Communication Skills

Using effective communication skills is crucial to relationships and to success at work.(Brinser, 2011) When leading change, it is important to build relationships in order for others to buy-in to your policy.  From my experience, the most important part of communication is truth and reasoning.  In order for others to want to listen and understand, you have to tell them why they need to know what you are presenting.  Once they know why it is important, then they need to know that the information being given is truthful.  Being in the position of Instructional Coach, you are able to determine what you want your teachers to know and present it to them in small and large groups.  I have found that being truthful to my teachers not only helps to build the relationship, but it also gives them the trust in myself to guide them in the right direction.  They do not have a fear of trying it a failing.   So in my opinion, it is important to communicate with truth and with a reason, this will build relationships as well as help others buy-in to what you are presenting. 


Resources
Brinser, L. (2011). Importance of Communication | Why is Communication Important | Interpersonal Ski. Retrieved April 06, 2016, from http://www.stressaffect.com/importance-of-communication.html

Education and Social Media

In the era of social media, our networks are much larger than they have ever been, and we have more ways to communicate with those in them. (Gordhamer, 2010)  I prefer to use Pinterest and Facebook as my platforms for social media. 

Facebook is one of the most powerful social platforms in the world.(Levy, 2013)  Facebook is a great way to circulate information.  This site allow for sharing of documents, videos, pictures, articles and more.  It also allows you to follow groups and to save and file items that you want to revisit.  Facebook is a powerful platform, however many people are still not on Facebook and this could be a downfall of using Facebook.

My other social media platform I would use would be Pinterest.  Pinterest allows you to post documents, videos, pictures, articles, websites and more.  This site also allows you to save what you like and to follow groups, people and ideas.  This platforms also have a filter that allows you to search topics that you want to see.  This is a great social media platform to get information out to others.  It however is very hard to determine what people think about the topic with commenting on Pinterest is allowed, but not used very often.

Social media is very nice to have and allows information to be circulated to a larger audience much faster.  However I feel that the best form of communication is human to human. 

Resources

Gordhamer, S. (2010, February 8). 5 Levels of Effective Communication in the Social Media Age. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://mashable.com/2010/02/08/communication-social-media/#saVX7Np8xmq4


Levy, S. (2013, December 02). How to Choose the Best Social Media Platform for Your Business. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230020

Course Goals

As an educator we want what is best for children  In order to do what is best for children, we learn the best strategies to teach all types of children, we communicate with parents and we learn how to best build relationships with children.  These are all great ways to educate he child and to help them become their best.  One area that I need to grow in as an educator is the outside of the classroom area.  With this class I have a few goals I would like to challenge myself to gain knowledge on during this class. 

My goals are:

1. I would like to become more familiar with educational policies.  I would like to understand how the policies are finalized and the steps needed to create a policy or change a policy.  With the common core, and the new educational policies that have come in to place, I would like to understand them in order to communicate effectively with my students and parents and colleagues. 
2. I would like to gain knowledge on how to begin organizing educational programs for students with dyslexia.   I would like to look at other organizations and determine what is needed in order to establish a program or to extend a program.
3. I would like be able to communicate with parents about the policies and programs state wide.  As an educator, we are asked so many questions that goes along with common core and many questions we are not able to answer because we are not up to date with the policies and procedures when it comes to public education.  As an educator, I would like to be able explain and show my parents why we are incorporating such programs and why this measure is on a report card etc.  Because right now, there are a few areas that as educators, we have expressed a concern and heard nothing back.  With my first goal, I would hope to be able to learn about the policies and procedures and in return use the knowledge to incorporate programs that are best for ALL children. 

I am looking forward to this class.  I cannot wait to learn what more I can do to enrich the lives of children and our future!!!

MOVING ON!!

The holidays have come and gone along with another class.  I am very excited to say that I have completed another course for my specialist in early childhood.  I am looking forward to my upcoming class, Dynamics of Early Childhood Policies and Systems as well as what the rest of this school year has in store for me.  Looking forward to the future!!