Finding Balancing--The Continuing Challenge!

Now that the frenzy and flurry of Christmas is settling down a bit, I can safely say that one of the discoveries of the season for me, is that as much as things change, they really don't! I was reminded of this on New Year's Eve when I was searching for a notebook in which I was planning to write my resolutions. It is the same notebook I use each year for this activity and when it was finally located, I was rather proud of myself...until I opened it! My unique resolution method is to define a project---above and beyond the day to day activities I always complete--for each month. There are always twelve initiatives that I plan to do during the year that often have to do with the long term goals I have. Some of them remain from year to year--lose weight, be healthier, pray more often. Others have to do with my use of time--read at least twelve books, clean out the upstairs closets, play the piano on a regular basis. This year when I opened the book and saw last year's list, I was disappointed to see that I had not accomplished a single long term initiative from last year. Since all were worthy goals that I would still like to accomplish, I changed the date on the top of the page and returned to my television to watch the ball drop to signal the beginning of 2012.
The more I thought about this situation, though, the more I realized it was all about finding balance in life between the nitty-gritty pace of everyday and the bigger goals we all would like to accomplish. For me, the day to day, took over last year and the bigger issues were neglected. I began to defend myself in my own mind--It is so busy each day, most of the tasks that I do are important, etc. The bottom line is that if we do not keep one eye and at least some energy on those bigger issues, we will miss the mark of reaching for (and maybe even accomplishing) some of the high impact, global goals that we value.
I think that the same is true of life and goals at school. The language may be different as we discuss strategic planning and curriculum initiatives as opposed to resolutions, but the outcome is the same. If we do not find ways to incorporate steps toward those bigger, long term initiatives into the work that we do each day, we will miss many opportunities.
Here is one example---At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the faculty and staff often discuss how to use the technology tools of today to support learning for students. We see even the youngest of our children playing Angry Birds on their parents' I-phones as they wait in restaurants or in grocery lines. Surely, technology is embedded already in these little lives! The question that remains, however, is what is the best way to incorporate new technology into the curriculum so that we can get beyond the bells and whistles to real learning? Doing our homework so that we are sure our school facilities and infrastructure can support the hardware is an important first step. Focusing on where and when to use the technology in the curriculum is a next step--Where can we get the biggest bang for the big bucks that new technology costs? Finally, are we sure that our teachers have the professional development to use the tools effectively?
I am tremendously excited about how we responded to these challenges at our school! This month we are launching a tablet pilot program at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. With the help of a partnership with Verizon, we have updated our infra-stucture, purchased a classroom set of Droid tablets, and trained the teachers at all levels in our science department to use them. The applications for the tablets are tremendous--everything from the virtual dissection of frogs to an astronomy application which is literally out of this world! During the next semester, our students across the grades will have the opportunity to use the tablets for something much greater than games. They will be able to stretch their learning and their imaginations with the assistance of new technology and under the guidance of trained faculty. I cannot wait to observe the learning that takes place.
My point, going back to balancing, is that the global initiatives--the educational dreams--we have must be integrated into the small steps of every day so that these bigger goals can be accomplished. Putting our educational resolutions on hold until we "get to them" after our day to day issues are complete, will not work. We will be left looking at our list of dreams without any accomplished as I did on New Year's Eve. Balancing the day to day with the dreams we have for tomorrow must be at the top or all of our resolutions lists!
So, at school, we will begin with the tablet pilot program which will grow to include teaching our children in new and wonderful ways. As time passes, there will be more tablets, more students using them, and applications which will dazzle and delight. At home, there will be more reading and piano playing so that next year, I can generate a truly new list of dreams to accomplish! Good luck keeping your resolutions and working toward your dreams,too! May we learn to balance all the goals we have--big and small!