WK 4- Response to Kim Davis

In reading the final chapters of The Art of Possibility by R.S. and B. Zander, I was able to find lasting lessons on how to make my experience as a teacher better. The concept behind Chapter 10 on “Being the Board” in itself has potential to make a major impact on own’s life and perspective. Even more, when this concept is applied to teaching, there is a potentially revolutionary change that could come from allowing oneself as a teacher to be the board. Therein lies the question that I have been asking myself, what would happen if I saw myself as the “board” in the game of successes and failures in my classes?

To answer this question, I had to really think about my current practices. If a student were struggling with grades in my class or having a hard time learning a particular concept, I would usually try really hard to help them, then resign to the idea that maybe that student just wasn’t capable of doing any better. But if I were to make myself the board, maybe there would be a potential for that student to be better. For example, what if I thought about my approach to the learning environment and how I have related to each student as an individual? Although I wouldn’t blame myself for a student’s struggles because I could honestly attest to the fact that I had the desire to see the student succeed, maybe there were some things completely in my control that needed to change.

As it says in the book “present no obstacles to others.” Maybe student A is not able to understand the grammar concepts because I need to reorganize the way I structure my review sheets. Maybe student B would benefit from a video or a game to teach the concepts at hand. Maybe all of the students would benefit if I were consistent in praise, more organized, set different learning goals, or even found peace in my personal life that would make me more prepared to be a positive light to my students. Being the board can help us as teachers to “clear the path for accomplishment” for our students. How exciting!

Quotes from The Art of Possibility by R.S. Zander and B. Zander - Havard Business School Press

Kim- What a powerful question about asking yourself as a teaching what if you were the board in your classroom. I agree that this book has given my life lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life and teaching career. I like the comment about we want students to succeed but we need to look at what we can change to make our students actually achieve success.

Wk 4- Response to Therese Lunsford

So my program here at Full Sail is wrapping up. I want to write "finally," but a part of me is going "has it been a year already?" So writing "finally" doesn't seem right. I am partially hugely relieved, and a tiny bit nervous about the last few parts and pieces of the whole shebang.

I am relieved for many reasons; to be done with my Master's and with the largest portion of my schooling. I view whatever classes I take from here on out as fun and easy classes to add to my art teacher base of knowledge. I look forward to these (while still highly challenging) "fun" classes. I also look forward quite a bit to having more free time. Time to get back to more regimented workout sessions. (I don't know about anyone else, but I put on a few pounds during this program, due to finding no available time to work out!) I am excited to spend time with my husband again. I look forward to work on projects on our new house that I haven't had time to do. I also look forward to camping trips this summer, and more time to spend with family.

It's a sacrifice going to school. It takes a lot of time and dedication (and we won't even talk money)! It is not an easy task, but it is a rewarding one.

I want this post to be a shout out to the program and to Full Sail and all the excellent staff (and students) I've worked with on this program. You've made the process bearable, and taught me a lot about technology and much more over the course of this program. I'm happy to have been a part of a program with such wonderful goals and aspirations for its students. I'm also happy to have been part of a program that is so practical and truly allows its students to engage in real life, applicable studies.

I can't wait to apply what I've learned at Full Sail to my teaching next year, when I have time to implement it and reflect on all I've learned over the summer. The gift of a Mac I can use at school, as well as all the fabulous programming will certainly not hurt me in my classroom. I can't wait to use free time this summer to go to Lynda.com and search for tutorials I didn't have time to view before. This will be an exciting summer and school year to follow!

Therese- I know exactly what you mean. It is hard to say finally. Not that this experience has been bad my any means but that we did it! Yes, there were times when I didn't think I would pull through but the many friends I have made in this program helped me when I hit those rough patches. Continue doing what you are doing... I have enjoyed watching your project unfold and working with you!

Wk 4- Reaction to Book

I thought it would be great to talk about this book. It was a great read and truly inspirational. I found myself reflecting after reading each chapter and wanting to change my perception of things. I would recommend this book to anyone. It gives many good morals to live your life by. It is a book that can change your life if you are ready to make that commitment. It will be a great resource for me as a take these new thoughts and use them in my daily life. I will find myself coming back to this book often.

I was thinking about how this book applies to this journey that we are all on. I think just like this program causes us to reflect on our lives and experiences this book does too. Thank you for having us read this book it was inspiring.

Wk4- Reading-Life's a game

"I am the framework for everything that happens in my life." This is one of the most powerful quotes I have come across when reading this book. It struck me to think that I am a board of a game and that everything that I do or the way that I place my pieces on the board truly affects my life. I remember numerous times when it is easy to blame someone else for something rather than looking at myself and the situation at hand. The example of the violinist coming in early is a great reaction to someone who is not willing to place or pass the blame on to someone else. Truly powerful is this thought. It is all about the choices you make and taking responsibility for your actions rather than blaming others. What a great moral for you life.

Wk 4-Publication/Leadership 3 of 3

So I have made my choices. I will start by submitting my article to NEA Today. It is a more relaxed magazine which I actually get. If that falls through I will try Teaching Pk-8. This is a little more formal so I may need to adjust some things in my article. If both of those fall I will have to go searching for another magazine/journal to submit to. I am hoping that one of these are takers since I am excited about both magazines. Cross your fingers.

Wk 3-Reading- Downhill Challenge

Chapter 7 fits nicely with talking about resistance to change. So my people including teachers are afraid of what change will bring to themselves and their job. I find myself in the middle; most times I am welcome to new changes and look at them as experiences that I can learn from. I am however a newer teacher, so I can see how a teacher might get caught up in doing things the same way all the time. This sounds okay at the beginning but when I really think about it why. Why always do it the same way as last year why not always think that you can improve your teaching rather than thinking that your way is always going to be the best and most effective and engaging way.

Wk 3-Response-Soyeon Kim

This chapter reminds me of Eve’s apple in Garden Aden in the book of Genesis chapter 3 as well as the last verse in the book of Judges. (Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.)

People judge what is good or bad and everyone has different standards, which cause chaos in the world. Individuals are self-righteous and judge others according to their rules. Bible calls it “sin.” That’s why we fight, conflict and hurt each other. The only way to avoid is to humbly accept the fact that I can be wrong. According to Bible, human beings are born with the natural sin, the sin of wanting to be the judge of right and wrong, which has been ascended from Adam and Eve. It comes from self-righteousness and egocentric view. We are so egocentric that we don’t even realize how egocentric we are. No one is free from that sin. (Romans 3:10 as it is written: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one;) I am not being pessimistic here. After reading the passage above from the Art of Possibility, I saw that how natural it is to made judgments and come to negative conclusions on my own based on what I see in the present reality. I too often quickly come to negative, so called “realistic”, conclusions without realizing until I think twice with third point of view from other people.

For example, Catholic church banned Bob Dylan’s electric guitar bands because there were more than one musical part playing at a time. They thought it confuse the concept of unity in God. (Levitin, 2006) The church committee decided to ban certain kinds of music based on their perception and it no longer applies to the modern society. Music itself is not something that has good or evil. It’s people who plays and listens to the music and put good or evil intention or expression in it.

As I read this chapter of The Art of Possibility, I affirmed that I should watch out my decision or judgment on people or situations, especially the negative ones that I thought was realistic. It is continuation of last week’s reading that I was deciding someone’s future or potential too quick from my observation. I can be very wrong and I should open up my eyes to possibilities in others.

Soyeon- Your response really made me think. As this year at school is winding down I find myself making many decisions or judgments about how my class is behaving. The quote from the book is a powerful one. I do find myself saying thank you when everything is going well and asking why when things are tough. It makes me think that all things happen for a reason, the good and bad the ugly. I need to change my mind set back to positive and that everything happens for a reason and that I may not see the good in things at the time there is a reason.