It's NOT the Change

Some say that change is bad. Others say that change is good. Some may say that it our reaction, in collaboration with our backgrouound and previous experiences that make us perceive change as good or bad. This is quite possible, if weve had a bad wxperience with something or smene similar in the pat this can definitely impact how we react to future change. Yet others just don't like things to change. I see this as true as well, I know many people who have had the same hairstyle for (at least) fifteen years, recycle the same lesson plans year after year, and arrange their classrooms the exact same way each year.

Could it be, that for many, it's not the change at all that is good or bad? Perhaps it's the way in which change is presented. Would you be more open to trying a new reading program if it was presented to you in such a way that included your input, or if you were told that you will do it or else? Would you be open to drastically altering your philosophy if you were told it could positively effect your students, or if you were told to just shut up and do it? How about implementing curriculum...would you be more likely to implement it if it included a compilation of ideas that included your own, or if it was created by one person who stated that this will make you a good teacher?

Being a classroom teacher I know that there are times when decisions have to be made for safety reasons and without input from my students. However, when it comes to other things I know that their feedback is most valuable, empowering them, and guaranteeing a higher rate of buy-in because their voice was heard. They were valued. Is it really that different for adults? Yes, they need to be a part of the process even more than children.