Keep Playing...and Dancing!

Nothing big to say today...just sharing another (or two) good Kid President videos.

It is amazing what we can learn from kids.  I am beginning to think that once we stop playing and become "adults", we become so goal orientated, with tunnel vision, we lose sight of the BIG things.  It is good for us to have reminders of the what the BIG things are and that what we do and say are FAR more important than the possession we have.

I hope you all have a great week!

PS-A macaroni Uncle Jessie!!!  What could be a better gift than that?  Maybe a macaroni picture of Uncle Jessie and The Rippers...just saying...

Blame the Teacher...or Not?

Many times it has felt that as educators we have been in a constant battle defending our profession, our schools and our students.  Some of those attacks have come from those who are not in education and make their attacks based on one snapshot of a school's make-up, rather than all the factors which contribute to student success.  Think about your first year teaching and how much the population you serve has changed...question is...have you change how you instruct?

Check our the following article in regards to the populations were are serving in our schools and how that contributes to outcomes.  I found it eye opening that in 2011, 37% of the school population in South Dakota was considered "low income".  

http://inthesetimes.com/article/15849/teachers_were_never_the_problem/

Random Acts of Kindness

The holiday season is fast approaching which means we see people putting on their kindness hats.  Donations to charities hit a high point, people reach out to their families, and many begin volunteering to help those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Did you ever wonder what it would be like if we did these things EVERY month out of the year?  Instead of saving our kindness for the four weeks prior to Christmas, what if we spread those acts of kindness out over the ENTIRE year?

I am not talking BIG things.  But little things...the smiles...holding doors open...saying "please" and "thank you"...picking up trash on the ground...saying "excuse me".  These are simple things we try to install into the character of the students within our classrooms, but do we demonstrate these qualities every day?

This video is a great collection of these random acts of kindness caught on camera in Russia.  Yes...Russia.  For those of us of a certain age, we grew up during a time where stories of big, bad Russia were shared often to scare us.  But looking at this video, there is nothing scary about these people.  Rather, we see a people who take time to do the little things that often make a BIG difference to others.  

(In case you are wondering, in Russia there is a large usage of dashboard cameras.  All these little snippets were caught on these cameras when many people had no idea no one was watching.)

Have a great week!

Look for the positive

We have finished nine weeks of the school year.  That is 25% of our year, 1/4 of the school days are done, or 42 days have passed.

We cannot change how we approached those past 42 days.  They are in the past.  But we can change how we approach the next 3/4 of our year.  Will we be positive or will we be negative?  Will the glass be half empty or half full?  How we take on these next 131 days will determine the output we see not only from our students, but also from ourselves.

Jon Gordon is a motivational writer who has some great books out there in regards to being  a great leader.  One of his recent blog posts looks at how your outlook determines how you as a leader (teacher) approach situations which come your way.  It is a good read...and has a really cute title!

Jon Gordon Blog

Be More Awesome...

I have developed a love for Kid President.  I just want to pinch those cute, little cheeks...and then let him know what great work he is doing at such a young age.  He is a ball full of positive energy...he is just what many of us need on THOSE days.  His personal story is just as powerful as the message he sends to kids and adults.  Robby Novak has endured much in his short life.  

Here is the video I shared on Wednesday at in-service.  It is a message from Kid President to teachers and students...and IT...IS...AWESOME!

A Man of His Word...and of Good Character

Have you heard about this one?  The coach who suspended his entire football team?  Yes...you read that right.  High school football coach Matt Labrum suspended his ENTIRE football team following reports of his team showing less than good character off the field.

Utah Football Coach Suspends Team

It takes a person of strong character to let our children know when they are doing something wrong.  I admire the coach for the actions he took.  This suspension wasn't because he didn't care...it was because HE DID.  I often tell students when people stop calling you out on behavior...worry.  We hound you for homework, call you out when your behavior is out of line, or put high expectations on you because we care.  If we didn't do these things, it would mean we didn't care what direction you go in or the type of person you become.

Here is a great opinion piece praising Coach Labrum for his actions.

Growing Leaders

Have a super weekend and thank you for all you do to help our students develop good character!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Relationships are tough.  Jobs are tough.  Some times they are tough physically.  Some times they are tough mentally.  But many times, they are tough emotionally.  In general...LIFE IS TOUGH.

What can we do to get through the "toughness"?  What can we do for ourselves to ensure that our time here is full of life, love, and joy?  It is simple...be grateful.  Be grateful to those around you.  Be grateful for all you have.  Be grateful for who you surround yourself with.  Be grateful for all you have been given.  It makes a difference.  Not only to those around you, but to YOURSELF.  

So...thank you.  Thank you for the impact each of you have had on my life.  Thank you for committing yourself to our school and sticking it out when things have gotten tough.  Thank you for making me laugh...making me smile...and making me feel alive.  Our jobs are tough, but with all of you, it makes it one of the best things I have ever decided to do.

Because I said I would

I discovered a great site, "Because I Said I Would".  This website is using the power of social media to promote the bettering of humanity through a promise.  It has received national attention this week with the posting of a video by a 22 year old man confessing to killing a man in a drunk driving accident.  VERY powerful stuff.

There are many great promises made on this site, which made me think...what did you promise yourself at the start of the year?  What about at the start of your career?  Have you kept those promises you made?  When you took the position of an educator, there are things you do for students, other staff, and your school because you have made a promise to help educate the next generation.  You do it because it betters our students...it betters our world.  Are you keeping your promise?

Have a great Friday!

New year...New goals...

A new school year has begun and it is a time for new goals.  What has happened in the past is the past.  There is a reason why your eyes on placed on the FRONT of your head.  Look towards the future and all it has to offer.

A new year is about setting the stakes high.  If we settle for the middle and the middle only, how we will ever get our kids PAST the pmiddle?  We cannot settle for mediocre.  We have to be willing to put in more time and effort.  Our new standards demand it and so do our parents.  Our kids deserve nothing but the best.  Let's give it to them.

My in-service motivation piece involved sharing with the staff a story about the 2012 Superbowl Champions, the New York Giants.  A great motivation speech by Gian Paul Gonzalez (who is a teacher), turned a season around for the Giants.  Staff have been given their poker chips and have agreed to go ALL IN.  

I am inspired to see so many staff members with their poker chips on display in the classroom.  They understand about commitment and the fact that we are all in this thing called education together.  The only way to make it through is with the help of each other and by going ALL IN for our students.

10 things parents and teachers would like each other to know

CNN posted a great article in 2011 that I shared with staff in the past:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html

Below you will find a follow-up that was published last month:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/living/parents-teachers-10-things/index.html

Copyright @ TheElktonSchool???

There are some stories that hit the educational news front we all shake our heads at.  This may be one of those stories.  

A Maryland school board has developed a proposal which states the following: 

•  "Works created by employees and/or students specifically for use by the Prince George's County Public School or a specific school or department within PGCPS, are properties of the Board of Education even if created on the employee's or student's time and with use of their materials."

This would mean homework, art projects, posters, ANYTHING (by students or staff) done for school would be consider property of the school board. 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/12/maryland-proposal-to-claim-copyright-on-students-work-prompts-backlash-legal/

Are you shaking your head?

Another new concept in teaching...

Those who have been in education for awhile have seen many changes throughout their career.  Many times we find the same concept being recycled, polished a bit and labeled as something different.

Below you will find a link to an article on a new concept in teaching.  I must tell you...as I read it, I thought, "This makes sense.  It is when students are at home that they seem to struggle the most."  This concept requires superb planning skills on the teacher's part and would be more work than planning a "normal" lesson.  But if is allows students to be successful, isn't that work worth it?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation/2013/01/27/flipped-learning-class/1868733/

I am number one....right???

I sift through a variety of catalogs each day that are delivered in my mailbox.  In these catalogs, you can purchase a trophy or certificate rewarding students for just about anything you can imagine.  From being the best speller in the class or the best friend, we can present a reward to our students for not only meeting tough goals but for also doing what is just RIGHT.  There is much conversation out there now saying the practice of making everyone a winner is actually setting our children up for failure.

I am not sure when the idea of giving each student a reward came to light...perhaps it was to never make a student feel bad for their performance or perhaps it was easier to reward everyone rather than pick the best soccer player.  The idea of everyone being rewarded and letting students know they were not "special" was pushed into the spotlight this past  spring with teacher David McCullough, Jr.'s commencement speech to the seniors at Wellesley High School.  He told the seniors, "You are not special".  Many people agreed with his statements, while others felt he may have pushed it too far.

Last night, I found an piece on Fox.com stating that we are raising a generation of students who are narcissists.  Are we?  By giving certificates to every student are we sending the wrong message?  Have students gained a false sense of their worth due to social media and the new concept of "friends"?  Whether you agree or disagree, it is an interesting read.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/08/are-raising-generation-deluded-narcissists/?test=latestnews&intcmp=features