https://youtu.be/heJ8DTIBQqQ
I am having trouble with the embed feature on my page!!! Thank you
https://youtu.be/heJ8DTIBQqQ I am having trouble with the embed feature on my page!!! Thank you
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First I must say that I enjoyed the quote from former president Abraham Lincoln.
As a fireman I have spent plenty of time with chainsaws, performing vertical ventilation on roof tops and cutting down trees on the wildland fire line. However, what has me most excited, is the use of the AXE. It is a Fire Fighters best friend!!! Sharpening the saw to me refers to sharpening and honing one's skills. At this point, honing one’s skills means successfully implementing all seven habits and ensuring that I am working on developing and implementing my sphere of influence. I love the quote from Lincoln pertaining to the axe because in my eyes, it refers two to ideas. First, practice makes perfect and second, in order to be successful I must make sure that I am prepared. If I am on duty at the fire station, it is essential for me to make sure my axe is sharpened. An axe is versatile tool, considered in my eyes to be a striking tool, a cutting tool and a pushing and pulling tool. Relating this concept to being an Instructor at HSHMC, I must make sure that I am prepared to lead. Whether it be collaborating with a teacher or helping a student through a difficult time, it is essential to be prepared.All seven habits are essential!!! I also think that while sharpening an axe is amazing, I need to be current and stay on the edge, continuing to move forward and better prepare my students and help the staff. While the axe is an amazing tool, it is old and what are the new and exciting things I need to learn? What new technologies or concepts can I sharpen to help everyone at HSHMC? To help foster a stronger community? As Dr. Pumpian said in his lecture, “reinvest in myself, relationships and other to expand my sphere of influence.” By practicing all seven habits and successfully implementing them into my daily life, I know that I can and will commit to a 1 + 1 = 3. By staying on top and being proactive, it will truly create a positive school culture. A culture in which both staff and students can depend on me. I will be proactive and listen and let them know I understand. Ultimately, I want everyone to know that I am there to help and together we can discover better solutions to problems, creating a safer and more loving school culture. In my opinion, Synergy is the act of using all five previously discussed habits effectively. In doing so, one will be more creative and achieve more. This is the ultimate way to improve one's sphere of influence and leadership, not just in school, but in life.
In his lecture, Dr Pumpain further discussed effective democratic leadership and the keys to effective leadership with an Action Plan!
I am going to hang this on my wall, so students have an idea as to how to solve any problem that may occur in class. For example, I am currently teaching my sophomores the basics to Search and Rescue. I am trying to make them aware of the concept of tunnel vision. At first I have the students crawling around the room. Next, I start to add objects in their path, for example, a chair. At first, I teach the skills for going under the chair, roughly crawling and contorting their bodies through a 12 inch gap. They love it!!! However, the students eventually develop tunnel vision and this is my goal. Every time the student encounters a chair in their path, they assume they must go under the chairs. As the lesson progresses, when they encounter a chair and they are about to go under it, I say you can't crawl under it, what else can you do? What other options do they have? I use this moment to teach them about being creative. Just because I taught you one way doesn't mean that this is the only way. Eventually students realize that they can go over the chair, around the chair or move the chair. This is an incredible teaching moment in which students collaborate and listen to one another and solve the problem. It brings to light new ideas and I think that the Action Plan listed above helps foster collaboration and promote creativity. When the students get stuck or are having difficulty, they need to not just communicate with one another, but listen and I think that the Action Plan is a great template to help. Furthermore, this can only be achieved by creating a culture in which all opinions are valued. A culture which promotes listening will eventually lead to the development of better ideas: Students listening to students, students listening to staff, staff listening to staff and staff listening to students. 1+1=3… If this positive culture is in place at school everyone is winning. Seek first to understand, then to be understood to me focuses on listening. How can I make sure that I can listen better? As a Captain for the fire department, I was in charge of the duty crew, ranging from 3 to 8 people. When we train or run emergency calls, I am the one making the decisions. These decisions could result in some serious consequences. I have always been open to ideas to improve our training and tactics for calls and have learned that even under great pressure, although I am in charge, someone might have a better solution. The ability to listen and comprehend what someone else is thinking is very important.
At HSHMC, I have been able to build close relationships with the students. I am a person who students seek out when they have a bad day or in some cases if they make a mistake, I am often one who can help understand why the students made the poor decision. I am able to sit their and listen to the student and reflect upon their “feelings” and the “meanings”. It was interesting to me that Dr. P mentioned that you must be aware that you are not just waiting to speak your turn or voice your opinion. This is a ‘lose, lose situation.” I know I have been in conversations where all I want is to have my opinion heard and in doing so, I am not focused on what others are saying. I think that I have become and I commit to becoming a better listener. I think that by summarizing and repeating someone else’s thoughts or ideas, it makes the other person know they have been heard and are understood. In doing so, they are more apt to listen to you speak. Attending the Restorative Practices Leadership conference last year helped me understand this concept. Listening is a skill. It takes collaboration between everyone. At school, my ability to listen to staff and students will promote a better and more successful school culture. Just like in habit #4 1+1=3. I think that the fable regarding the two Donkeys was a perfect way to close this weeks Habit number four, “Think, Win Win.”
I think that the focus on successful, not selfish collaboration is the key to this habit. I thought that the 1 + 1 = 3 is a great concept. At the end of the video, Dr. Pumpian best summarizes habit number four, as a solution with a mutual benefit. I believe that I approach every situation with an open mind and that at the end of the day, I want to help resolve any circumstance or aid those who need help. As a fireman, I have spent years training to help others in their time of need. I am called when someone is having a bad day. I am there to help and be an advocate for that person. I know that this idea translates to my teaching style and the way I interact with others at HSHMC. I am always there to help others at school, whether it be a student or staff. I take great pride in being known publicly for someone who can be relied upon. At the end of the day, I will always complete the task at hand to the best of my ability. Now, this is a double edge sword for me! While I always invite others to ask me for help and I am very accomodating, I think that my fireman mindset needs to change. To me the 1 + 1 =3 means a teacher needs help, they call and together we solve their problem. My success has always revolved around solving others problems, but I have never asked for it to be mutual. I have lacked collaboration. To be a more successful leader, I could ask for help if and when needed. I have always considered asking for help a sign of weakness, as I want to be able to accomplish everything and be relied upon. However, I am now starting to see that if I ask for help, I can start to collaborate with others and it will help my students, my program and the school in the long run. I value this concept and know that it may be a good thing to ask for help or assistance every now and again. At the end of the day, we all want to be Charlie Sheen # Winning. Probably a different insight as to what others got from this lecture! Nick |
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