Facilitation Innovation

WHY: We believe that literacy is opportunity. 

HOW: We provide comprehensive, content-specific, ongoing professional learning for teachers and administrators that gives each attendee an understanding of the importance of foundational literacy instruction, knowledge of the Reading Horizons instructional method and resources, and the practical knowledge necessary to implement the Reading Horizons program with diverse learners.

WHAT: We empower educators to eradicate illiteracy. 

In my organization, Reading Horizons, we consistently refer back to our mission to eradicate illiteracy and measure everything we do in terms of the impact we are making toward that mission. When I went through the employee onboarding process I was happily surprised to see that the organization followed Simon Sinek’s (2009) golden circle model of motivation. The why, what and how of my innovation plan very closely aligns with the why, what and how of Reading Horizons as a whole. This alignment of mission and impact will make it much easier for me to implement the proposed changes to professional learning that my innovation plan outlines.

I believe that one of the keys to success for my innovation plan is appealing to the hearts of PL attendees. We are asking them to make a shift in their instructional approach. Many educators are resistant to changes that are often imposed on them by their administrators. If we can approach the entire PL experience from the perspective of why, then the how will be embraced with more enthusiasm.

It is imperative that the why not only appeals to the heart to motivate change, but also that it creates a sense of urgency to solve the problem (Kotter, 2013). Most educators and almost all administrators can see that there is a problem with reading proficiency in their classrooms, schools and districts. The challenge is decreasing complacency, or the feeling of helplessness, about how to solve the problem. The how and what provide clear guidelines for actionable next steps and the desired results. This is often what is needed to rekindle the passion educators already have for student success. Reading Horizons partners with educators and administrators in a common mission to eradicate illiteracy because we understand that literacy is opportunity. 

References

Harapnuik, D. (2015, January 9). The head won’t go where the heart hasn’t been. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved January 28, 2023, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=5461 

Kotter, J. (2013, August 15). Leading change: Establish a sense of urgency. YouTube. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yfrj2Y9IlI&ab_channel=Dr.JohnKotter

Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). John Kotter – the heart of change. YouTube. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKti9MyAAw&ab_channel=Dr.JohnKotter

Sinek, S. (2009, September 28). Start with why — how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek | tedxpugetsound. YouTube. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA&ab_channel=TEDxTalks