4th Grade Planning
My Changing Identity as a Leader for Justice 
It was very surprising to me this year when I realized that as a leader of my 4th grade planning team I had the teachers' trust as a fellow teacher however, when I began to take on more of a leadership role the slate of trust was wiped clean. I actually had to earn their trust as a leader. This changed my perspective on leadership because I learned that in order to regain the teachers' trust as a leader I had to show empathy, active listening skills, do a lot of paraphrasing, and treat them like the professionals they are.
As I listened more and more it helped me to see where each of them was coming from as well as identify the obstacles they are facing as we transition to Common Core standards. Giving them autonomy was really important as was conducting informal needs assessments. One teacher felt like he hadn't been asked in years what it was that he needed to do his job better and I gained his trust by doing just that. Another teacher just needed someone to listen to her frustrations once a week in regards to her feeling like she no longer had the energy that it requires to be a teacher in today's world. A third teacher really needed to be recognized for her talents as a yoga teacher and eventually felt comfortable to share those gifts with the staff.
The challenges involved limited planning time in March and April because of the Smarter Balance testing. It impacted the student results on the math performance assessment. Although, months before the assessment we went over what the students would have to know, because we did not come up as a team with a solid plan on how we would all teach the components that were covered on the assessment there were very mixed results. One of the teachers just didn't give the assessment until the principal spoke to her and another teacher's students did not show mastery in any area of the test. I learned here that as a currilulum leader you cannot assume that just because you covered the content that teachers are going to be able to know how to break down the Common Core learning standards on their own and be able to deliver instruction. During this time of transition to Common Core standards all high stakes instructional components are going to have to be planned out as a group and a timeline for delivering the instruction will need to be created and followed.
I found that by starting off the year with a presentation on integrating curriculum through STEAM, teachers took those ideas into the classroom, and when it was time to work together to create an integrated lesson plan for a conservation unit, they incorporated science, technology, engineering, art, and math which created deeper connections for students. In addition, when it came to the formative writing assessment we saw that the students did much better under each component in comparison to former writing assessments in the year. I also found that after writing a proposal for the teachers so they could acquire the space next year for a hands-on science lab not only did it create trust but when it was accepted it increased their motivation and sense of empowerment. Notes from 4th grade level meeting on 2.docx , 4th grade integrated lesson plans 1.doc, 4th grade Science Lab Proposal.doc
What contributed to my growth as a leader?
Learning this year about the history of supervisory styles allowed me to find my place as a leader. I learned that I was doing the right thing by working side by side with the teachers in a learning proces that supported constructivist based learning and curriculum development. I also found it very helpful to learn about andragogy. By developing a deeper understanding about how adults learn helped to guide me as I created a professional relationship with them. The fact that I treated them like the professionals they are made for a more trusting connection.
What are my next steps in my curriculum leadership journey?
As I move onward to next year I will need to gain more experience with standard 2.2 (Guide the Instructional Program). Again, as we are transitioning into Common Core standards we are plunging into unknown waters. As I learned from this year, teachers need a lot of guidance and support. I would like to utilize more of our time next year for collaborative inquiry and reflection. In order to increase our learning I would like to use some of our grade level planning time for instructional rounds or peer to peer observations.
CPSEL Standards
This project addressed the following Californial Professional Standards for Educational Leaders:
2:2, 5:2
For specific standards and how they have been addressed through this project click on the link below.
