Cheese and Change Analysis: A Vacation Farewell and Book Review

Dear Readers,

I am taking a quiet vacation by the sea. It will be place to reflect about the changes that are happening in education and in my life, while breathing in the salted air and sitting in my beach chair. I do a lot of thinking when I go to the ocean. This year I have change on my mind more than ever!

Change is something that is always happening; but everyone’s reaction is different. I just finished the short but delightful read: Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D. and it can be read in about two hours. I recommended it to everyone, as we all encounter change. In fact, change might look something like this: Someone got the job you were told you were going to get; it’s not fair. Or, you have been at your job ten years; how can some newbie get it? Or, what are you going to do with the pay cuts and or hour cuts; how will you make it? It’s not fair! And or, you just lost your home; now what? What about job description changes and you no longer get to do things you love to do? What about health changes that force you to change? These changes all effect our personal lives and professional lives. In fact, I have experienced all of them!

To help you understand the concept of the cheese, here is a personal example. A very dear friend died in January, and I had to move on to live a whole life. Holding on was keeping me from moving on; she was the cheese Dr. Johnson was talking about. There was no getting her back. I had to look to my friends and family, but also hope for new cheese. Let me explain. I thought Malory, my son’s girlfriend who passed away this past January, was going to be his wife. I had envisioned grandchildren from them. I kept holding on to those memories. Reality set in; I had to let them go. Do people really hold onto things like this? Yes, and it keeps us from growing and moving on. I have to be open to a new girl friend from my son Drew. It’s time to move on I kept telling myself. My son’s process of change and healing is much more involved than mine. Nevertheless, he will move on and find new cheese eventually. In short, even death effects us and is change.

Change is always happening in education, but what do teachers do with the new initiatives and laws that come down the pike. Some wait and do nothing. I admit there are a lot and one has to choose or prioritize which ones they will follow. I myself follow the laws and the ones tied to may pay first. It’s a no brainer! When the new stuff comes, many stakeholders say the pendulum will swing back and forth. You’ll see. Just wait. I have seen this to be true. However, there are so manner change resistant people who are unwilling to get on board that we are in the severe crisis we are in today. Now we are being forced to comply with mandatory testing and accountability policies. Also, there are so many directives coming from the “top” every year: New ideas, new programs, and new ways to make things better. The problem is someone keeps adding to our plate and never takes anything off. Yet, still our attitude to change may be resistant. Some of us overcomplicate the issues/ changes and expend emotional energy worrying about how we will all do this instead of making a plan and taking action. If we are not careful, we will not perform well. It’s a sad day that we have to perform to get paid. Many people are for this idea, but let’s remember that teachers are not the ones taking the tests, coming to school (if they do), doing the homework (if they do), paying attention in class (many secretly texting instead). So here is my emotional workout, but I could be doing my lesson plans to the Instructional Focus Calendar and try to keep up with changing cheese. One of my friends saw this change coming and decided to leave this country and go to Europe where they value the teacher and education. She saw that the cheese was disappearing. She did not wait much longer; she took a leap of faith and looked for new cheese or old cheese. It’s all about perspective. For teaches who are deciding to stay and understand that the cheese has changed and its benefits, they are looking for additional jobs. Some of us will now work three jobs to keep this cheese alive! Some will be forced to leave a labor of love. In the end, the change has to be embraced. It will eventually be embraced by all. Why wait?

Do you still want to know more about change? Then read the following book review and summary from http://lifetofullest.com/who-moved-my-cheese/ and or buy it, borrow it from the public library, or sit in a BAM store and read it. Me, I’ll be back in about two weeks. I’ll be at the beach wrapping my mind on the changes for next school year and many other changes I need to face in my life. I’ll be devising a plan and looking for new cheese!

I included the text from the above link for easier reading below!

Who Moved My Cheese was published in 1998. A parable written by Spencer Johnson which describes change in one’s work and life. Who Moved My Cheese was included in the New York Times business bestseller since release and remained on the list for almost five years and spent over 200 weeks on Publishers Weekly’s hardcover nonfiction list.

When Change Happens
One of the constant things in life is CHANGE. Each day brings a new life and a different experience for us. But our daily routine task, from the time we wake up until the time we lay down in bed again, creates a cycle that leads us to comfort. Such comfort creates lax and negligence in our character that make us forget that life is constantly changing. Then when change happens, we stress out, react, complain and be beaten up.

Even if it’s hard to admit it, in school, at home and in the community we live in, we were taught to believe in following rules and sets of standards that being curious and creating change is not acceptable. That being obedient, doing what is told and what is “right”, is the key to success and happiness in life. The attitude of obedience and resistance to change is brought by many in their professional and personal journey in life. That’s why it is hard for majority to handle and accept change. Upon experiencing change, our initial reaction is to resist it. Either because we are afraid to lose the comfort of what we currently have or the fear of the unknown.

The Fable of Change
The book Who Moved My Cheese is a fable that teaches an amazing way to deal with change in your personal and professional life. Below is a short synopsis of the fable:

There were four characters; two mice named “Sniff” and “Scurry,” and two little people named “Hem” and “Haw.” The four characters lives in a maze (which represents environment) and their activity is to look for cheese ( which represents their life’s happiness and success).
Each morning, Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw wear their most comfortable shoes to run and search the maze to find cheese. They search each day until they found Cheese Station “C”. The four were so happy and glad to have found Station “C” which is filled with cheese. Hem and Haw, human as they were, become comfortable having found Station C. They thought that the Cheese in Station “C” was more than enough to sustain their needs in a lifetime. So the next morning, Hem and Haw lazily gets up every morning and walk to station “C” without their running shoes on. On the other hand, the two mice “Sniff” and “Scurry” still eagerly runs to Station “C” to search and find their cheese.

Then one morning, as Hem and Haw lazily walks shoeless to station “C”, they’ve arrived and found it empty. Hem and Haw became furious and angry. Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. They rant at the unfairness of the situation and were mad to those who stole their cheese. They wanted justice. They wanted the cheese to come back but they went home hungry. On the other hand, when Sniff and Scurry found that Station C was empty, they are not surprised. They noticed the cheese supply were decreasing, they have mentally prepared beforehand for the tough but foreseeable task of finding new cheese. They’ve easily accepted it and moved on to search for new cheese.
The next day, Hem and Haw still walks to Station C hoping to find their cheese. Hoping that things were the same as the past. But they failed for the cheese was gone and will not come back. Beginning to realize the cheese less situation, Haw proposed to search for new cheese. But Hem is dead set in his closed mindset and rejected the proposal. Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found “Cheese Station N”, a new supply of cheese.

Hem and Haw are still lacking of cheese and blame each. Wanting to change, Haw suggested once again to search for new cheese but Hem rejected it again. He didn’t want to change, he’s already comfortable his old cheese and he’s also afraid of the unknown, the new cheese. He just wants the old cheese to come back and he’ll be happy again. After many days in denial, Hem and Haw remained without cheese.

One day, having discovered his weakening fears, Haw begins to laugh at the situation and stopped taking himself so seriously. Haw realized that he should simply move on and enter the maze to find a new cheese. While walking down the maze in search for new cheese, Haw took time to write on the walls of the experiences and lessons he’s getting in search for change, of new cheese. Haw did it for the intention of giving a guide to his friend, Hem, just in case he finally accepts to move on and find new cheese. First he wrote, “If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct” Still fearful of his new quest, Haw wrote “What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?” . In his journey he realized and wrote down “When you move beyond your fear, you feel free.” Then one day, Haw finally found Cheese Station N and realized it was better and tastier than Cheese Station C.

Wanting to remember everything he’ve learned, he wrote to the largest wall in Cheese Station N the following Six (6) Important Lessons on Change:

Change Happens. They Keep Moving The Cheese
Anticipate Change. Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
Monitor Change. Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.
Adapt To Change Quickly. The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy

New Cheese.
Change. Move With The Cheese
Enjoy Change. Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese

Are You Like Hem? Even we don’t admit it, we act like Hem. When change happens in our lives, we get angry, we blame others, we lose hope and resist change. Start Embracing Change Who Moved My Cheese have helped me a lot in coping in a negative change that previously happened in my life. After reading Who Moved My Cheese , it gave me a lot of new insight on why change is good and how it can lead me to much better things. Now as I look back, I can honestly say I’m really happy to the change that reversed my life to embrace positivity and life live fully. You too can create that change in your life. If you don’t know where to start, begin having courage to embrace change by reading Who Moved My Cheese .

http://lifetofullest.com/who-moved-my-cheese/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399144463?ie=UTF8&tag=livliftothe0f-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399144463

Heist Society Project: Check!

I have completed only one of my items off my to-do list, but what an accomplishment! I finally finished the book: Heist Society, which I was asked to read and write 50 comprehension test questions. I did not care for the book, which made it very difficult to do; however, I persevered. This is one of those life lessons I try to instill in my students and my own children: I don't have to like something to do it; I just need to buckle down and do it. So, I am relieved that this off my to-do list. Now I can focus on other things.

I also had a great time at the school today, despite having air for only two hours. It's tough working in the heat all day, but I was able to I help another colleague set up some of her room, put away a lot of print shop orders, set-up some of my room, and do some planning. She and I talked about new policies and procedures, as well as how we might set up each day of the week by task.

The tech person helped me with my laptop. I explained that I was unable to access files and do some of the work I needed to do. He chuckled that the laptops should be checked over the summer for updates and maintenance, but the reality is that teaches have to keep working in their lessons and skills over the summer. There isn't enough time do what they are asking during the school year. He was very nice and helpful.

All in all, it was a very productive day!

Anticipating Tomorrow: Work Day at the School!

I am happy to report that I am going to work tomorrow at the school, and I am excited about it! Yes, it sounds crazy. But when you collaborate with people who are creative, kind, funny, energetic, and knowledgeable, it’s a great place to be. So, while this entry is short and sweet, I wanted my readers to know that most teachers enjoy working on their craft and classroom during the summer. It’s their passion. So, tomorrow is right around the corner, and I can’t wait!

The Summer To-Do List: Teacher Leaders Work in the Summer

I have been getting a plethora of questions lately regarding whether or not I have fixed work hours this summer or if I am working at all. It’s a tough question to answer in casual conversation. I don’t think many people understand the heart and life of a teacher leader.

Here is a snap-shot of my summer log. In fact, it may resemble many other teachers around the globe. We work for our students and also to improve our subject area, the way in which we deliver our instruction, up-date our technology skills that keep changing, learn new standards and rules coming down from the legislature, the Department of Education, and the district. The list goes on, and it keeps us busy. A great amount of teachers take this a step further and volunteer to do other jobs that are essential to the school running. As the cuts continue, teachers are being asked to dig deeper. Some don’t need to be asked; they step up to the plate. These are teacher leaders.

THE LIST:

1. I begin with working on professional development for our school, which is a big job. True, I get paid very little for planning, preparing, and teaching PD opportunities, but it’s a passion that I have. I get to fill a need and be happy at the same time. It’s a win-win. I enjoy helping teachers improve their craft, as well as make it possible for them to earn recertification points. Yes, I have to put everything into a system, keep track of points, and verify all of it; but, it’s worth it. I hope to get a lot of things inputted before school resumes. This way my phone should ring less, and I will have more time for my students and to grade papers.

2. I am making 3X5 cards for each ACT word with the definition, part-of-speech, antonym, synonym, example, non-example, and a sentence using the word on it. I think I have 60 out of 300 cards done. I hope to have these laminated. This way my word wall can be interactive. I can also use these for fun review games that reinforce learning. Did you know that much of the research out there says students must come into contact with a word at least ten times, if not more, to learn it?

3. I am still waiting to hear my FCAT scores, so the next project was put on hold. I can no longer put it off. So Monday, I will be meeting teachers to work on planning and a homework booklet. Though we spent the last two-weeks of school hashing things out, we still have a lot of work to do!

4. I want to infuse even more technology into my classroom this year. I attended an Angelweb course this summer and plan to scan one of workbook resources in so their FCAT practice can resemble the new online 10^th grade reading FCAT.

5. I am also hoping to have time to put together a list and maybe even a training on online test taking strategies. I have already sent out a few emails to reading retake teachers asking them what they have been doing to prepare their kids for the online Reading retakes. Do they have any flipcharts they can share? I am hoping they will be able to help us get a training together. All in all, what this means is that if teachers have not moved away from the traditional textbook type teaching class, they are in trouble. I am thankful that I have already using blogs for students to read, interact, etc. I use Gale library, an online library, in several class and homework activities. Students are getting accustomed to reading on-line text. I think I am head of the game or jumping through prehoops here! If you are a teacher, you know what I mean!

6. I am reading Heist Society by Ally Carter and writing test questions to put in to our district resource in Angelweb. Like Accelerated Reader, students can read a book and take a test on it. I need to write at least fifty test questions. I dislike this book immensely and will myself to finish this task!

7. I also would like to work on combining our English Department lessons and resources into one place. I did not volunteer, but secretly hoped I'd have time to help. We agreed on a Focus calendar and many other policies as a department. How nice will it be if a student is moved to my class that I will know what skills have been taught, what Coach lessons have been finished, and a writing portfolio with reading assessments will come with them! How awesome it will be that our grade books will start looking the same. I am not sure how far I will get with this last task, but it is in my heart and I hope to have it at least started.

8. Update my website by putting in all assignments for the 1st quarter in the My Calendar page, all ACT words and test dates for the year (I hope). I actually had to come back in here and add this in; how could I forget my website work?

I have been working on a lot of school projects over the summer, and I have a life too! I am a writer of three blogs, a grandma, mother, wife, sister, and friend to many. I am involved in leadership activities outside of school. I love the beach and playing Bunco. I am watching a house over the summer too. That’s two houses to keep clean…. Oh my! How is it possible? My passion for teaching, mentoring teachers, working with stakeholders, and the hopes to be a part of the reform of our education system keeps me going!

Synergy in the Making: Consulting Success!

I spent three days with six incredible and talented educators last week. I was doing consulting work with two other teams of teachers from two other states. The early morning flights and pranks we suffered at the hotel were well worth the investment of time. There were many take-a-ways from this trip, both in product and relationships. I have always believed that when you give teachers time to work together and create something that they will do it and do it well. The time spent together, as a result of teamwork, was like a productive educational glue that fostered the development of a creative substance, which united this team in vision and purpose. The synergy was amazing!

Working collaboratively with a team of educators to create a unit of lessons that were technology packed and rigorous over a span of two days was eventful. The entire process, from start to finish, was a learning process for all of us. Each person brought a skill-set to the table and every stakeholder was eventually open and willing to dream big. No one was concerned about who said or did what; there were no department politics. There were no administrators of support staff hanging over our heads watching us as if we needed to be babysat. Both of these can scenarios happen, though rare in my district. Teachers were open and felt safe to talk about what has worked and not worked in their classrooms. The dialogue rich days helped teachers to support each other and brainstorm about their students’ needs. This project has just begun; yet, I know that we will continue to talk about our creations and critique them. There are aspirations to involve our classes in pen-pal type chat via classchatter.com and other innovative ideas. While we do not know if the money will exist to keep this project going, I am sure that this group will continue to collaborate via email and use other technology tools to engage their students as a result of our first face-to-face meeting. It is also good to gain others’ perspectives. Sometimes if you’re swimming in the same classroom fishbowl year-after-year, things start looking the same and fresh water is needed.

The other take-away was the friendships that were planted. Little things like when one of the Louisiana teachers gave me crackers to sooth my aching stomach; she showed thoughtfulness and that she cared. One of the Virginia teachers took the lead on our project on day one. This was just after we had all been pranked-called and up most of the night waiting for the police to show up to report it. He did not have to take the lead, but I am so thankful that he did. Also, my prank lasted the longest; one of the Florida female teachers let me sleep in their room. I had soaked all of my sheets to stop the radiation that was penetrating my room, which was the joke. We had spasms of laughter while trying to navigate with the tom-tom; one of the teachers pulled out her phone, AKA back-up navigator as we paced the state police station over and over. These are just a few of the highlights from of our trip and time together. It’s hard to imagine that I was thinking of not going. I’ll never forget the events of this trip, our products, or the amazing people I met!