Bottom Up Change

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I have taught long enough now to have experienced many instances of top down change. One year there was a big push towards using Smart Boards, while in other years Differentiated Instruction, learning goals, or student generated success criteria were pushed by the board as educational panaceas. These top down changes created enormous ill will among teachers who felt that yet another thing was being added to their plate, or that their teaching expertise was being diminished. My goal as a teacher librarian is to help create bottom up change. 

I want to help teachers make changes that they have chosen, on a timeline they have created, and within a select community where they feel supported. These changes may be based around use of technology or may be about the art of teaching in general. I was very influenced by a quotation about leadership by Simon Sinek from the youtube video posted below (trigger warning: if you choose to watch the video, he does use a swear word several times while speaking). He said, "Leadership is the awesome responsibility to see those around us rise"(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aY_3DSJf8A)

 

I have several ideas that I want to try:

- firstly, I want to host optional monthly teacher meetings based on the Unconference method. Instead of imposing an agenda,  I will ask teachers to submit what they would like to learn from their colleagues or what skill they would like to teach their colleagues. Then, I will host breakout rooms based on areas of shared interest. Having two teachers, for example, meet to discuss how to improve the quality of transition time after recess is a small but important success. It can lead to positive changes that teachers themselves have identified as important. It can also increase feelings of self efficacy among teachers as they have identified and worked towards solving a problem. The video below gives a good introduction to the basics of Unconferences:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygmYP3gSsrw

 

- I also want to use one of my Library Administration times to further support teachers learning from one another. I will encourage teachers to book me to come into their class to supervise the learning of their students so that they can go and watch a colleague of their choice teach. I have always thought that one of the greatest challenges of teaching is never having enough time. By putting this into my Library Administration Schedule, I can provide a gift of time to one teacher a week.  

- I also think that social networks within schools become rigid over time. The same three teachers always sit together at lunch, for example, or teachers most commonly talk after school with the person across the hall. In the hopes of creating stronger community bonds among us our staff, I will lead monthly 'walk and talks' after school in Capilano Regional Park. Walking in nature is relaxing and allows colleagues to casually mingle with other staff as well as sharing teaching ideas.  

 

- I also want to move some of the professional educational books out of the library setting itself. I am going to feature 5 of these books each week in the staff room where they may spark a conversation or lead to them being looked through or signed out.

 

I would like to end with a quotation from Kurt Lewin. He said, "If you truly want to understand something, try to change it" (https://www.verywellmind.com/kurt-lewin-quotes-2795692). I would add that if you also want to truly respect an institution or individual, ask first before seeking to change it. 

Works Cited

Cherry, Kendra. “Quotes from Psychologist Kurt Lewin.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 21 Apr. 2020, https://www.verywellmind.com/kurt-lewin-quotes-2795692.

Kalthoff, Angie. “What Is an Unconference? - Youtube.” Youtube, Angie Kalthoff, 11 Jan. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygmYP3gSsrw.

Sinek, Simon. “How to Make Bottom-up Change | Simon Sinek - YouTube.” Youtube, Simon Sinek, 24 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aY_3DSJf8A.