“Sometimes doing something very small can make a big difference.” - Cathy Fleischer
Today’s workshop time taught me quite a bit (it stretched my brain). Cathy’s golden line (quoted above) showed me that I can start small and not get bogged down with taking on too much right away. Small steps can begin authentic change just as well as large steps. I like knowing that I can start small and gain momentum. Affecting change feels more manageable when I know I can start now, today, with a small idea for a better tomorrow.
To begin, we each wrote a positive teacher story set in our classrooms. Then we shared those stories. We found evidence in each of our stories of values that we hold dear. We looked across these values and noticed themes that stood out. Then, we shared those too. Noticing a pattern yet? By getting us to share our stories on the first day, Cathy was working us into a safe and vibrant learning community. She had us share and had us listen. We did the very important work of teachers telling a new story of the positive things we know we are doing for kids in our classrooms.
Another thing we learned today was how to frame the stories that show life in our classrooms into narratives that can help others see our vision and know our hearts. We went through an e-workshop on how to most effectively frame our stories for a broader audience (http://sfa.frameworksinstitute.org/). I enjoyed clicking through this presentation at my own speed; and, since I didn’t finish at the same time as everyone else, I am glad to be able to finish at home this evening. This workshop is not only getting me to tell my story, it is helping me garner resources that will enrich my teaching for years to come.
After thinking of how we could best frame our narratives for a larger audience, we thought of metaphors that could represent our stories in order to capture the imaginations of parents, administrators, and legislators. We discussed with whom we may want to share our stories and were reminded that positive messages go farther than negatively-framed ones. Isn’t that the tricky task of our profession? We are given the job of taking a negative narrative, reeking of disrespect and distrust of teachers and public education, and frame it in such a way as to have it feel positive, capture the broader audience’s attention, and provide hope. Above all, it is hope that will help us to cross the scorching desert of privatization, standardization, and the vilification of teaching professionals.
My story is still a work in progress. I will have to frame it just so. But only one day in and I am feeling hope-filled and energized. To sit in a room with several other educators willing to use two days in late July to grow in courage, power, and truth is a wonderful use of my summer holiday. We each have a story to tell. We each have a voice to raise. What a privilege it is to sit with these colleagues and work together towards a more positive-storied tomorrow.