Leadership skills developed through teaching experience

Running head LEADERSHIP IN ACTION 1

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION 2

Reflection: Leadership in Action Becoming a Teacher I have gained many skills from teaching that enable me to pursue leadership. One of the skills is collaboration. Teaching has enabled me to learn how to work together with other people such as colleagues, parents, and students towards the achievement of a common objective. This has enabled me to learn how to approach issues affecting different people in the workplace. As a leader, I would be able to listen to the issues raised by my juniors and device an appropriate resolution. I have also learned the skill of effective communication. I can address different groups of people appropriately (Fairman & Mackenzie, 2015). As a leader, this will empower me to explain the objectives of the institution to different groups and remind them about their responsibilities. As a leader, various obstacles will make it difficult to be involved in teacher initiatives. One of the obstacles in my previous relationships with some of the teachers. The teachers who were close to me during my period as an ordinary teacher might require me to act in their favor. This can result in bias, which can compromise my position as a leader. It is, therefore, crucial to avoid involvement in teacher initiatives. Information is critical in education. I will carry out intensive research to convert data into effective information, which I can use to promote better practice. I will use sources such as the internet to compare information with the views of other leaders. This will help to ensure that the teachers are informed on the contemporary aspects of the teaching sector (Fairman & Mackenzie, 2015). I will also consult with the other teachers and other stakeholders within the school environment regarding my final findings. This will ensure that the other parties are comfortable with the impacts of the information before it can be used to determine changes in the practice of the teachers. Collaboration between students and teachers is essential in the enhancement of instructional practices. I will promote the aspect of open communication between the teachers and the students. The Most students hardly communicate freely with their teachers due to the phobia of intimidation (Fairman & Mackenzie, 2015). If the two groups learn to relate to issues that affect the application of instructional practices, it would be easier for the teachers to communicate instructions to the students. It would also be more comfortable for the students to accept and comprehend the instructions. Communication and Collaboration I have also learned assessment skills in the teaching profession. Assessment skills will help me to advise the other teachers on how to incorporate better practices. I will be able to evaluate their practices and determine whether there are improvements that need to be done to improve the learning process. I have also learned skills about teamwork. Teamwork is necessary for effective learning. Through this, I will advise the teachers on methods of enhancing effective teamwork in their practice. It will help them to share ideas on how to improve their proficiency during practice (Katyal & Evers, 2014). I will also enlighten them about ways of creating effective teamwork with the students. I learned that students and teachers should work as a team to achieve individual and organizational goals. Stakeholders in the education sector should work together to develop solutions to institutional and class initiatives. I will hold frequent collaborative meetings with the teachers and the students where I will remind them of the institutional objectives and the responsibility of every member in their realization. Once they understand their objectives, they will be able to identify some of the major issues, which hinder the attainment of these objectives (Katyal & Evers, 2014). This will develop consensus since all the individuals will work together towards the achievement of institutional and individual objectives. I will also conduct periodical surveys to gather information on people’s ideas about possible solutions to initiatives. These surveys will give individuals the privacy to express their thoughts without fear. This will make it easy to identify the solutions recommended by the majority and advance them to ensure that they cover a dynamic scope of institutional and class initiatives. Supportive communication is essential for the success of all leaders. I will advance supportive communication by the use of the inclusive approach. This approach will enable me to communicate with all the members of the school without making them feel demeaned. It is essential for all the individuals to feel involved in the decision making process. I will also use descriptive language to avoid bias. Descriptive language enables you to address a problem or particular issue using specific terms (Katyal & Evers, 2014). This can help to prevent individuals from feeling as if they are indicted in the problems arising in the institution. Individuals should feel the need to be part of the solution to the problems of the institution, rather than being feeling like they are part of the problem. This can help to build sustainable relationships with my colleagues. Leadership for Student Learning Teacher leadership helps to enhance proper management of the learning curriculum. Teacher leadership makes it possible to monitor how the teachers perform their duties. This can help to discover ways of motivating the teachers towards effective learning practices. Teacher leadership also helps to assess the performance of the students. This makes it easy to realize drops in performance and the probable causes of poor performance. Eventually, it helps to devise effective methods of improving the performance of the students. It also collaboration and teamwork among the teachers. This enables them to share knowledge and skills, which results in positive outcomes regarding student performance. Introducing students to the concept of data and information management will be helpful in improving their achievements. Most students hardly have access to a full evaluation of data regarding their performance. I would advise the teachers to compile periodical reports on the performance of the students. Addressing this performance data with the students will help them to identify their significant areas of weaknesses and possible ways to improve. Setting expectations for the students can also help them to improve their achievements. Most students record fewer achievements due to the lack of a motivation factor. If they have a set of expectations, they will work hard to meet the expectations hence achieving higher results (Masino & Nino – Zarazua, 2016). I can convince the teachers to learn leadership qualities by exhibiting a good example in my position as a leader. Through this, the other teachers will observe the positive impacts of acquiring and applying leadership skills. I will also address the teachers about other examples of other people who have utilized the teacher leadership opportunities and recorded positive results. I will also enlighten the teachers how leadership qualities collaborate with teacher objectives. This will enable them to realize the potential they can gain by adopting leadership roles. Measurement of progress is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the initiatives. I will measure the effect of the initiatives through periodic evaluation of the performance of the students. Comparison of current results against the results before the introduction of the initiatives would help to depict whether the initiatives have a positive effect or an adverse effect (Masino & Nino – Zarazua, 2016). This evaluation will include the input of teachers involved in the implementation of the initiatives. The teachers would have to suggest whether they are contented with the impacts of the new initiatives, or if they recommend the replacement of the initiatives.