reflection
According to the late Steven Covey synergy means "two heads are better than one." Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. But it doesn't just happen on its own. It's a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table. Together, they can produce far better results that they could individually. Synergy lets us discover jointly things we are much less likely to discover by ourselves. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty--you name it.
This is the ideal work environment, especially if you are a teacher. The teaching profession is one of the most isolating, competitive, and egotistical professions. Every teacher is out to make THEIR classroom the best classroom there is. Traditionally, teachers do not share ideas with others unless they “have to”. But at a school that not only encourages but expects collaboration the scenario that Steven Covey describes above IS possible and actually does exist.
A couple of years ago I found myself in “team” that did not do too much collaboration and everyone was doing what they thought was best. I tried unsuccessfully to encourage everyone to work together. After that school year I decided that I would move to a different grade level. Only I wasn’t shopping for the ideal grade level, I was shopping for the ideal team. I found this team in second grade, my current grade level. My grade level works together whether we have something positive to work on or if we have a challenge on our hands. I cannot say that we always agree but we talk it out and find solutions to these challenges. I am so grateful for my team. We are a true example of what it’s like to synergize.
This positive experience is also playing out with some members of my cohort who are also my co workers (see picture above). We agree to meet and do homework, keep each other’s focus and moral up, and push each other when we need that extra nudge. I am truly blessed to have such an awesome group of people on this hike with me.
This is the ideal work environment, especially if you are a teacher. The teaching profession is one of the most isolating, competitive, and egotistical professions. Every teacher is out to make THEIR classroom the best classroom there is. Traditionally, teachers do not share ideas with others unless they “have to”. But at a school that not only encourages but expects collaboration the scenario that Steven Covey describes above IS possible and actually does exist.
A couple of years ago I found myself in “team” that did not do too much collaboration and everyone was doing what they thought was best. I tried unsuccessfully to encourage everyone to work together. After that school year I decided that I would move to a different grade level. Only I wasn’t shopping for the ideal grade level, I was shopping for the ideal team. I found this team in second grade, my current grade level. My grade level works together whether we have something positive to work on or if we have a challenge on our hands. I cannot say that we always agree but we talk it out and find solutions to these challenges. I am so grateful for my team. We are a true example of what it’s like to synergize.
This positive experience is also playing out with some members of my cohort who are also my co workers (see picture above). We agree to meet and do homework, keep each other’s focus and moral up, and push each other when we need that extra nudge. I am truly blessed to have such an awesome group of people on this hike with me.
commitment
It is difficult to come up with something to commit to because I feel that I synergize well with those around me already. One thing that I can think of that we have been talking about but have not done yet put into place is collaboration for PE time. I have a great idea where we will rotate our classrooms in order to maximize our planning time. So, here is the plan. Each second grade teacher will plan one lesson and then teach one group of kids a day until they have taught each class this lesson. If we do this each teacher will only have to plan one lesson every 2 weeks. This idea is synergizing but more importantly it is also a win for so many reasons for everyone involved. Teachers save on planning time, kids get to try out each teacher, teachers get a break from their own kids, we meet our PE minimum required minutes with less stress than if we taught our own class each day, and so much more. I commit to pushing my grade level to implement this PE rotation schedule in the next 2 weeks.
how will i teach it to someone else
One of the most stressful and difficult times as the parent of a 5 year old is our morning routine. The later I am the slower my son moves, or so it seems. I would like to apply this concept of synergy to our morning routine.
How will I do this you ask? Good question. I’m not fully sure yet but this is my idea so far. Instead of asking him to do specific things I will ask him if he would like to be my special helper. I will give him a list of tasks that he must accomplish if he wants to be that special helper. The tasks will be things that he already has to do in the morning but currently doesn’t do them independently. If he completes all of his tasks then we each receive a marble in our marble jar. I think that he will be excited for both of us to receive marbles.
(2007). Books - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Habit 6 ... Retrieved February 26, 2015, from https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit6.php.
How will I do this you ask? Good question. I’m not fully sure yet but this is my idea so far. Instead of asking him to do specific things I will ask him if he would like to be my special helper. I will give him a list of tasks that he must accomplish if he wants to be that special helper. The tasks will be things that he already has to do in the morning but currently doesn’t do them independently. If he completes all of his tasks then we each receive a marble in our marble jar. I think that he will be excited for both of us to receive marbles.
(2007). Books - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Habit 6 ... Retrieved February 26, 2015, from https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit6.php.