I recently had the opportunity to Skype with @DrSpikeCook to talk education and other related topics. Dr. Cook is an elementary principal in New Jersey, and through his influence, he is leading the way in his district and those surrounding by sharing the power of social media as it relates to education.
As we were talking, Dr. Cook asked the question, "what do we value as educators?" Though this question may seem simple and straight forward, I would bet that if you asked a group of educators what they value, you would stump many of them. I'm not trying to say that there are educators who don't know what they value, I am simply saying that this is quite a big question which encompasses much more than what one might see just on the surface.
Anyway, back to the question, "what do YOU value as an educator?"
When you act, you are showing to others what you value. When you respond a certain way, you are saying what you value. When you support and not support an idea or initiative, you are demonstrating what you value or do not value.
In my experience, you can say all day long what you value and what you believe, but if you want others to believe and trust in you, you need to act on what you value. Simply saying what you value is not nearly as strong as doing and acting on what you value. Actions will ALWAYS speak louder than words...
Time is short and the list of things to accomplish is only getting longer. You have a choice every single day to choose what you are going to do and what you are not going to do. YOU HAVE THE CHOICE...
DON'T FORGET: Just as you have the choice, you really need to do some thinking and reflecting to discover what your core values are. You will be led astray if you are not strong and confident of your values.
BONUS: Just as important as what you do to show what you value, what you don't do also shows what you do not value.
If you have yet to establish a strong core group of values, then whose values have you been following? If nobody else knows what you value, then what or who do you represent? When others think about you, what do they think you stand for?
Your values make you who you are... make sure you choose them carefully.
Anyway, back to the question, "what do YOU value as an educator?"
When you act, you are showing to others what you value. When you respond a certain way, you are saying what you value. When you support and not support an idea or initiative, you are demonstrating what you value or do not value.
In my experience, you can say all day long what you value and what you believe, but if you want others to believe and trust in you, you need to act on what you value. Simply saying what you value is not nearly as strong as doing and acting on what you value. Actions will ALWAYS speak louder than words...
Time is short and the list of things to accomplish is only getting longer. You have a choice every single day to choose what you are going to do and what you are not going to do. YOU HAVE THE CHOICE...
DON'T FORGET: Just as you have the choice, you really need to do some thinking and reflecting to discover what your core values are. You will be led astray if you are not strong and confident of your values.
BONUS: Just as important as what you do to show what you value, what you don't do also shows what you do not value.
If you have yet to establish a strong core group of values, then whose values have you been following? If nobody else knows what you value, then what or who do you represent? When others think about you, what do they think you stand for?
Your values make you who you are... make sure you choose them carefully.