This year I have moved from kindergarten to 2nd grade along with my co-teacher. We were so excited for the move being told that we needed to help make changes in 2nd grade. When it came to the way that we were going to layout the school year and the topics being taught the way that they had been doing it did not match the way that the school district wanted it. They also had been testing children based on a calendar and not on their class or their students. When we came in with a new perspective some took change well and 2 in particular did not. (There are 8 of us). Instead of excepting the change she wanted to battle it out and that was never our intention. She still to this day has such a hard time listening to new ideas and only wants to do things her way.
After learning about communication this week I think that I am more prepared for our grade level meeting next week. I have learned that I need to go in ready to listen to their concerns instead of just explaining why the new way is better. I will try to see the situation from her side as well as my own and try to come up with the best possible outcome for the students. We might have to compromise on a few of the changes that are being made but eventually will choose what is best for the students. The most important thing is going to be using the 3R's. I tend to get defensive as to why the new way is right when I need to respect that they has been doing this for years and has their own professional opinion.
How would you handle this situation?
Lauren, I had a similar situation at my center. I am the only one in my center with an Early Childhood Degree. The staff in my center are much older than I am and are used to doing things there way. When presenting new ideas and helping them learn what is truly expected out of early childhood educators based on what I have learned over the years was a bit of a struggle. They were used to just babysitting the children and I had to inform them that we are more than just sitters. I have been there 6 years now and the changes have been dramatic. It wasn't easy at first, their were a lot of disagreements, hurt feelings, and even arguments where we needed mediators.
ReplyDeleteI look back and realize that I could have approached presenting my ideas of change differently instead of basically forcing it on them and expecting them to just accept that they way they were doing things were wrong.
I am just like you, I get very defensive easily and I need to learn how to incorporate the 3R's and what I call the 4C's (compassion, compromise, cooperation, and collaboration).
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what kind of conflict you are struggling with. I feel this way often during planning meetings with my colleagues. I'll go in to a meeting with some GREAT ideas and then I get shot down because it didn't match our "target skill" or they didn't like the idea. It truly makes me feel frustrated and hurt that the hard work I put in the ideas were not being accepted. And last week I was sick 3 days and missed the planning time. So they sent me the lesson plans and I was not happy with the math plans, but it was too late because they had already discussed them and had it planned out for the week. I too, would tend to get defensive sometimes hwen someone would make me feel like it wasn't a great idea.
I'm trying to be better by not attacking a person's thoughts or ideas. I'll say to them "That is a great idea! I have one too I would like to share in case anyone is interested!"
Since I have been working on my more positive approach, planning as been much more enjoyable than in the past!
I hope that your team settles in soon and that you can develop a cooperative professional environment where you all feel safe to share your needs and concerns with one another without feeling attacked or negative.
Jessica