Posted by Mrs. Kristi Swartz
The 4 chapters we focused on this week again had me thinking in a new way. Leaders are always said to be the strong, loud, commanding type, yet, in this reality, the leader is the one that makes others strive to have a vision of what is possible. As I read this week, I could not help but think of my son’s 4th grade teacher. He truly is the best teacher I, or any of my own children, have ever had. I began to reflect on the readings and this particular teacher’s qualities. What quality does he possess? How does he lead? This is what I found. His quality is inspiration. He leads quietly. He leads by making each student feel worthy of great possibility, of vision.
When my son had this particular teacher, we attended a short play the students created in the classroom. We have all attended classroom plays, yet this one was different. Student made invitation letters went home, student created props lined the walls of the classroom. Student actors and actresses played the parts of the student written scripts. There were even student created commercials between the acts. All students were involved and the leader sat silent and just took it all in. A student made the introduction and all the leader said in the end was a simple thank you for coming to see you students amazing production.
At the time, I did notice how different the feel of the classroom was that day. Students were empowered to learn and grow, and proud to show the product they had created. The reason that teacher is such an amazing teacher is because he gets what Zander spoke of in his video this week and through The Art of Possibility. He gets that it is a teacher’s job to inspire possibility and watch students live into that vision. May it be so for all of us as educators.
Response to Kristi
Kristi, your son is so lucky to have had such a wonderful teacher. I think that is the kind of teacher we should all strive to be. As leaders in education (teachers) we may have to change the way we lead according to age, developmental ability, grade level, etc.. However, we can find a way to inspire and encourage creativity the way your son’s teacher did. Inspiring possibility in our students can only lead to creating resourceful students with a love of learning who are confident and creative.
Reading The Art of Possibility has been such a pleasure and inspiration. I think teachers need books like this every few months to remind us of the possibilities so that we can pass it along to our students.
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