Creating A Culture of Achievement
Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE OF ACHIEVEMENT--in your school and in your classroom
I
thought for this review I would post my personal copy of the book I just
devoured. You can see I am in love with office supplies as well as
writing anecdotal note to myself for future reference. This read was
a gem. Maybe it was the timing. I am in the biggest challenge of my career
to date and in the mist of high stake change. I am absolutely thrilled for the
opportunity, but finding a starting point required strategic thinking.
Fisher and Frey provided the initial framework to start my thought
process. They refer to this staring point as pillars, and the first pillar is
defined the minute you walk into the building. What does that feel like
for all stakeholders? What messages are we sending? Does each person feel a part
of the change and valued for their insights and perspective?
The second pillar requires a shift in process and procedures that
provides tools for teaching students to support them to become the person we
know them to be. Holding students accountable for their actions and helping
them understand how their behavior affects others. These restorative practices
try to foster understanding of the impact of their behavior, and how they can
repair that harm.
The choice word pillar is the third pillar and built on the
foundation of Carol Dweck's (2006) work with Mindset. A growth mindset
"is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you
can cultivate through your efforts" (p 7). To establish trust and create a
culture of change requires us to listen, replace the word but with if or yet,
and do the next right thing to help students identity their mindset of
possibilities.
The fourth pillar is about learning and critical for the structure
of equitable student achievement. We each need to get really good at teaching
with research based practices and to get to know our students and their lives
well. Understanding who they are and where they come from is the foundation for
developing strong trusting relationships that establishes in each of us it is
never too late to learn.
Finally the last pillar supports creating a system where each and
every staff member, students, parents, and families knows without a doubt we
are the best school in the world. We get to begin today with a passion and
rigor that creates not only a sense of urgency, but one of pride and
celebration. We get to do this, we are just not there yet!
How do we create a Culture of Achievement? Together. We create an
environment that is conducive to learning with time and effort. Working every
day in a forward movement and a positive mindset. Fisher and Frey provided a
host of ideas to get the reader started. Here is my list which I have scribbled
in the inside of the cover of my book.
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