Work assignments for 2011....

I have finished meeting up with the four teachers I am supposed to develop, over the past two weeks. I have heard from them their aspirations and goals that they have for this year. I have also discussed with them their target MSG for this year and roughly when file checks, work reviews, classroom observations, etc. should take place in this year so that they are in sync with the school routine/ practices/ datelines amidst their busy lives as a teacher, disciplinarian, financial advisor, examiner, marker etc....

Being in the second year as a People Developer,  I think I have a better idea and feel of how I should carry out my entrusted duty. As what have been said so many times before in previous years' of SMC meetings, we have to feed the teachers (with whatever they need, for e.g. info on school happenings, routines, important dates, school rules, policies and initiatives, and of course their IP areas), know how to help them solve their problems and I think most important is to communicate often. As what Siew Fong has said in a previous email, I agree most of us are busy with our own stuff, trying to meet datelines of submission of paper work, carrying out current or thinking of new initiatives of how to improve our own departments and or course, there is no way of escaping marking .. Thus we have to make a point to step out of our cubicle ( it's really our second home judging from the stuff we have on our tables and also underneath... not to say inside the cupboards and other add-on organisers...) to communicate with our teachers, especially the people we are developing. They might be looking happy on the exterior but does anyone know anyone's troubles if it's not really shared verbally or on a blog? They might have some issues that they want to discuss but too shy/ afraid/ busy to share with us. It might take be too late to discuss these issues if it's only discussed during the next work review which would happen in May...

So I have decided to make sure that I will at least sit down with my four teachers to talk about anything and everything, perhaps during their breakfast or lunch breaks. I do have their timetables pinned up at my cubicle.
I think I will learn more about my teachers at a more casual setting and when they are feeling most relaxed. By sharing about their families and their holidays, I will know about their passion and interests. When they share about their students' antics in class, I will learn about their classroom strategies and creativity in making sure that their students learn.

I want to learn more about my teachers and understand what floats their boat. In this way I will know how to develop them further to ensure that their career in AI is happy and fulfilling.....