April 29, 2011
One of the greatest joys of our job is observing gifted teachers around the country. We believe some of the most powerful professional development happens when teachers learn from each other. So whenever we can, we capture snippets of classroom stars in action so they can be shared via video with you.
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Since professional camera crews are exorbitantly expensive, we've been shooting our own videos for about two years now with the help of our friend, editor, and producer Brenda. We have worked hard to learn the ins and outs of cameras and sound systems and are usually meticulous when packing and storing the equipment. We had an opportunity to spend time in Trish's kindergarten classroom recently and were excited to capture the hard work disguised as magic that occurs everyday. Our excitement turned to dismay when we realized the plate, which is crucial for mounting the video camera to the tripod, had been left at home, thousands of miles away.
Instead of sinking into despair, which was our initial impulse, we looked at possible options we'd never considered before (and wouldn't have even entertained, had this calamity not happened). The complete break from our traditional mode of operation had a surprising end...better results.
The entire experience has led us to think deeply about how the lesson might translate into our lives as teachers. What circumstances in our district, school, or classrooms seem dire right now, but have the potential to work out for good? What curriculum or methodologies are we still connected to that may not be yielding the best results? Are we willing to disconnect from whatever has been holding us back?
We were forced to step outside the box...and the view is great. Won't you join us?