“Give me a Good Theory over a Strategic Plan any day of the week “ (Fullan, 2008, p.1).
This past week I finished reading Fullan’s book, The Six Secrets of Change. When I first began reading this book, I found it a little difficult to synthesize. However, after rereading and thinking more about what Fullan has written I have a better appreciation of his message. In recent years I have attended several workshops and in-services, most often the speaker has said, “I want to give you something you can use in the classroom tomorrow”. Of course, when you go to a workshop you want it to worth the time, money, and effort. As a classroom teacher, I want to be able to take something that I have learned and use it with my students so they can be successful.
After reading this book, I believe that is just what Fullan wants as well. Although he writes about theory, he is also addressing practice. Theory leads to practice. As practitioners, we are to make application and practice. Theory that will Travel. I find the Six Secrets very practice friendly. It makes sense to me. I can take it with me…even to a first grade classroom. I practice what I have learned with my peers.
“Few things in life are more satisfying than the chance to share a good secret or six. Go for it” (Fullan, 2008, p. 135).
Anna, I read this book as a book study on my campus last year. I agree, there is much there that can be practiced in schools. I took from the book a sense of capacity building throughout my campus. I decided instead of judging those things that I did not agree with initially, I would have meaningful conversations with my staff to see if we could investigate the possibility of change and new and different ways of doing things to come to some consensus as a group. This capacity building has taken a few years, but is now starting to show some positive results on my campus. The term Fullan uses is judgmentalism.
ReplyDeleteFullan has written a lot of wise but practical things for leaders in education in an era of chaos and change. Three of my guiding principles from Fullan: (1) Don't create winners and losers; (2) Everyone must make meaning of the challenges in their own ways and at their own pace; and (3) Everyone must be allowed to grieve their losses before they are ready to buy into the new changes.
ReplyDeleteAnna I wholeheartedly agree with your comment about Fullan's six secrets being relevant and tangible. I admire the esteemed work of Fullan and found his other books, especially Leading in a Culture of Change to be practical as well. I know that I can always count of Fullan to leave me feeling satisfied from a practitioner's standpoint.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I also had to spend some extra time absorbing Fullan's book - not because I don't agree with him, but because so much of what he said seems so basic and common sense. Now I'm not suggesting that this is a bad thing. Maybe it is just because all of our reading is tying together and we are seeing those "common sense" themes connecting together. You know, those themes like...1) Care about people! 2) Respect the opinions and input of others! 3) Be a team player, and don't be in it for yourself! To me, this book served as a reminder but did not necessarily provide a lot of "a-ha" moments for me. Having said that, as leaders, we need frequent reminders!! I think the title of the book threw me off! :) Maybe I was expecting some magical recipe for how to make change easier than it is. I was not disappointed in the book, but I was just reminded that sometimes we have to go back to the basics to find our answers.
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