Have a great end to 2019. In your reflection of the year, see the good and see the bad. Embrace them both. Make a change and get ready for 2020!
PS-How did 2020 get here? That means 2000 was 20 years ago! How can that be?
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Year in Review
Nothing fancy to write. The following was shared with me and it is amazing...just like all of you.
Have a great end to 2019. In your reflection of the year, see the good and see the bad. Embrace them both. Make a change and get ready for 2020!
PS-How did 2020 get here? That means 2000 was 20 years ago! How can that be?
Have a great end to 2019. In your reflection of the year, see the good and see the bad. Embrace them both. Make a change and get ready for 2020!
PS-How did 2020 get here? That means 2000 was 20 years ago! How can that be?
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Merry December!
It is December! Can you believe it? August feels like a lifetime ago...
For those of you who this is your first December while teaching, buckle up. This is is when things begin to get wild! I believe this little ditty from@hannahfallshand says it best:
For those of you who this is your first December while teaching, buckle up. This is is when things begin to get wild! I believe this little ditty from@hannahfallshand says it best:
We feel like we are running out of time. There are units to complete. Tests to give. Project to finish. And did I mention the activities? LOTS and LOTS of activities every evening. No matter the grade, we all are feeling rushed here at school and in our personal lives. Do you all know that there are only 21 more days until Christmas Eve? If you didn't...just ask an early elementary teacher. Their students know...and they remind their teachers of that number every day.
While we may feel rushed and we may feel overwhelmed, remember the following:
For some students these last days are the final days before a break with consistency. These last days are the final days before a break from seeing the people who always there for them. These last days are the final days before a break from getting a good lunch every day. For many it is not the final days before a break from a burden. It is the final days before a break from something good in their lives.
Embrace these last days. Enjoy the chaos! Enjoy the laughter! Enjoy the joy this time of year brings!
Friday, November 15, 2019
Let's Be Honest
Honesty is a trait that can carry us all far in life. When we are confronted when we have done something wrong, we strive to be honest. We work hard to let our students know honesty is the best policy. Honesty can make you friends and it can also cause you to lose friends. Many times we have to approach honesty in different ways. We have all had someone say to us, "Be honest. What do you think?". Sometimes we can be blunt...sometimes we approach that question and honesty with a little softness.
You know who are honest? Kids. The littler they are, the more honest they are.
You know who are honest? Kids. The littler they are, the more honest they are.
As a first grade teacher, I always loved the honesty and openness my students had. There were some families I knew everything about them and their lives except their shoes sizes. I have been blessed his week with a few conversations with our littlest learners and they were honest. It was that open, blunt honesty. They didn't sugar coat anything when I asked them about using inappropriate language. I got the word and the gesture...more than once. I had another student let me know that Doritos made them toot. My day was made.
When people are honest with you, you have developed trust with them. You feel liked. You feel valued. A weight of responsibility comes with being someone that people feel they can be open and honest to. Accept that responsibility of being that person's someone. And if you see someone that needs a "someone", work on developing a relationship with them. Take the time to plant the seed that you are a person they can come to. Be the person they will want to share with that Doritos make them toot. :)
I am going to put this funny here. "I Mom So Hard". Follow them on social media. Jen and Kristin say it like it is. They have some really great video out there. This one was posted the other day and touches on how honest kids are.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Rivalry Games
Who knew that a little event like a football game could cause so much excitement, trash talk, and energy in South Dakota?
In case you have missed it, ESPN's College GameDay program is in Brookings this weekend to cover the Dakota Marker game between SDSU and NDSU. College GameDay is a nationally television program that airs on Saturday mornings in various college towns throughout the United States. On this program, analysts make predictions about the day's games, share feel good stories, and break down the teams playing in the location they are airing from. Most stops include big time schools like Nebraska, Iowa, LSU...but this weekend they are stopping in Brookings, South Dakota. It is a big thing for a little town with a little school, but a little school that this little town backs with a BIG support.
The Dakota Marker is a game between SDSU and NDSU over a rock and bragging rights for the year. It has seen NDSU winning the rock 9 times and SDSU winning 6 times. This game is a little bigger than a rock. It is a good old rivalry game. It causes people to draw lines in the sand with friends and with families. People are passionate about their team and want to see them win.
The thing that is great about games and events like that is that it often brings people out of the woodwork to connect with other fans. People you went to school with, family members, neighbors...people that may not normally come to an event like this show up. Not necessarily for the game, but for the camaraderie, excitement, and the food that these types of events bring. You all know I bleed blue. I love my Jacks. We are season ticket holders and tailgaters. For us, it is about all those things. Football weekends are some of the best weekends we have.
This weekend, of course, is even bigger. The rivalry for us spills into family. There are some people who are related to my husband that are fans of NDSU. While some of them attended SDSU, they cheer for the Bison (or the HORRIBLE school down South). They have gone to more NDSU games than SDSU games supporting family. We give each other bad times. They give me white elephants gifts that contain NDSU shirts. We talk smack to each other on Twitter. We are all proud of the school we support and want to see them win. Despite all that, I know that this weekend, our tailgating spot will be filled with people in blue and gold and green and gold. We will laugh. We will give each other a bad time. We will take a picture together. And when the game is done, one side will get the honor of gloating. While we have those differences in who we think the best football team is, we put that aside to come together and just BE with one another.
Not everyone here is going to agree with you. Not every parent is going to agree with you. You are not going to agree with every parent. You are not going to always agree with me. Even though there are times that we may be sitting on opposite sides, we need to come together. We have to put aside differences and work together for the good of the kids. Sometimes we may just agree to disagree. If we hold a grudge and push people out because they don't agree with us, we loose out. We loose out on relationships, memories, and most of all making it about the people for who are are here: the kids. When we draw lines in the sand, no one wins.
Enjoy your weekend of football. If you are going to cheer, cheer for the Jacks.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Laugh
One of the best self care things we can do for ourselves is to laugh. It decreases stress hormones,increases your immune system and releases the feel good chemicals called endorphins. Laughing is good for you. Science says so.
It is really good to laugh with your friends and colleagues.
It is really good to laugh with your friends and colleagues.
I am always on the look out for new and funny people to follow on Twitter and Instagram. I need those laughs...especially when it has been a bad day.
A few weeks ago, I discovered "Late Notes" on Instagram. The account was originally started to showcase the beautifully written notes Seth King sent explaining why his kids were late. When I say they are beautifully written, I mean not only is the wording beautiful, but Seth has such GREAT handwriting.
Beginning this fall, Seth decided to take it to a whole new level. With his daughter starting high school and their family being part of the carpool, he figured the best thing to do would be to find ways to embarrass his hormonal teenage daughter. I must say...his notes are good...but these weekly car pool sessions are HILARIOUS! These sessions including a lot of planning, a lot of costumes, a lot of help, and a lot of laughs. It seems everyone but his daughter seems to find the humor and the joy in his shenanigans.
Take time to laugh today. Take the time to follow "latenotes" on Instagram and view the car pool videos from this year. You need not plan an extravagant pageant of music and costumes to get a laugh or make yourself laugh. You need only to find the joy in simple things and the joy in what you surround yourself with every day.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Support Each Other
We have reached the point of the year where the crayons are no longer sharp, erasers are gone, and students have lost either their book or homework at least once. Last week, many people commented to me it was the first week it really felt like school. The newness had worn off. We kind of feel like we have it under control and the kids are being kids.
This is the time of year when the self doubt and anxiety of what we are doing kicks in. We had our first round of conferences. Some parents may not have like what we had to say. Students are missing assignments. They may not like their grade. We have given our first tests and may have been disappointed in the results. We doubt what we did, what we said, how we handled situations. We loose sleep. We toss and turn.
This is the time of year when the self doubt and anxiety of what we are doing kicks in. We had our first round of conferences. Some parents may not have like what we had to say. Students are missing assignments. They may not like their grade. We have given our first tests and may have been disappointed in the results. We doubt what we did, what we said, how we handled situations. We loose sleep. We toss and turn.
We have talked about doing things to help your emotional well being. We have to do those things. For sleeping, I recommend a weighted blanket. Best Christmas gift ever. I throw that on top of me and I am out in no time. You must find something to help you and support you.
Help you.
Support you.
What about looking down the hall? What about looking across the table at lunch? Find someone here to be that person to help and support you. I often talk to students about finding your trusted adult here. Who is the person you can talk to? Who is the person who can give you the best insight on what to do? As an adult, we need that person too.
Just a reminder: talking ill of your colleagues to each other is not supportive. Talking ill about our school to the community is not supportive. Breaking down others is not supportive. We get enough of that from people outside these walls that we do not need to do it to each other here. We may not always get along. We may not always be best friends, but we have to work together. We have to support each other. We have to be a good team member in order to make this the greatest school. Doing the opposite of that does nothing but grow negativity. If we cannot have those who do the same things as us day in and day out, those who know how hard this job can be, who can we trust?
As we begin Walk About Wednesdays next week, I encourage you to not always go to the same person. Build relationships with others. Reach out to a new teacher to help then feel welcomed or to offer support. Find someone at the end of this ride to get advice. Build each other up. Cheer for each other. Support each other. Help each other.
We cannot do it alone.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
I've Got Skills
No matter the career path we choose, we must possess a certain set of skills in order to find success. As we begin the journey to our career choice, we often find ourselves taking a variety of assessments to see what skills are our strengths and those skills which are yet to be developed. To maintain your peak performance in your career, you must constantly be willing to assess your skills, sharpen them, and some times develop new ones. Our career choice also calls for us to foster specific skills within our students. We are tasked with helping them in the development of social, emotional, and academic skills.
What skills are important for a successful teacher to have?
Do you need to like kids?
Do you need to be organized?
Do you need to be a people person?
Do you need to be able to clearly articulate yourself?
Do you need patience?
Do you need to be flexible?
Do you need to be a life long learner?
Do you need to be a team player?
Do you need to be a risk taker?
Do you need to be a leader?
We each have a particular skill set that makes us successful in many different areas. I like to think of myself as organized. This skill allows me to manage a variety of schedules and events efficiently. I would like to think I can effectively express my thoughts via verbal or written means. But there are some skills I am not very good at. While professionally I am fine with some risk taking, personally...no. I am not bungee jumping, skydiving, or jumping off a cliff. No way. No how.
Where we lack skills, we often look to other to help us fill those gaps. Not creative? We find a friend to help us with ideas and crafts. Feeling down? We look to others to bring us up through their stories, experiences, and encouragement. Not wanting to take a leap into something new? Sometimes you need that friend to nudge or push you in the right direction.
As educators, we must also work on developing these skills within our students and give them opportunities to shine. Like all of us, some students have a particular skill that shines brighter. We look at this when we pair students up, when we assign projects, and when we make accommodations for students to find success. Keep helping our student hone their skills. No matter what they choose as a career, a particular set of skills will be needed and effectively executed to help them find success.
While the graphic below is headed "If Teachers Starred n Movies", the lines, taken from the movie "Taken" and Liam Neeson, it does relate to having skills...a particular set of skills...
What skills are important for a successful teacher to have?
Do you need to like kids?
Do you need to be organized?
Do you need to be a people person?
Do you need to be able to clearly articulate yourself?
Do you need patience?
Do you need to be flexible?
Do you need to be a life long learner?
Do you need to be a team player?
Do you need to be a risk taker?
Do you need to be a leader?
We each have a particular skill set that makes us successful in many different areas. I like to think of myself as organized. This skill allows me to manage a variety of schedules and events efficiently. I would like to think I can effectively express my thoughts via verbal or written means. But there are some skills I am not very good at. While professionally I am fine with some risk taking, personally...no. I am not bungee jumping, skydiving, or jumping off a cliff. No way. No how.
Where we lack skills, we often look to other to help us fill those gaps. Not creative? We find a friend to help us with ideas and crafts. Feeling down? We look to others to bring us up through their stories, experiences, and encouragement. Not wanting to take a leap into something new? Sometimes you need that friend to nudge or push you in the right direction.
As educators, we must also work on developing these skills within our students and give them opportunities to shine. Like all of us, some students have a particular skill that shines brighter. We look at this when we pair students up, when we assign projects, and when we make accommodations for students to find success. Keep helping our student hone their skills. No matter what they choose as a career, a particular set of skills will be needed and effectively executed to help them find success.
While the graphic below is headed "If Teachers Starred n Movies", the lines, taken from the movie "Taken" and Liam Neeson, it does relate to having skills...a particular set of skills...
Friday, August 23, 2019
We Made It!
The first week is done. It has been a crazy but awesome week. Think of all the things you have gotten done in these five days...you have met your students, laid the foundation for a great year, and passed out materials all while dealing with the craziness of more new students, schedule changes, and missing supplies...
While you may be tempted to spend the whole weekend sleeping, (they say there is no tired like end of the year teacher tired...but beginning of the year teacher tired runs a VERY close second), I urge to spend the time reflecting on this week. What did you do to show students you cared? What did you do the set them up for greatness? What did you do for your neighbor? What did you do for this school?
I thank you for this week. As a parent...as an educator...I thank you for making this first week a great one. I couldn't ask for a better crew to be with each day. Keep making this school the greatest!
While you may be tempted to spend the whole weekend sleeping, (they say there is no tired like end of the year teacher tired...but beginning of the year teacher tired runs a VERY close second), I urge to spend the time reflecting on this week. What did you do to show students you cared? What did you do the set them up for greatness? What did you do for your neighbor? What did you do for this school?
I thank you for this week. As a parent...as an educator...I thank you for making this first week a great one. I couldn't ask for a better crew to be with each day. Keep making this school the greatest!
Thursday, August 15, 2019
The Greatest School
It is back to school time. It is a time where we are sad to see summer go, but we are also glad to get back into the classroom. We step into a classroom with boxes of goodies, clean carpet, and new hope.
Then we try to log in to our computer. It is either one of these two scenarios...
Once we remember our passwords, we are ready to go! Now we just have to remember to take attendance every day!
As we begin this new year, think about what you can do to make this school, your classroom, your students, and yourself "the greatest". Find your passion. Envision your future. Envision what you want for your students. Take some risks. Ask your students for feedback and use it. Work well with others. Empower each other. Share ideas, materials, and success. It is ok to fail. It is ok to admit that you failed. Be willing to start again. Be willing to let shine the spotlight on others and celebrate successes.
I wish you all the best this year. Enjoy each other! Enjoy your students! Enjoy what you do!
Then we try to log in to our computer. It is either one of these two scenarios...
Once we remember our passwords, we are ready to go! Now we just have to remember to take attendance every day!
As we begin this new year, think about what you can do to make this school, your classroom, your students, and yourself "the greatest". Find your passion. Envision your future. Envision what you want for your students. Take some risks. Ask your students for feedback and use it. Work well with others. Empower each other. Share ideas, materials, and success. It is ok to fail. It is ok to admit that you failed. Be willing to start again. Be willing to let shine the spotlight on others and celebrate successes.
I wish you all the best this year. Enjoy each other! Enjoy your students! Enjoy what you do!
Monday, May 20, 2019
PLAY THE GAME
This is the end.
Did you play the game until the very end?
Did you keep your spirits up when it looked like you were losing?
Did you encourage others to finish the game strong?
In this last week, remember what go you into the game. Remember the moves you made this year and the outcomes that got you. Remember the feeling of victory and the feeling of defeat. You will visit those two realms often in life.
But take the time to celebrate the game.
This video clip has been making the round and it is great! Preschoolers are the best...you put them on stage and you never know what will happen. As you watch, look at all the kiddos shown. Their reactions can mirror that of how you felt the game went this year.
The little girl with her head buried in her "lovey"...maybe you were embarrassed. Maybe you don't feel like you didn't learn the game well enough to show it off to everyone. Maybe there are things about the game and people in the game that put in out of your comfort zone. Maybe you were afraid to try something new and fail.
Maybe you are the boys in back who don't move their mouth ONCE. Maybe you were here, but you don't want to look silly by playing the game. You showed up and didn't cause an issue with the game. You just were here for the game.
But maybe...just maybe...you are the little girl in blue. You played the game. You didn't care who was watching. You gave it you all. Your moves weren't always right...but hey...that's ok...you kept with it. You put your spin on the game and enjoyed every minute of it. You laughed. You let everyone know that you enjoyed the game.
Be like the girl in blue. Play the game. Play it hard. Make it your own.
And dance.
Have a great summer!
Did you play the game until the very end?
Did you keep your spirits up when it looked like you were losing?
Did you encourage others to finish the game strong?
In this last week, remember what go you into the game. Remember the moves you made this year and the outcomes that got you. Remember the feeling of victory and the feeling of defeat. You will visit those two realms often in life.
But take the time to celebrate the game.
This video clip has been making the round and it is great! Preschoolers are the best...you put them on stage and you never know what will happen. As you watch, look at all the kiddos shown. Their reactions can mirror that of how you felt the game went this year.
The little girl with her head buried in her "lovey"...maybe you were embarrassed. Maybe you don't feel like you didn't learn the game well enough to show it off to everyone. Maybe there are things about the game and people in the game that put in out of your comfort zone. Maybe you were afraid to try something new and fail.
Maybe you are the boys in back who don't move their mouth ONCE. Maybe you were here, but you don't want to look silly by playing the game. You showed up and didn't cause an issue with the game. You just were here for the game.
But maybe...just maybe...you are the little girl in blue. You played the game. You didn't care who was watching. You gave it you all. Your moves weren't always right...but hey...that's ok...you kept with it. You put your spin on the game and enjoyed every minute of it. You laughed. You let everyone know that you enjoyed the game.
Be like the girl in blue. Play the game. Play it hard. Make it your own.
And dance.
Have a great summer!
Monday, April 29, 2019
Endgame
I can't seem to stop with the super heroes.
"Avengers: Endgame" came out this weekend. It made over $1.2 BILLION worldwide this weekend. As a fan of the Marvel movies, I can't put into words how amazing it was. It was so good that I went and saw it twice this weekend.
There are 22 films in the Marvel movie universe. The first film, "Iron Man" was released in 2008. Since that time, we have been introduced to a TON of superheroes: Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Black Widow, the Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, The Hulk, Spiderman, Star Lord, Ant Man....the list goes on and on. We have also been introduced to some bad guys too: Loki, Red Skull, Hydra, and Thanos. "Endgame" takes all we have seen in the past 22 movies and throws it all together for a 3 hour movie that sees you laughing, cheering, crying, cheering again...crying again.
In each Marvel movie, there has been something that played a part in the plot of "Endgame". Sometimes it was something we saw in those great little post credit scenes. Sometimes it was something very clearly stated in the movie. Sometimes it was something that we didn't think twice about until we saw the next movie and realized it was a BIG deal.
I think each year we are in education can be like that. There may be little things that happen or chance meetings that seem unimportant at the time, but can play a bigger role in what we do within our classroom and to define us as educators. It may be something that we take away and not understand its importance or value until a few years down the road. When I talked about post credit scenes last year, I reflected on how wouldn't it be great if we knew the end of the story when we were in. If we knew if this new thing would work...if the students would past the test...we just want that little teaser of what was going to happen next. Did that make a difference? How does this play out? What will the end bring? With movies, we can go back and re-watch "Iron Man" to see that his coffee table IS Captain America's shield. We can't do that with life. We have to play the game and the pieces given.
Doctor Strange is an under rated superhero. A former surgeon, he has been able use the mystical arts to defend Earth. He can see the future. In "Avengers: Infinity War", during an epic battle scene, he lets Iron Man know that he has viewed 14,000,605 different outcomes to this battle, with only one in which the Avengers win. We will have to go through some battles that will change us, define us, and for awhile destroy us. But by using all the things we have encounter through our educational journey and leaning on all those people who have been with us on the trek, we can win the game.
I think the Marvel universe taught me that everything is a big deal. Everything that you do is big. Everyone you encounter plays a part in making you the person you are. You may not realize it now. You may not find out how big a "deal" is sometimes. You may find you got a teaser of what that big deal was going to be WAY back at the beginning, but is just now plays out for the good at the end of the game (SPOILER! Can someone who has seen the movie come and talk to me about this? It was AWESOME!).
Know that everything you encounter as a teacher from your first year until your last year play an important part in defining you. Little things may seem little now, but in the endgame, they will be big things that help you make a difference in the life of kids.
Do whatever it takes.
"Avengers: Endgame" came out this weekend. It made over $1.2 BILLION worldwide this weekend. As a fan of the Marvel movies, I can't put into words how amazing it was. It was so good that I went and saw it twice this weekend.
There are 22 films in the Marvel movie universe. The first film, "Iron Man" was released in 2008. Since that time, we have been introduced to a TON of superheroes: Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Black Widow, the Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, The Hulk, Spiderman, Star Lord, Ant Man....the list goes on and on. We have also been introduced to some bad guys too: Loki, Red Skull, Hydra, and Thanos. "Endgame" takes all we have seen in the past 22 movies and throws it all together for a 3 hour movie that sees you laughing, cheering, crying, cheering again...crying again.
In each Marvel movie, there has been something that played a part in the plot of "Endgame". Sometimes it was something we saw in those great little post credit scenes. Sometimes it was something very clearly stated in the movie. Sometimes it was something that we didn't think twice about until we saw the next movie and realized it was a BIG deal.
I think each year we are in education can be like that. There may be little things that happen or chance meetings that seem unimportant at the time, but can play a bigger role in what we do within our classroom and to define us as educators. It may be something that we take away and not understand its importance or value until a few years down the road. When I talked about post credit scenes last year, I reflected on how wouldn't it be great if we knew the end of the story when we were in. If we knew if this new thing would work...if the students would past the test...we just want that little teaser of what was going to happen next. Did that make a difference? How does this play out? What will the end bring? With movies, we can go back and re-watch "Iron Man" to see that his coffee table IS Captain America's shield. We can't do that with life. We have to play the game and the pieces given.
Doctor Strange is an under rated superhero. A former surgeon, he has been able use the mystical arts to defend Earth. He can see the future. In "Avengers: Infinity War", during an epic battle scene, he lets Iron Man know that he has viewed 14,000,605 different outcomes to this battle, with only one in which the Avengers win. We will have to go through some battles that will change us, define us, and for awhile destroy us. But by using all the things we have encounter through our educational journey and leaning on all those people who have been with us on the trek, we can win the game.
I think the Marvel universe taught me that everything is a big deal. Everything that you do is big. Everyone you encounter plays a part in making you the person you are. You may not realize it now. You may not find out how big a "deal" is sometimes. You may find you got a teaser of what that big deal was going to be WAY back at the beginning, but is just now plays out for the good at the end of the game (SPOILER! Can someone who has seen the movie come and talk to me about this? It was AWESOME!).
Know that everything you encounter as a teacher from your first year until your last year play an important part in defining you. Little things may seem little now, but in the endgame, they will be big things that help you make a difference in the life of kids.
Do whatever it takes.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Do You Call It a Comeback?
There is nothing like a good comeback.
The stories of someone in last place at the start of the race who then slowly makes their way to the front of the pack. They then go on to win the race.
The stories of someone who is down on their luck. They have gotten shot down over and over again, only to get that second chance and they make the most of it.
The stories of someone who had it all only to fall out of favor. They kept trying...they kept putting themselves out there and they find success once again.
I wrote of Elvis' '68 Comeback Special a few months ago. He had fallen...but this got him back up and back into the limelight.
We saw it last week with Virginia winning the Final Four. The previous year, they had entered the tournament as a number one seed only to lose in the first round to a number 16 seed. Their coach called this season their "redemption story".
This weekend brought the Masters Golf Tournament. Golf isn't an action packed sport. When golf is on TV, most people change the channel. You have heard it called boring and hard to watch. For the longest time, people only knew of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Then in 1996, a kid out of Stanford entered the pro field. This kid was amazing. This kid could hit a ball like no one else on tour could. This kid could win. And this kid had a really cool name: Tiger Woods.
He hit the scene full force. He won his first Masters in 1997, winning by 12 strokes. In a span of eleven years, he won fourteen of golf's majors, including the Masters three more times. People began to watch golf because of Tiger. People began to play golf because of Tiger. You saw the sport become something that everyone did not just rich, old guys in funny looking pants.
But then it came crashing down. The next ten years saw Tiger battle injuries and personal issues. He had four back surgeries and only competed in ONE tournament in a three year span. He was at rock bottom. He was written off by so many people. He was not the hot ticket in golf. He was a has been.
When everyone had written him off, you know what he did? He kept training. He kept working out. He kept to himself. He kept telling himself he wasn't done. He kept playing golf.
Then something happened last September. Tiger won the Tour Championship. It was pretty cool.
My last words here are not my own. Tony Bennett, head coach of Virginia, quoted a Ted Talk to players through out this season: "If you learn to use it right, the adversity, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn't have gone any other way." Virginia basketball did that...as did Tiger. Haven't some of our greatest triumphs come after our darkest hours?
If you have time, view the Ted Talk in which Tony Bennett used to drive his season:
https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/this-is-quote-virginia-coach-tony-bennett-has-repeated-all-season-it-just-helped-cavaliers-win-their-first-championship.html
The stories of someone in last place at the start of the race who then slowly makes their way to the front of the pack. They then go on to win the race.
The stories of someone who is down on their luck. They have gotten shot down over and over again, only to get that second chance and they make the most of it.
The stories of someone who had it all only to fall out of favor. They kept trying...they kept putting themselves out there and they find success once again.
I wrote of Elvis' '68 Comeback Special a few months ago. He had fallen...but this got him back up and back into the limelight.
We saw it last week with Virginia winning the Final Four. The previous year, they had entered the tournament as a number one seed only to lose in the first round to a number 16 seed. Their coach called this season their "redemption story".
This weekend brought the Masters Golf Tournament. Golf isn't an action packed sport. When golf is on TV, most people change the channel. You have heard it called boring and hard to watch. For the longest time, people only knew of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Then in 1996, a kid out of Stanford entered the pro field. This kid was amazing. This kid could hit a ball like no one else on tour could. This kid could win. And this kid had a really cool name: Tiger Woods.
He hit the scene full force. He won his first Masters in 1997, winning by 12 strokes. In a span of eleven years, he won fourteen of golf's majors, including the Masters three more times. People began to watch golf because of Tiger. People began to play golf because of Tiger. You saw the sport become something that everyone did not just rich, old guys in funny looking pants.
But then it came crashing down. The next ten years saw Tiger battle injuries and personal issues. He had four back surgeries and only competed in ONE tournament in a three year span. He was at rock bottom. He was written off by so many people. He was not the hot ticket in golf. He was a has been.
When everyone had written him off, you know what he did? He kept training. He kept working out. He kept to himself. He kept telling himself he wasn't done. He kept playing golf.
Then something happened last September. Tiger won the Tour Championship. It was pretty cool.
That was cool. But what happened on Sunday was cooler. He did what he knew best. He played golf. And the magic happened. He won a fifth green jacket, almost 14 years after his last green jacket. He had come back from the lowest of lowest to win what some say is the biggest tournament of the year. And how awesome is that fist pump?
A video was shared showing Tiger in 2018 watching people comment on his future as a golfer. How tough is that? Those in the public eye face a lot of unwanted criticism by people they do not know or compete against. We often go through that same thing. We are talked about on social media. We are talked about in the community. Assumptions are made about us and the job we do. We hear negative A LOT.
So what did Tiger do? He got up and kept going. He chased his dream of being the best again. He did not let the haters get him down.
What can you do? Keep chasing the dream. Keep your head held high. Keep learning. Keep practicing. Keep giving it your all. Don't quit because you are down. Don't give up on your dreams. It gets tough. You will be in last sometimes...but sometimes you will be first. GO FOR IT!
My last words here are not my own. Tony Bennett, head coach of Virginia, quoted a Ted Talk to players through out this season: "If you learn to use it right, the adversity, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn't have gone any other way." Virginia basketball did that...as did Tiger. Haven't some of our greatest triumphs come after our darkest hours?
If you have time, view the Ted Talk in which Tony Bennett used to drive his season:
https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/this-is-quote-virginia-coach-tony-bennett-has-repeated-all-season-it-just-helped-cavaliers-win-their-first-championship.html
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
April. Need I Say More?
It has arrived.
April.
For all you new teachers: Buckle up. This is where it starts to get bumpy.
You thought those nine weeks where we did have a full week of school caused chaos and disruption? Na. Nothing. Child's play compared to what April and May brings. The school has a whole different feel these last two months. There are just some many things happening these last two months that add to the all ready amped up atmosphere of the school day.
State testing: Nothing like having to take a week off from instruction to administer testing, only to have to try to get your students back on track AFTER they are done. Testing is stressful for our students. It is stressful for us too. You wondered if you covered it all. You worry about the effort your students are putting into the test. You worry about making sure the technology does not fail during your scheduled time.
Out of school events: Track meets. Field trips. It is hard to move forward when only 4 of the 25 kids in your class are there. It is even harder when only 2 of the 25 turn in their homework. These events are exciting for our students. For our young kids, there is nothing more exciting then a field trip. Riding the bus...packing your lunch...going away from the school. For teachers it is exhausting and for our students it is something they always will remember.
The end is in sight: This really is the main ingredient in the fever pitch here at school. Students can smell it. They can taste it. They know that May will be here, bringing with it the last day of school. Students stop turnings things in. Their minds begins to wander. You have to work twice as hard to keep their attention and focus. The sunshine and the bird coming back are way more exciting than anything you have to say.
While it is a struggle, stay strong. Teach until May 24th. Teach our students something new each day. Savor each moment. Enjoy the fun and memories that April and May brings.
April.
For all you new teachers: Buckle up. This is where it starts to get bumpy.
You thought those nine weeks where we did have a full week of school caused chaos and disruption? Na. Nothing. Child's play compared to what April and May brings. The school has a whole different feel these last two months. There are just some many things happening these last two months that add to the all ready amped up atmosphere of the school day.
State testing: Nothing like having to take a week off from instruction to administer testing, only to have to try to get your students back on track AFTER they are done. Testing is stressful for our students. It is stressful for us too. You wondered if you covered it all. You worry about the effort your students are putting into the test. You worry about making sure the technology does not fail during your scheduled time.
Out of school events: Track meets. Field trips. It is hard to move forward when only 4 of the 25 kids in your class are there. It is even harder when only 2 of the 25 turn in their homework. These events are exciting for our students. For our young kids, there is nothing more exciting then a field trip. Riding the bus...packing your lunch...going away from the school. For teachers it is exhausting and for our students it is something they always will remember.
The end is in sight: This really is the main ingredient in the fever pitch here at school. Students can smell it. They can taste it. They know that May will be here, bringing with it the last day of school. Students stop turnings things in. Their minds begins to wander. You have to work twice as hard to keep their attention and focus. The sunshine and the bird coming back are way more exciting than anything you have to say.
While it is a struggle, stay strong. Teach until May 24th. Teach our students something new each day. Savor each moment. Enjoy the fun and memories that April and May brings.
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