Sugar, We're Going Down! - September 23, 2019

Sugar, We’re Going Down! 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

September 23, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

“I’ll miss you. Wish me luck. I love you,” was scrolled across the bottom of my phone screen. Within seconds my left, calloused thumb punched “Send” as if it was the last time and my message was delivered. I closed my eyelids, tilted my head down, and held Derek’s sweating hand.  

Derek was mumbling under his breath. The words were jumbled and not making any sense. “Lunch...announcements...playground...volunteers...scores...Danielson...Karate Kid.” There was no rhyme or reason to the whispers he produced. I slowly cracked open my left eye to see the beads of sweat transcending down his brow. I’m sure the tears were welled up behind his eyelids, just waiting to break through the levy.  

“Please grant me the grace to make it through this. I promise I will change my ways. There is so much left for me to accomplish, this can’t be it today?” Paula stated out loud, not caring if the rest of us were followers of her higher being.  

Kristen wouldn’t join in holding any hands. Instead, hers were thrown in the air as she shrieked, “Well, if this is what it is let’s just get it over with! Make it quick!” Her hands then plummeted down back at her sides. I wasn’t sure if that was a prayer or declaration.  

“Alright, this is your captain,” overtook the prayers, mumbles, and whimpers from us. The captain continued, “Let’s get started. Agenda item #1” 

The unfortunate reality is that far too many administration and faculty meetings take off for flight this way for many of the passengers. It’s not uncommon for leaders hosting meetings to take up hours of valuable time on discussions that don’t need to happen or accomplish anything. Many times these style of meetings, ones where it’s full of agenda items and discussion, quickly turn into a session of complaining instead of problem solving. This does not work towards reaching any school’s vision or mission.  

Educators need to continually be problem solving to ensure our students are receiving the best learning experiences possible. Our goal is to create critical thinkers, problem solvers, that are confident in their own strengths and not ashamed to rely on others where they may need growth. Our students will leave our schools knowing empathy, the power of collaboration, and confidence to leave their comfort zones and embrace failure.  

How will any of this be accomplished by sitting around a table complaining, staring at bullet points on paper?  

The answer is it won’t. If we are leading a meeting, and chances are if you are reading this you either already do or will be in the near future, there are many techniques to put in place to ensure you are empowering your audience to become reinvigorated and ready to engage and propel our students to the next level.  

1. Create a meeting agenda with only 5 items or less. Anything extra share via email, phone, or face to face visit.  

2. Each item and activity should be able to be adapted and brought back to the classroom or school for students to learn from and enjoy. 

3. Collaboration is key. Don’t just talk to the audience and then ask them to reply. Get up, break into teams, move around, and collaborate with those one normally doesn’t.  

4. What hands on activities could go for each item? Can an agenda item be taken outside? Can food, dance, music, charades, or a game be incorporated to cover a topic?  

5. Ask yourself if the agenda lends itself to movement, laughter, smiles, and teamwork? If not, find ways that it does.  

6. There is no six, remember? We stop at 5. Look back to Agenda Item #1. 

We don’t expect our kids to learn sitting in rows hours on end listening to lectures anymore. Why would we treat adults any different? Working to change the lives of our students every day, to help make a change in the world is exhausting. It can be the equivalent of running a marathon every day of the week. No adult is going to be focused and enjoy spending a few hours after school listening to us ramble on about data and policies, cursing their eyes with an ugly PowerPoint.  

Reviewing an article read? Speed Dating. 

Discussing intervention blocks? Teams create puzzle pieces and then have fellow teams put them together to understand their plan. 

Facing an issue one can’t find a solution for? Play “Struggle Island” on the playground. Staff forms a circle and someone stands in the middle and reads a problem. Those facing that issue step back to signify “drowning in the waters.” Those still on the island have a solution and share out what’s worked for them.  

Want to create random groups? Give everyone a playing card as they walk in.  

Sharing a love of children’s literature? Create Literature-O-Lanterns and then place them in the LRC or Media Center.  

There is a plethora of activities that may sound “childish” to do with staff. That just means it will be that more engaging and fun! Get out of your comfort zone, enjoy what you do, and create a meaningful, engaging, collaborative, and memorable meeting.  

With the right activities put in place you will be that captain your passengers clap for after flight!