Breaking the Paper Clip Mold

For years I think I've had it all wrong.

I'm always looking for a better paper clip.  When it comes to ideas to help the students in my classroom and school, I'm in constant search of ways to make things better.  My philosophy, like so many in education, has been to take a look at what "successful schools and teachers" are doing, then tweak it to make it work for my students and school. How can I make their ideas, projects, or programs work here?  I love what I see in their book, on the screen and at the conference and want to try it myself.

That doesn't sound bad, now does it?  Isn't that one thing good teachers do?

Sure it is.  But I'm finding it is backward thinking for me.  It's a bit like clothes shopping without knowing what  your are shopping for and then buying something without trying it on first.  I need to know what I'm needing.  And just because it looks great on the mannequin, doesn't mean that is the way it will fit on you, too.

I spend much of my time away from school still thinking about school.  I find myself watching tv with my phone or laptop scrolling through education articles, educational ideas on Pinterest, Twitter posts from my favorite educational leaders, or reading blogs.  All of these are fine and  I don't plan on changing that, but my paradigm must change.  I am realizing that the journey to our success isn't going to be found "out there" in need to be found and purchased.  It's here, right now, within the creative teachers, staff and community volunteers we have.  We are the ones that know our students and community.  We know their needs.  We only need to be given the permission to try new things.

I know this is a big challenge for our school culture, structure, and perhaps a nightmare for leadership. It would be balancing what works with what could be, and designing something all your own.  But perhaps, we will find ourselves at the metaphorical customer service exchange line a little less often returning something we didn't really need or didn't fit but bought into just because it looked cool. I think it's time for me to break away from the paper clip mold.