I need positive thoughts!

[sarypotter]

It's just a meeting. It's just a meeting. It's just a meeting.

I have a scary meeting tomorrow and I do NOT feel prepared, nor do I feel knowledgeable about how to become prepared. I feel as though I am in over my head. Please send me some positive thoughts!

[seastarmath]

What kind of a meeting?

Hey! You are a teacher! You can handle ANYTHING!

Stand back and imagine what all this looks like as you are in a space ship looking down on the earth. How big is it in the scheme of things? Who will remember the meeting next week?

Meetings end.

Sometimes our best thoughts and ideas come from flying by the seat of our pants.

[teacher5]

You didn't say what kind or waht this meeting is about. If it is about a student, I hope you have documentation as to what you have done and when. If it is about an observation you had, listen politely, welcome constructive criticism, and follow up on the recommendations whether you like them or not. If it is about a parent complaint, again, listen, and reflect carefully before you speak. Get a sense if the adminstrator is on your side or the parent's. If you think you are going to be disciplined for something, go in with a union rep. Otherwise, I don't know what advice I can give you without the kknowledge of the kind of meeting. Good luck!

[bella mundi]

*sending positive thoughts towards Sary*

Hope it went okay!

[sarypotter]

Thanks, everyone! I purposely don't want to say too much because of confidentiality. I don't think I personally am in trouble for anything, but I am likely to be asked to change the way I do some things, and I do think the administration is going to second that request. I don't think the changes that are being requested are appropriate for my students, so I'm anxious as to how to handle this. I do have documentation to support my position, but only three weeks worth of it, so it is not yet compelling evidence.

I was petrified about this meeting yesterday, but I'm surprisingly calm about it today. All I can do is calmly explain what I believe is best for my students, and hope it is heard.

[sarypotter]

Thanks for the positive wishes, everyone! It went GREAT! Better than I could have expected. Everyone is happy at the moment. *Pshew!*

[seastarmath]

Is it just me, or do the meetings we fear most turn out well and the ones we think are a piece of cake have hidden TNT?

[bella mundi]

Yeah, I've noticed that too, Seastar. I've gone into many annual reviews with staff doing battle-strategies with my colleagues to prove our points and hold our ground with parents we feared would be unreasonable, only to have everything turn out fine, and they love what I'm doing.

Other times . . . I'm caught off-guard. Just like life, I guess.

[kmurphey]

I totally agree! It always seems like the things I worry about the most end up being harmless; and the things that I should worry about more seem to always make me wish I did. Good luck with your meeting.

Is it just me, or do the meetings we fear most turn out well and the ones we think are a piece of cake have hidden TNT?