How to succeed as a teacher - Working Smarter
Posted by admin on August 20th, 2007 filed in Advice3. Working smarter - no!
There’s no competition, so there is no need to work smarter. In fact, it is discouraged. At one board I worked at I determined that I was probably doing the same planning as every other teaching at my grade. So I tried to arrange for all the same grade level teachers to meet to work together. I was told by administration that I was not allowed to do it. My next board of education was a little more open. When I finally did arrange for 20 teachers to meet and discuss things like common plans, shared work, 10 cancelled the night before the meeting. At the meeting, only 2 teachers actually wanted to collaborate. Just imagine the duplication of effort of 20 teachers of the same grade all preparing the same program for their same classes. I think I’m a smart person, but I’m not arrogant enough to assume I’m smarter than the TEAMS of people who wrote the textbooks and developed the curriculum!
I’ve had other teachers mention the ‘jealousy’ that some teachers had when they saw me using my laptop at school. They were upset that the school board didn’t buy them one. Well they didn’t buy me one either! For God’s sake, just ask!
Think of how all those teachers who arrive before the bell and leave shortly thereafter are perceived by the other teachers. For some reason they must not be doing a good job. Or maybe they are just doing a great job!
Solution - Reinventing the wheel is what is wanted.
Unfortunately, since in teaching, people often don’t work ‘directly’ with you, they don’t see what you do. They form their opinions based on their observations. They don’t see you working - therefore you musn’t be working. Appearance rules!
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