This weekend I planted trees along the Sammamish Cove. As we planted, the horticultural specialist taught us important considerations when planting a new tree. Here are the important considerations that seem to apply to our work as TA providers:
• Gently remove the dirt around the roots so that they have room to stretch and grow
o When working in a school, I have to continually think about what needs to be gently removed in the school to free up the room for the transformation that needs to take place.
• A new tree’s most difficult time is in the “first summer.”
o This is often true for schools who are in the middle of transforming their work in the improvement process.
• When filling in the hole with dirt, place the poorest soil near the roots.
o This is done so that the roots are forced to grow outward and seek water and nutrients.
o If you plant the rich potting soil next to the roots, it becomes “lazy” and does not grow the root structure it needs to survive the “first summer.”
o This one was new and is sometimes hard for me. I tend to want to place the rich potting soil next to the roots but indeed, if I do the work, the school does not gain the strength it needs.
• Adding a bit of rich potting soil on the top provides the appropriate nutrients for the new tree.
o The tree needs the rich nutrients from potting soil and by placing them on top, they appropriately seep into the soil while not creating a lazy root system.
As I pondered these considerations, I realize that this is always on my mind as I work with a school:
• How much support do I provide?
• How am I building the muscle strength with the leaders and teachers in the school so that they are indeed to ones who can do the heavy lifting of transformation?
• Where and when do I place my expertise and teaching so that they do indeed get the rich nutrients they need to thrive?
I definitely do not have the answers for these considerations and I do know that I need to attend to them continually. It is my responsibility to continually assess what the school needs, what will help them transform the quickest and how to I help prepare them for their “first summer?” I will remember lessons from our horticultural specialist and hope that as I make my way through my work, I indeed attend the important considerations for “planting a new tree.”
reacheducationconsulting.wordpress.com 