Week 2 Discussion - Being Forewarned

I think the first common mistake that I need to focus on the most is lacking balance in life. I know, as a teacher, I tend to give my all to my work, sometimes to the point that I do not have the best balance. Our work is not the same as many other jobs. Our day to day work has a huge impact on so many young lives, and there is always so much to get done. I have worked to gain better work-life balance throughout my years of teaching, but I know that I need to be aware of this as I balance teaching, my internship, and my life outside of school. I know if I over-extend and do not maintain a healthy balance, I will not be at my best when I am teaching or working in my intern roles.

The other common mistake I think I should pay special attention to is practicing effective internal communication. As a team leader, I believe that I very effectively communicate with my grade level team and other staff members regarding business related to our grade level. Stepping into the role of an intern involves regular communication with the whole staff, not just my grade level and other staff members who I regularly work with as a classroom teacher. My school is a year-round elementary school with eight to nine classes per grade level, making us very large compared to most elementary schools. Clear communication is critical to ensure that expectations are clear and the school runs effectively in order to best meet the need of all of our students. I have worked in schools where internal communication was lacking. This was both very frustrating for the staff and prevented our school from operating smoothly and as effectively as possible.

I believe that I will improve my practice as I look at these two common mistakes. As a leader, I need to maintain balance, so that I can give my best to my work. Additionally, it is important for staff to maintain balance, and this should be modeled by school leaders. If staff members do not feel that their lives outside of school are valued and that balance is encouraged, it is likely that this will have detrimental effects on school morale. Additionally, being aware of the mistake of not practicing effective communication will help me be even more mindful of the importance of timely, clear communication with all stakeholders as I work on different tasks and take on different roles throughout my internship.