Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/supporting-program-change-with-book-studies/5023980/
It’s a common story. A teacher or administrator gets inspired by some new thinking and enthusiastically tries to implement changes in their center. Sometimes this goes well, sometimes not so much. Guiding organizational change is a professional field of its own and there are many resources you can turn to at your local library, online, or with a consultant. In the world of early learning, the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University has pioneered training for our field with its Taking Charge of Change™ program. Still, most administrators and teachers know little about managing change and they are more typically guided by enthusiasm or a crisis that needs addressing.
While some are enthusiastic about new ideas, many teachers don’t welcome requirements for ongoing learning and change. Perhaps they haven’t had positive educational experiences in the past. In some programs teachers outlast a revolving door of new directors, curriculum, or assessment mandates imposed without any genuine meaning. The work can be stressful and exhausting and — let’s be honest — salaries aren’t always livable, so a second job may be required to make ends meet. When you’ve figured out an approach and routines that get you ...