By Anna Bryan This summer, we have reposted Anna Bryan’s articles on Adaptive Change as reminders that change is hard, important, messy, necessary, and can be managed. In this last post, The Middle Season: Thriving All the Way through Change she reminds us of the energy we have for change at the beginning of the school year, but how in November and December the momentum dissipates, or we can find ourselves lost in the mess. […]
Tag: Professional Growth
Maximizing Commitment in a Season of Change
By Anna H. Bryan Over the summer, we have been reposting articles from Anna Bryan on her experiences with Adaptive Change in schools. This blog, “Maximizing Commitment in a Season of Change,” is particularly timely as we prepare for the return of teachers to our buildings for the start of the 2024-25 school year. The article is especially helpful in thinking about how to create genuine engagement for change rather than simply convincing skeptics to […]
Mayday! or May Day? Finding Purpose and Beauty in the Final Weeks of the School Year
by Mark Hobbs As April turns into May, educators often find themselves contemplating how to navigate the remaining weeks of the school year with a sense of optimism and energy. The term “Mayday,” as defined by Merriam-Webster, serves as an internationally recognized radio word to signal distress, mostly by aircraft and boats. While most of us are happily only familiar with it through TV and fiction, stepping into a 7th grade classroom in May might […]
Waypoints: Leveraging Feedback to Catalyze Growth
By John Walker, Ed.D. While there are many ways to define what a “waypoint” is, I love how the National Geographic (2023) defines a waypoint: “a waypoint is a reference point that helps us know where we are and where we’re going. Whether we’re driving, sailing, or flying, waypoints help us find our way.” If you are like me, you love working with a diverse group of people whom the Lord has placed in your […]
Inspire Lifelong Learners: Modeling the Novice Mindset
By Sierra Downs The First Year “Genghis Khan was a pretty good guy, actually.” This concluding remark to a student essay written during my first year of teaching has haunted me for years. I had just begun teaching history at the middle school level and had high expectations for my classroom–I wanted to encourage my students to ask big questions, consider lofty ideas, and allow the subject to shape the way that they saw themselves […]