Week 4

This week was rather hectic.  SLI held it’s big Saturday meeting with the students I got to handle teaching Citations, creating a discussion around John Olivers video – School Segregation, as well as a jeopardy game reviewing Brown v. Board so all in all a very hectic week.  I’m very glad that Dr. Kaufman allows me so much freedom in his leadership style as well as allowing mentors to make suggestions on curriculum, (John Oliver was my idea).  He has a very hands off approach which I appreciate because it gives mentors flexibility to play to their strengths when teaching.  This week I led the groups in public speaking exercises based off of well known speeches, Lincoln’s Inaugural address, and Malala’s UN speech.

I have noticed that Dr. Kaufman’s tranformative leadership style has really transformed me.  Not only the students, I find myself taken in by his devotion and wanting to do more myself.  He inspires me to work harder be more creative, to contribute as much as I can.  I find my work better under his tutelage than under some one more transactional because I am also self motivate to create better teaching plans and better media materials.  I think part of the reason he can allow such freedom is because he inspires others so much and sets expectations because he knows his followers will meet those expectations.  I also work very hard because if I can’t keep up with an 80 year old man what am I doing?

I showed him the website earlier, just the bare bones set up and he was so impressed I’m worried I’ve raised expectations much to high for myself.  he think’s I’m a tech wizard when really I’m barely more qualified than the average person to make a website.  But I think my willingness to try and work around these problems is a testament to his leadership.