From the Front Lines: Continuous Improvement is a Belief System and an Attitude
Guest blogger Kim Thompson, teacher in the Mountain View, California school district, shares... “I feel proud to be a part of such a progressive district that not only believes in continuous improvement, but seeks out the best support and training to make it happen.” . Read more about Kim’s experiences below…
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I began my Continuous Improvement (“CI”) journey in October of 2006. CI has been and continues to be an exciting adventure. When I asked my students how CI has changed them, they said, “We feel we have a voice and control of our own learning. We set our goals and we know what we need to do to reach those goals. We can’t wait to come to school on Monday to see if the class reached our goal.”
CI is not a program, but belief system and an attitude. It is a belief that we (students and teachers) all continue to grow and improve. We are never there; we can only get better. I’ve participated in many excellent staff development opportunities, but none have had such a drastic simultaneous impact on students and my teaching practices as learning about continuous improvement.
CI has given students a voice in solving problems that arise and has given me permission to really listen to their concerns. It has empowered them to take ownership of their educational journey. It created a community of learners where everyone was helping each other meet the goal. Student’s enthusiasm for setting and meeting their goals is contagious!
As the trimester recently drew to a close, we began to goal set again. As students engaged this process, the class was really upset when someone suggested an “easy” goal. They wanted the challenge. They have a target and they want their arrows to hit the bullseye. They weren’t willing to settle for 2nd best.
CI is incredibly invigorating and powerful. CI focused the students on their part of the learning process. One child told me, “Mrs. T. it’s like when you use the focus button on the overhead to make the picture clearer…I can now clearly see what I’m supposed to be trying to accomplish.” As teachers we always shorten things, but I don’t want CI to be just another acronym. CI is continuous improvement for everyone. I've grown so much this year, and I look forward to that continued growth.
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I began my Continuous Improvement (“CI”) journey in October of 2006. CI has been and continues to be an exciting adventure. When I asked my students how CI has changed them, they said, “We feel we have a voice and control of our own learning. We set our goals and we know what we need to do to reach those goals. We can’t wait to come to school on Monday to see if the class reached our goal.”
CI is not a program, but belief system and an attitude. It is a belief that we (students and teachers) all continue to grow and improve. We are never there; we can only get better. I’ve participated in many excellent staff development opportunities, but none have had such a drastic simultaneous impact on students and my teaching practices as learning about continuous improvement.
CI has given students a voice in solving problems that arise and has given me permission to really listen to their concerns. It has empowered them to take ownership of their educational journey. It created a community of learners where everyone was helping each other meet the goal. Student’s enthusiasm for setting and meeting their goals is contagious!
As the trimester recently drew to a close, we began to goal set again. As students engaged this process, the class was really upset when someone suggested an “easy” goal. They wanted the challenge. They have a target and they want their arrows to hit the bullseye. They weren’t willing to settle for 2nd best.
CI is incredibly invigorating and powerful. CI focused the students on their part of the learning process. One child told me, “Mrs. T. it’s like when you use the focus button on the overhead to make the picture clearer…I can now clearly see what I’m supposed to be trying to accomplish.” As teachers we always shorten things, but I don’t want CI to be just another acronym. CI is continuous improvement for everyone. I've grown so much this year, and I look forward to that continued growth.
Kim Thompson
Teacher- Mountain View Whisman
Mountain View, CA
Comments
Kim, On the onset I complement you for your 'job Well Done'. Cheers!
CI made you feel tall and it is with every one. But while subjecting one to CI remains first on the wish list, the hardwork necessary for meeting requisites invariably gets the last priority. That is why CI tends to remain as an acronym.
However the moral of the CI paradigm is to plan Strategic CI...and ensure Tactical progression.
Not SMARTly but willingly
As you cited your experience:
Quote "the class was really upset when someone suggested an “easy” goal. They wanted the challenge.." Unquote
A guy from some where was indeed smart.
who Gave a concept behind the acronym SMART
While the chap lacked physical smartness,
In continuous improvement he believed no less!
yet, failed he to challenge his Goals fully SMART.
Posted by: Priyavrat Thareja | April 18, 2007 02:11 AM
I agree that CI is not a program but a belief system and attitude. It provides us a plate form where educators have a confidence of having ownership of their educational journey and have a community where every one helps each other meet the goal by sharing problems, ideas & plans. CI shows us how to get the goal by sticking to our target.
Posted by: Insia Hussain | April 18, 2007 09:00 AM