So How's It Going?

Earlier this week I was visited by my math department head.  She wanted to run some things by me to either get my opinion or approval.  We discussed the items that she brought to me and after the discussion I asked her one of my favorite questions.

"So how's it going?"

She began to share with me her risk taking adventure in her math classes.  For those of you that know me, I encourage my teachers to take risks in their instructional practice every chance I get.  The reason for this is to let my teachers know that I am okay with them mixing things up, changing how they have always taught to how they would want to be taught, to look at their lessons from the eyes of their students and ask themselves, "would I want to be a student for this lesson?"  

Her risk taking venture has been utilizing the app Explain Everything to provide her students the opportunity to go back as often as they need to hear her working through the problem, step by step, as she went around the room to work with individual students.

New unit, set their own goal #theyrhooked #soproud #explaineverything @Mann4Edu @stephanieryon @AMCMSCatPRIDE pic.twitter.com/9e9A6Wo9ZP

— Kerri White (@kkaggie3) February 16, 2016

As I sat and listened to her talk about her experiences, struggles, student success, and changes in student engagement and learning I felt very proud of her for taking a risk.  These moments are the moments that I enjoy as a principal.  We had a great conversation about what she has learned and where this can lead her and the math department with regards to how to improve student learning and support.  It was very exciting for both of us!

If I had not asked her how it was going I would not have had this great conversation.  Regardless of being a teacher or an administrator, I encourage you to always take the time to ask how it's going as a part of your conversations with your stakeholders.  The best conversation you have may be the one that almost didn't happen. 

Think.  Achieve.  Succeed.

​Jeff

"The best conversation you have may be the one that almost didn't happen."