I took lots of readings with me when I flew down to Australia and managed to do a little work - sometimes just 20 mins each day. I read a lot, but as my dad struggles to get internet signal (he lives on the side of a mountain) it was extremely difficult to do anything much other than reading. We also had lots of family up from Melbourne and I wasn't really feeling like working very much as it was such a sad time.
The university lecturer, Roy Crotty, was very understanding and offered me a two week extension. I really appreciated it, because even though I really wanted to get my assignment in on time with a two week trip to Australia -and then a 4 day P.D trip to Bangkok with the library team, it just wasn't possible.
I handed the assignment in last Tuesday and took two nights off. I start again tomorrow on the research for the next assignment.
I can't believe how interesting all this research is. I struggle with the deep theory - but I love all the readings. I have learnt so much and found the readings on leadership styles fascinating. I worked with a Coercive Leader for a few years - I tried everything to get her to understand she needed more empathy for people and didn't need to be so controlling. In the end I couldn't tolerate her total lack of consideration for others and changed jobs - I was really lucky to fall into my dream job and get a 50% pay rise into the bargain!! It all worked out so well for me and I am most appreciative of those people who gave me a chance to change roles within my school. The reason I got the job was because of my people skills. The reason my former boss was a poor leader was because of her lack of EQ and people skills.
I have worked out that I am an Affiliative Leader, but I can also make the tough decisions -so I am pretty happy with who I am. I have a fabulous team of 4 ladies who work in the library and it is a a very happy, harmonious work place.
I am truly lucky!!!
Friday, 13 April 2012
Sad Times
Since I wrote last my mum died. I managed to get back to Australia and spent a day with her before she died. We were called into the hospice at 2:30am the next morning and two hours later she died. Mum just waited for my brother, who was driving down from Sydney, to arrive before she died. She was an incredibly generous and kind mum and I can't believe she is no longer with us. My dad is keeping himself busy, but no doubt he really misses her.
I had a lot more in this blog, but I have gone back and taken it out for a separate blog.I felt that my mum was such a special person she shouldn't have to share this space with talk about Uni or research.
200 people came to my mum's funeral. I think that says a lot about the kind of person she was. At the funeral a man came to tell me his son-in-law had died three weeks earlier and that my mum -even though she was about to go into the hospice- took the time to write to the man asking if there was anything she or my dad could do to help. That was who my mum was. Selfless, caring and very kind and generous.
We miss you mum!!
I had a lot more in this blog, but I have gone back and taken it out for a separate blog.I felt that my mum was such a special person she shouldn't have to share this space with talk about Uni or research.
200 people came to my mum's funeral. I think that says a lot about the kind of person she was. At the funeral a man came to tell me his son-in-law had died three weeks earlier and that my mum -even though she was about to go into the hospice- took the time to write to the man asking if there was anything she or my dad could do to help. That was who my mum was. Selfless, caring and very kind and generous.
We miss you mum!!
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Leadership and opportunism or chance!
I had read Donham's chapter on Leadership last week and was struck by his thought (Donham, 2005, p302) that 'Another aspect of strategic leadership is opportunism. A strategic leader is in a state of readiness -ready to seize opportunities as they arise.' Just by chance today, driving back from the Botanical Gardens I was listening to an interview on the BBC and the interviewee quoted Louis Pasteur as having said, "In the field of observation, chance favours the prepared mind."
I also feel being optimistic and positive is important as it is those qualities which make you more likely to take advantage of opportunistic situations that arise.
I also feel being optimistic and positive is important as it is those qualities which make you more likely to take advantage of opportunistic situations that arise.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Follow Your Passion
I found it very interesting to read (Donham, 2005, p297) that, according to Collins (2000) the TL can’t be an expert at everything as there are so many facets to the job.
Collins advocates we establish where our strengths lie and capitalize on those strengths while maintaining ‘acceptable performance’ (Donham, 2005, p298) in the other areas of the role. To me, however, this does sound a little like accepting complacency. I would agree with capitalising on my strengths and ensuring my other roles are performed at an acceptable level, but I would add that we should nevertheless strive to continue to improve our performance in those areas in which we don’t excel – even if we just make minor improvements, we are still moving forward and improving the level of our service.
Collins (in Donham,2005, p297) also advocates following our passion. I have always been passionate about reading and have always wanted to be a librarian. It has taken me a long time to achieve my goal, but I am finally working as a Teacher Librarian and absolutely love it! I miss teaching those gorgeous 4 year olds – but I am so happy I decided to apply for the vacant TL position at my school.
One thing I really appreciated this week was the reminder by Roy Crotty to blog. Thanks Roy – it has got me back on track after many months absence!
Donham (2005 p.303) sees blogging as ‘a strategy that helps sustain the energy that leadership demands. It requires discipline to journal daily’. I agree that it takes discipline to blog, but I am not one who indulges in blogging just for the sake of it. To write down rational thoughts that have relevance or a purpose requires time.
I do like Donham’s suggestion, however, that ‘a leadership journal entry might simply ask each day:
• What did I learn today?
• Whom did I nurture today?
• What challenge did I confront today?
• How did I make a positive difference today?’
As I struggle to leave work each day before 6pm (and I start at 7:30 am) it might be unrealistic to expect it to happen on a daily basis.
On a personal note, about making a positive difference, I had my ‘Review and Development’ session yesterday with my line manager Jacqui (who heads our 4 school libraries) and the Deputy Principal and while I have only been in the position for six months they both stressed what an asset it was that I am such a positive person who has created such a warm, welcoming environment (to not just children but staff and parents) in our Junior Library. It was great hearing that praise!
As I was writing this entry a chocolate throated kingfisher flew down to sit on our pool fence! I haven’t seen him for months, so was delighted to see him back. (Of course I am assuming it is the same bird!) I raced to take a photo but sadly he had gone by the time I got my IPad out.
Collins advocates we establish where our strengths lie and capitalize on those strengths while maintaining ‘acceptable performance’ (Donham, 2005, p298) in the other areas of the role. To me, however, this does sound a little like accepting complacency. I would agree with capitalising on my strengths and ensuring my other roles are performed at an acceptable level, but I would add that we should nevertheless strive to continue to improve our performance in those areas in which we don’t excel – even if we just make minor improvements, we are still moving forward and improving the level of our service.
Collins (in Donham,2005, p297) also advocates following our passion. I have always been passionate about reading and have always wanted to be a librarian. It has taken me a long time to achieve my goal, but I am finally working as a Teacher Librarian and absolutely love it! I miss teaching those gorgeous 4 year olds – but I am so happy I decided to apply for the vacant TL position at my school.
One thing I really appreciated this week was the reminder by Roy Crotty to blog. Thanks Roy – it has got me back on track after many months absence!
Donham (2005 p.303) sees blogging as ‘a strategy that helps sustain the energy that leadership demands. It requires discipline to journal daily’. I agree that it takes discipline to blog, but I am not one who indulges in blogging just for the sake of it. To write down rational thoughts that have relevance or a purpose requires time.
I do like Donham’s suggestion, however, that ‘a leadership journal entry might simply ask each day:
• What did I learn today?
• Whom did I nurture today?
• What challenge did I confront today?
• How did I make a positive difference today?’
As I struggle to leave work each day before 6pm (and I start at 7:30 am) it might be unrealistic to expect it to happen on a daily basis.
On a personal note, about making a positive difference, I had my ‘Review and Development’ session yesterday with my line manager Jacqui (who heads our 4 school libraries) and the Deputy Principal and while I have only been in the position for six months they both stressed what an asset it was that I am such a positive person who has created such a warm, welcoming environment (to not just children but staff and parents) in our Junior Library. It was great hearing that praise!
As I was writing this entry a chocolate throated kingfisher flew down to sit on our pool fence! I haven’t seen him for months, so was delighted to see him back. (Of course I am assuming it is the same bird!) I raced to take a photo but sadly he had gone by the time I got my IPad out.
Just when I thought I knew it all....well....maybe not all...
From my readings for ETL 401 and ETL 501 I thought I had learnt a lot about the role of the Teacher Librarian (TL). I had learnt the TL needed to be proactive within the school, to be a leader in teaching information literacy, the importance of working collaboratively with teachers and members of the school management team and much, much more. I thought I had a reasonably good idea of the role of the TL as a leader… I was wrong!
I was amazed by how much new insight I gleaned just from the first reading included in the ETL 504 Introduction.
I know it’s commonsense when you analyze it, but until Donham (2005 p. 296) said that despite the TL’s overall view of the school, TLs must remember ‘Leaders know and respect the limits of their circles of influence,’ it had never occurred to me. For example, there is a chain of command and protocols associated with those people who constitute the rungs on the ladder to the top! I do think, however, that in extenuating circumstances, over moral issues for example, that you do need to step outside that circle in order to fight for something you believe is fundamentally right irrespective of how far your influence extends as designated by your role in the school. I had to do that once -I really put myself out on a limb with the risk of possibly losing my job, but I finally achieved what I set out to achieve in order to protect the children in my school.
I loved the way Donham (2005 p. 296) identified two main types of leaders . The first being those who seek to explain why they cannot achieve their aims by rationalising that external factors are to blame, ‘for example, that they cannot teach information literacy skills because the teachers will not cooperate, or the principal does not give adequate support…or some other barrier prevents their success. ’ (Donham, J. 2005 p. 296)
The second are those leaders who ‘act from an internal locus of control’ and believe they have ‘the power to control the outcome of his or her own actions.’ (Donham, 2005 p. 296)These latter TLs think laterally and act strategically to ensure they achieve success in their goals. ‘They will look within their circle of influence for solutions.’ Donham, J. 2005 p. 297)
Upon reflection, I would go further and state that it is those people who are not just proactive, but also, more importantly, have a positive outlook in general who ‘embrace the responsibility to make good things happen in their schools.’ Being a ‘glass half full’, rather than a ‘glass half empty’ person means that you have the positive attitude that enables you to believe you can effect change and you can achieve your goals. I believe that those people are more likely to succeed!
I am a very positive person, and a people person. I believe it is these qualities that have enabled me to have such successful working relationships with the children, staff and parents in my school.
I was amazed by how much new insight I gleaned just from the first reading included in the ETL 504 Introduction.
I know it’s commonsense when you analyze it, but until Donham (2005 p. 296) said that despite the TL’s overall view of the school, TLs must remember ‘Leaders know and respect the limits of their circles of influence,’ it had never occurred to me. For example, there is a chain of command and protocols associated with those people who constitute the rungs on the ladder to the top! I do think, however, that in extenuating circumstances, over moral issues for example, that you do need to step outside that circle in order to fight for something you believe is fundamentally right irrespective of how far your influence extends as designated by your role in the school. I had to do that once -I really put myself out on a limb with the risk of possibly losing my job, but I finally achieved what I set out to achieve in order to protect the children in my school.
I loved the way Donham (2005 p. 296) identified two main types of leaders . The first being those who seek to explain why they cannot achieve their aims by rationalising that external factors are to blame, ‘for example, that they cannot teach information literacy skills because the teachers will not cooperate, or the principal does not give adequate support…or some other barrier prevents their success. ’ (Donham, J. 2005 p. 296)
The second are those leaders who ‘act from an internal locus of control’ and believe they have ‘the power to control the outcome of his or her own actions.’ (Donham, 2005 p. 296)These latter TLs think laterally and act strategically to ensure they achieve success in their goals. ‘They will look within their circle of influence for solutions.’ Donham, J. 2005 p. 297)
Upon reflection, I would go further and state that it is those people who are not just proactive, but also, more importantly, have a positive outlook in general who ‘embrace the responsibility to make good things happen in their schools.’ Being a ‘glass half full’, rather than a ‘glass half empty’ person means that you have the positive attitude that enables you to believe you can effect change and you can achieve your goals. I believe that those people are more likely to succeed!
I am a very positive person, and a people person. I believe it is these qualities that have enabled me to have such successful working relationships with the children, staff and parents in my school.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Oh no James is leaving!
I just found out a couple of days ago that James Herring is retiring.I was in shock! To me he WAS CSU!!! Luckily Judy O'Connell seems like a lovely 'people person' which is good. My mother was told she had about a year to live 18 months ago, but she is still hanging in there. I have had a couple of frantic dashes to Sydney to see how she is and will be back there in March again.Judy was terrific -very understanding during my last subject, because I just knew I wouldn't be able to go on the Forums as often as I would like with all the trips I needed to make to Sydney.
It's very hard to juggle work, study and a very ill mother, especially when you don't live in the same country as her! When I am with my mum it is hard to continue with my study as my parents don't have reliable internet access. In fact I just bought my parents an IPad for Christmas so I can Skype them- but they don't have Wi Fi -just internet linked to the IPad. The reception is very poor too as they live on the side of a mountain.
Anyway I am about to embark on my next subject at CSU so thought I would post a reflection on how I managed to overcome many obstacles last year in my study last year. Somehow I managed to survive the year -just doing one subject at a time is the only way I could possibly have coped! I hope this next year is as good. I love the course - but do find it challenging.
My goal? Plan my time wisely so that I don't feel stressed about assignments. I felt I went quite well last year so am feeling positive!
Celeste
It's very hard to juggle work, study and a very ill mother, especially when you don't live in the same country as her! When I am with my mum it is hard to continue with my study as my parents don't have reliable internet access. In fact I just bought my parents an IPad for Christmas so I can Skype them- but they don't have Wi Fi -just internet linked to the IPad. The reception is very poor too as they live on the side of a mountain.
Anyway I am about to embark on my next subject at CSU so thought I would post a reflection on how I managed to overcome many obstacles last year in my study last year. Somehow I managed to survive the year -just doing one subject at a time is the only way I could possibly have coped! I hope this next year is as good. I love the course - but do find it challenging.
My goal? Plan my time wisely so that I don't feel stressed about assignments. I felt I went quite well last year so am feeling positive!
Celeste
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