen Casady as their school.