My Top 5 Leadership Tenets

One of my favorite topics to read and learn about is leadership. During the course of my studies, I have chosen 5 aspects that I find most compelling. In this post, I will discuss my thoughts on each aspect and share lessons learned. This is where the true joy of blogging comes into play. Imagine reading this post 10 years from now! Heck, I may think differently next week! My thoughts will likely change as will the themes found in popular educational readings. It is about embracing a growth mindset and being dedicated to learning!

1.  Service:  Being service oriented is a must for effective leaders. If its the CEO of a billion dollar company, rubbing shoulders with the crew of workers on the assembly line, or the school principal mopping the floor in the cafeteria, there is huge value when the leader of an organization has the ability to roll up his/her sleeves and do work. When leaders show their team that they are willing to perform the tasks that they ask of others, a certain respect is shown. Also, stakeholders appreciate and respect leaders who are visible and involved in the daily tasks of school life. Some of the best school leaders I know are at car pool everyday opening doors and directing traffic or in the bus parking lot unloading the buses. They are connected and present. I will never be a disconnected leader who rules from his office. One's office is not where the real work lies. It is not where the magic happens! Walking the halls and interacting with everyone allows you to keep a pulse of the school. How can you expect to understand the culture of your building if you are not out and about in the building?

2. Humility: Leaders must embrace that they are not always the smartest person in the room. One of my mentors often states, "I may not be the smartest person in this building, but no one will out work me." He also said, "I don't need to walk around the school and tell people that I am the principal of this school." The messages conveyed in this leader's everyday actions show that he is humble and that no one person on the team is more important than another. The message he sends is clear: no one is more important than what is good for everyone. It is not about me, it is about WE! The buildings we work in can survive without us. We are all replaceable. The day that we put our papers in to move on, we will be replaced. Our schools WILL go on without us. The roofs will not cave in when we are gone. It is not about us!

3. Positivity: Leaders must be positive at all times, especially when facing adversity. Through life lessons I have thoroughly learned that being negative, having a temper, and becoming upset are all pointless. Someday a parent will come into your office and bless you out. Everyone within listening distance will be able to hear. You cannot control this. You will likely not be to blame. Do your thing. Listen to the individual. Hear their issue and deal with it. The look on your face when the drama unfolds is what you can control. It is also how you can impact the culture of your building. Grin and bear it! By showing your team that all is good, all will be good! We cannot control what life throws at us, we can only control how we react. Reacting with a smiling, positive outlook is by far the best approach. I was once advised by a veteran school leader to always smile when you are on the phone with a stakeholder, especially a parent. This has proven to be very valuable advice over the years. By simply smiling, you go into the conversation with a positive attitude. During the course of these challenging conversations, we have the ability to do so much good. We may not be able to immediately resolve someones' issue but we can speak with them in a positive manner, allow them to be heard, and begin upon a path of mutual understanding. Another one of my mentors is always able to make challenging opportunities into positive experiences. Human resource opportunities are positive. Issues are communicated and so are expectations, but most importantly the target of the issue feels understood and supported. It is not US vs THEM. It is, this is how we are going to help YOU. Administrators can best yield their power through support and coaching, not through intimidation or an "I got you" attitude.

4. Empowering: Having the ability to raise others up is very powerful. Sharing leadership and responsibility are mutually beneficial for a leader and his/her team. Schools function at their best when key stakeholders have a true voice in the decision-making. I have been in several situations where the leading bodies of a school in reality had little say so. Too often, school administrators keep the "important" decision making to themselves. This denies others input and is effectively a dictatorship.  Granted there are many situations where a committee is not needed for both time and simplicity, but for the most part gathering input from the important stakeholders surrounding a situation is the way to go. We > Me!

5. Vision: A school's vision is not just the principal's vision, it is the school's vision. This must involve an exchange of information, a decision of what is important, and what speaks for a community. The leader definitely needs to have an impact on what the school is focusing on but it cannot be based solely on what the leader thinks. It matters greatly what the students think. It matters what the parents and staff think. A school's vision is a collective agreement on what is important and what will be focused on. Once established, this vision should guide what the school leaders design for the students of the school. This shared vision, should be what the community is able to rally and focus on. Once established, a school's vision should hold all stakeholders accountable and focused on the mutually embraced set of values. It should be what everyone is working towards. One of my mentors does an excellent job of hitting stakeholders upside the head with the vision of his organization. He consistently shares his vision regardless if he is speaking to a group of district administrators, parents, or community members. It doesn't matter who it is, the message and focus stays the same.

I cannot wait to learn and experience more in my leadership journey. For now, I step forward expecting good things and am determined to bring about great results. Our future is so bright, we only need to work together to obtain it.

Mid-Year Tune-Up

Time flies. It seems that just yesterday it was August and we were gearing up for the start of school. Now here we are at Christmas Break. In the blink of an eye, the second half of the year will be gone, too. Luckily, for educators we have a little quiet time before Christmas and after New Years. Take time for yourself. Find balance. Your family and health must come first. Now is the perfect opportunity for reflection and self-improvement.  

Here are some of the questions that we all need to be asking ourselves:

What is working? What has been successful? What goals have been met? Is this the educator that I want to be? What should I do more of?  What has been difficult? What has not gone as well as it could have? Where can I improve? What practices do I need to stop using immediately? What is my mid-year grade? 

Humor me with an exercise. Close your eyes. Wait a minute if you close your eyes you cannot continue to read my intriguing and life-changing blog (ha ha!). Don't close your eyes. Anyway, think of the educator you signed up to be. Think about the educator you dreamed of being. Think about the educator you want to be on January 3rd (or whenever your classes resume).  Is the educator you are envisioning comparable to the actual version? Surely you did not become a teacher to breed compliance, be boring, or suck the excitement out of children. Hopefully, you did not picture yourself as someone as captivating as Ben Stein's character in the 80's classic, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Most likely your dream was to be something similar to a teacher like Ron Clark, Dave Burgess, or Jaime Escalante. We hold these wonderful educators in high regard and they deserve our admiration. But the truth is we can all be like them. We can be our own version of them. I think that their secret isn't God given talent. Their secret is hard work, dedication, focus, and passion. These are all things we can emulate if we make that choice.  

So I encourage you to answer a few of the italicized questions above. Make a simple plan to improve in a few areas. Sharpen your saw. Stop doing the things you are not so proud of. Start doing more of the things that you are the most proud of. Be more animated. Smile and laugh more while you are teaching. Bring your passions into your classroom. Seize the attention of your students. Rock your classroom. Finish the year striving to be the teacher of your wildest dreams.

A Student's "Why"

A recent conversation I had with a student taught me a very important lesson.

The lesson was sparked from reflecting upon the "sentencing" faze of a discipline issue. I was working with a student whom I had worked with quite extensively at the beginning of the school year. Over the last few months, the student has made great progress. He has been making better choices thus seeing his assistant principal much less formally. He has been a success story. On this particular occasion, he had not made too bad of a decision. He had engaged in some horse-playing but luckily his actions had not been intentional or malicious. He accidentally hit another student, luckily the other student was uninjured. He was merely looking at a time out. After sharing this news with him he was visibly upset. He held his head low and nonchalantly wiped at his eyes. I first thought he was worried about what his parents would say when we contacted them. I assumed there was some privilege at home he was going to lose or maybe a punishment. This was not the case at all. He was upset because he thought that he was going to be kicked out of the science club. He said, "I want to still be a part of my group." I explained to him that I did not think the science club sponsor would kick him out based on the circumstances. I told him that she would understand and since he had not done anything "mean" on purpose that he would be able to continue with his club. This seemed to help lessen his concerns slightly. Later in the day, the science club sponsor stopped by and affirmed for him that his status in science club was okay. When he heard the news from her, the weight was truly off of his shoulders.

The reason this conversation resonated with me is that it highlights the importance of getting connected with our students' "why". We need to know what motivates our students if we want to best reach them. In this young man's case the science club seems to be what makes coming to school worthwhile. Being a member of the science club is what makes him excited to come to school each week. I am not sure if he is motivated by the content, the energetic teacher who sponsors the club, or if he likes his teammates. It may be a combination of those factors or others. I do know it is one thing he seriously looks forward to. I believe being a member of the science team has been a major part of his turn around.  It is his "why".

Our schools, our classrooms, and our individual relationships can all benefit from becoming more attuned to what motivates our students. Knowing this information can lead us on so many right paths. Knowing the "why" can tell us what extracurricular activities to offer and which students to offer them to. Knowing the "why" can give us important information for designing our instruction. Ultimately, knowing our students "why" makes us better educators. Invest time getting to know your students as individuals so you can be a better educator for them.

Big Man Makes an Assist

Today, as I was coaching my son's undefeated basketball team (2-0 baby!), I saw a former student of mine. He was actually a player on the opposing team. After the game, we shared a brief moment. It was special and warmed my heart. Moments like this are precious and add fuel to the fire that is my passion for education. On special occasions, our acts of kindness and love we give students comes back to us. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career thus far.

I have not seen this young man in over 5 years. I remember him for his charisma, intelligence, and warm personality. We spent a LOT of time together. I was his assistant principal, so you can infer what that means. We interacted quite often. There were many difficult episodes. However, his charisma still made him a student that regardless of his behavior the adults at school all loved him. When he got in trouble, it was emotional for the school staff as well. We all wanted to see him do well and it pained us to see him have such a hard time. During the game, someone pointed him out to me and told me who he was. It was hard for me to place him because he has literally grown at least 2 feet since the last time I saw him. In today's game he proved himself to be a solid big guy in a league of 11-12 year-old's. He owned the glass and dropped in several put backs. He was by far the best player on his team. I noticed he played with composure and a level-head. His teammates looked up to him. Kids on my team knew him and respected him. I know it was basketball but I definitely got the sense that he has matured and is on a good path.

After the game I went up to him and shook his hand and told him who I was and the school where I once worked. It took a second, but then he did recognize me. After he remembered who I was, the handshake turned into a hug initiated by him. Between that and the smile on his face, my soul was given a dose of pride. This is why I do what I do! I know he remembers me in a positive light. That feeling is so rewarding. It also tells me to keep fighting the good fight. Keep giving extra attention to the most difficult kids. No matter how hard it is, show all your students that you care. Never give up on troubled students. These are the students we must champion! I wish that every educator that reads this is one day rewarded with a moment like this one. What we do makes a difference!

Perspective

This fall I have participated in a professional development course that's been an interactive book study of George Couros' The Innovator's Mindset. One of our assignments of the book student was to shadow a student and reflect upon the experience. This past Friday, I shadowed a randomly selected 5th grader.


This was a very interesting experience. I had to remind myself that I was there to seek out the student perspective and not observe/evaluate a teacher. As an administrator, observations and evaluations can become very routine and instinctual. I wasn't there to evaluate I was there for the experience of viewing school through the eyes of a student. This experience reminded me that the student perspective is by far the most important. I was able to see how students perceived different parts of their days. I could infer which classes they enjoy. They bounced to the parts of their day that excited them and basically dragged themselves to the unfavorable parts.

Our day started in Art Class. The students seemed to be very comfortable here. They thrived on the routine. Art class seemed therapeutic for students. The painting and sketching came natural for them. They were relaxed and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to engage in casual conversations as they worked. Maybe it is because there is little pressure as far as grading is concerned. 

The most powerful moment of the experience occurred during this period of the day.  During art, the students at the table I was located at were working and talking. The casual banter began with the students asking me why I was there. I explained and they began offering me their thoughts on school. About this time, the fourth student at our table arrived to school. After explaining why I was there, the conversation continued. I asked her if she was late to school because she missed the bus. I was expecting an answer like, "we overslept" or something else typical. Her answer surprised me immensely. The family issue she cited and explained so casually blew me away. I am not going into details out of respect of her privacy. However, I will stress it was an example of the unbelievable amount of baggage our students often come to us with. Many of our students have such challenging home lives. The rest of the day I couldn't help but notice how normal she acted. I couldn't get over how she focused on her work. It was amazing to see her act like the other students. She was kind to her classmates and well-behaved. I couldn't help but think on how she could have acted. She didn't act as if she was mad at the world. This child has grit. She overcomes daily struggles that are extremely difficult for adults to deal with and for the most part no one around her would ever guess!   
Other topics that this honest conversation covered were also eye-opening. Two of the kids at the table loved everything about school. One girl in particular said that school is fun and that she wants to get a good education so she can get a good job and not have to work in fast food. The student with the family issue referred to it as being like "jail". When I asked her to expand her thoughts, she offered because "we can't do what we want to do." The fourth child said that the best part of school is the free lunch. I also heard: "The only thing I like about school is seeing my friends. I don't like learning. It's boring and it's hard." The student did go on to add, "even though it's hard and boring I have to do good on my EOG's so I can make it to 6th grade." Another student added her opinion that, "I think students should be able to have their phones in their back pockets." I pretty much agree with her statement.  

Of the four kids at the table, two kids have attended 5 schools during their elementary careers (in 6 years!). The remaining two have attended 2 and 3 different schools. Lesson here: teach the students you have to the fullest of your ability, we never know how long we will have them. We might not have another chance other than today to make a difference in their lives. 

Recess was another highlight of the shadowing experience. The student I was shadowing played kickball, so I joined in the game. I was all-time pitcher. It was another opportunity to see the students in a setting where they obviously seemed more comfortable. There was little pressure. It was fun. They had freedom. They could interact. If kickball got boring they could go slide or play tag. I understand our classrooms cannot be entirely like recess. There needs to be structure but choice and freedom need to be a huge part of our classrooms. 

Students love an animated and excited teacher. They don't care what you are talking about if you are animated. If the teacher is excited about the topic, the students will watch and absorb. If you talk without energy you will bore them. Also, they clearly like to be included in the lesson. Insert a discussion part to your lessons. Students look forward to it and will gladly participate.

Shadowing a student is a practice I highly encourage all fellow educators to try. Teachers, administrators, and decision-makers can all benefit from taking the opportunity to see things once again from the eyes of a student. 

My final thoughts are that we need to work on developing our "why" in the classroom. There is always room to grow in the relevance and the relationship departments. We must continue to work towards improving our students perceptions towards school. We must work to build better relationships with students. We must make our classrooms important to them. As educators we need to stay grounded to the "why" we teach. We must remember "why" we do what we do. If we remember our "why", our "what" will take care of itself. Our "what" is after all the life-changing business. 

Education is a Team Sport

By nature I am a competitive person. I want to arrive to work first. I want to be the best assistant principal. I want my favorite sports teams to always win. I want to pick the shortest and fastest moving line at the grocery store. I want to beat my son at FIFA '17. I think there are many examples where being competitive is a good thing. Recently I have reigned in my importance on competition, especially at work. It is more important for me to be a good teammate than to out perform anyone. I believe one of the most important character traits an individual can possess is to be a good teammate. Being able to lift up those around us is so important. Offering others kind, encouraging words costs nothing. Being a good teammate allows us to add value to our teams, organizations, and schools at no cost. When our teammates improve, we improve. 

Collaboration and communication make up two of the "Four C's" of 21st Century Learning. They are as important skills for educators to display as they are for us to help students develop. How can we expect our students to be help each other if we do not model it for them?

I should support fellow assistant principals, not compete against them. They are not my rivals, they are my teammates. I should communicate with them. There is plenty that I can learn from them. By supporting each other we all benefit.  In education, we must remember that we are all on the same team. Everyone in your building is your teammate. The bus drivers, the cafeteria staff, the custodians, and the office staff are all your teammates working towards a common goal:  We want to make our school the absolutely best that it can be! Everyone who works in your school has something to offer. We shouldn't think of the other schools in our districts and state as competition, either. 

Our district's superintendent reminded the administrators at the beginning of the year that the time for pulling against each other in public education is over. He did this by having a few schools challenge members of the district office in a match of tug-of-war against. When the match was over, he asked who won. When a few people pointed at the winning side, he poignantly pointed out that when we pull against each other no one wins. This example, was powerful. Over the last few months, this message remains strong and relevant.     

So this week and every week concentrate on being a good teammate. Make those around you better. Support your team. Give them a boost through your positivity.

  The competition that we benefit from the most is within ourselves.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”-Margaret Mead

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." -Helen Keller

Many Thanks

In the honor of the season, I am using this blog post for focusing on what I am thankful for in my school life. I have had the honor of helping open a new elementary school in my district. I have had the opportunity to work alongside and learn from a tremendous principal. It has also been a blessing working with a wonderful staff, who has been up to the challenge of opening a brand-new school.

I am thankful for my school kids. They remind me of my purpose at school. I thank them for their positive, smiling faces. I thank them for their love of learning. I am thankful for their enthusiasm and for showing up everyday.  I am thankful for the students who look out for each other. I love it when the older students look after the younger students on the bus or in the cafeteria at breakfast. I am thankful for the students who I know come from tough home lives but are champions at school anyway. I love to see students display grit. Learning to persevere is one of the top life skills. I am thankful that I am able to witness the young man in third grade who overcomes physical ailments on a daily basis without ever complaining, or even blinking for that matter. I get to watch him plug away each day with a smile on his face. He never feels sorry for himself or compares himself to others. One day he challenged me to a race. During the race, he slipped on the slick, gym floor. In the blink of an eye, he was back on his feet and putting one foot in front of the other. I am thankful for the Gung-Ho 5th grade girl who is a member of every extra curricular activity that we offer. She comes to school early twice a week and stays after school up to twice a week. She is in the Chorus, Science Club, Student Government Association, and a member of the Battle of the Books team. She takes advantage of everything that our school has to offer and excels. This enthusiasm will take her far in life! Most of all, I am thankful for the kids at school because they make me confident that we have a bright future in store for us.

I am thankful for my co-workers at school. I am thankful you are problem solvers and have positive attitudes. I am thankful for my co-workers who champion kids. Thanks for not giving up on students. Thanks for not showing frustrations. Thank you for designing your classroom for all of your students. Your classrooms are such happy places! Thank you for meeting with parents after school. Thank you for sitting in IEP meetings during your planning.Thanks for all the extra time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears you put into your job. You go way above and beyond 40 hours per week. Thank you for offering extra-curricular activities for our students. Thanks for offering Science Club. Thanks for offering before school choir. Thanks for offering Student Government Association. Thanks for offering the Battle of the Books Club. You don't make a dime for offering these wonderful opportunities for our students, but you surely make an impact. I am thankful for my staff who is beginning to branch out and discover all that Twitter offers for personal growth. I am thankful for the instructional assistant, who when assigned the task to drive an activity bus on a field trip, drives to the location in her personal car and on her personal time. She has done that twice so far this year. What dedication! Thanks for going above and beyond for our students!

I am thankful for having the opportunity for learning from a dynamite principal. She supports our teachers so much! Its been amazing to watch her as the opening of our new school has unfolded. She knew exactly what our new classrooms needed. She knew what our teachers needed. She understands what the community demands and expects. Most importantly, she knows what our students require to be successful. She is an efficient problem solver, who expertly plans upcoming events. I have a better respect for the importance of details because of her. She leaves very little to chance. I am thankful for being able to learn from her on a daily basis.

I am also thankful to my Personal Learning Network. I have an awesome group of friends and colleagues that I learn from on Twitter. I even have a small group of peers whom I collaborate with via Voxer, I appreciate their willingness to share. I am also thankful for the Edu Heroes that I look up to. Thanks to innovators like Dave Burgess, George Couros, Adam Welcome, and Todd Neslonely. I admire their passion, enthusiasm, intelligence, and generosity. They have inspired me to challenge myself to grow as an educator.

Thank you to all of my students, coworkers, and fellow educators for the huge impact you have made in my life! I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Wheels on the Bus

This afternoon I accepted an invitation to ride one of my school's buses as it made the afternoon route. Please note the invitation did not come in a formal manner. It came in the form of hyped-up students that forgot how to properly sit in their seats and how to not break local noise ordinances. I may be exaggerating just a tad, however I am working on a theory that our sweet darlings are currently under some type of effect caused by the super moon. This past Monday, the moon was closer to the Earth than it had been in approximately 68 years. I wonder how kids behaved in school during that cycle back in 1948. What did the schools do? (lol) Even though I could have caught up on office work by answering emails or completing various other to-do-list type items, I did my assistant principal duty and rode the bus.   

What a ride! Now this is not my first bus ride. I try to make rounds riding different buses from time to time. Its a great opportunity to observe and learn about our students. 

There are countless reasons that those of us who work in school should ride a "yellow fellow" from time to time. You have an opportunity to have real conversations with students. While on the bus, you are fair game for the students to fire away at you with questions. Its an up, close, and personal chance to serve as a role model for your students. Your mere presence on the bus makes the ride so much easier for the driver. The ride offers a small glimpse of what school/life is like through the eyes of a child. Bus drivers will love you for it by the way. You get to see where the students live. You will see their parents waiting for them at the stop. You will get a glimpse at younger siblings. You can see their pets in the front yard. BTW, any of these can serve as wonderful conversation topics with students. You gain so much authentic perspective. You create a positive memory. They will remember you riding the bus with them for a long time. I often get stopped in the hallway students referencing our rides together.

I heard Ron Clark say once that all teachers are going to Heaven. I think the same is also true for bus drivers. They deserve a pass to the front of the line at the Pearly Gates! Peter probably ushers them in through a special gate. Is there a more important job in schools? They bring students to and from school. They are in charge of their safety for the journey to and from school. Parents place their kid's lives in their hands on a daily basis. These folks don't get rain passes. They can't stay at home because its Siberia-cold outside. They go to bed early so they can crank their buses at Zero Dark Thirty. It can be really a thankless job. Too often they only hear negative feedback. Do something about that. Bus drivers are the first and last school employees kids see each day. Please take the time to thank a bus driver for what they do! Its an act of love and duty. 

So to all of my fellow educators, I challenge you to....Ride a bus. Support a bus driver. Connect with kids. Make a memory. Gain some perspective. Go ahead, get out there and be awesome!

Kindness

Tomorrow is World Kindness Day. The timing couldn't be more perfect because right now the world is in need of more kindness. We need more smiles. More strangers offering a kind word. More encouraging. More compliments, less complaints.

As educators we will have an abundance of opportunities to provide the world with more positivity. Every single interaction is an opportunity. You cannot go wrong by being kind. Being kind adds value, without cost. Before proving to others how intelligent you are or how right you are, take time to show them that you care what they have to say. Show them that you care. When you close your mouth and listen instead of talking you are choosing kind. When you take time to notice a co-workers extra efforts, you are choosing kind. When you thank a kid for tying a classmates shoe, you are choosing kind. These are just a few examples. Within every interaction you will be presented with an opportunity. When it happens, have the discipline to choose kind.

Smile, silence, listening, respect, everyone has a struggle going on in inside of them. 

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

-Wendy Mass

Just keep swimming...

 This week the wise words of the charismatic Disney theologian Dory are ringing through my ears.  In the Disney classic Finding Nemo, just as her and her companion Marlin are entering dark, murky waters she tells him to "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim. " This is a perfect message to my fellow educators right now. It is certainly comforting to me and not only because I am a huge Dory fan. I mean if the kids are going to leave a DVD on repeat in the mini-van I just pray that it is Finding Nemo. 

Dory's message is something I recommend you carry along with you to school each day. Think about Dory. She is kind no matter what. She has a great time wherever she goes. She is positive. She is a good friend. We can all relate to her forgetfulness. I think it is good to be able to forget things quickly and move on. Despite that flaw, she does seem to be able to stay focused on what is important: helping those around her. Education is what we do. It is what we are built for! We are prepared. We have the skills. Just keep plugging away. Show up everyday to school and give it your all. You are doing the right work. As you put your heart and soul into your students everyday never forget that it is indeed all worth it. The struggle will  bring success. I indeed think we all need to be more like Dory. As I leave you to go watch the epic sequel, Finding Dory, I simply say.....


"Just keep teaching, teaching, teaching. What do we do? We teach, teach!"

A Simple Teddy Bear

I have to share a pretty remarkable story from school this week that touched my heart. It is one of the experiences that keeps me coming back. It has meant a lot to me and I hope other educators benefit from the story as well.

The story begins with Red Ribbon Week. As you know, this is the week we encourage students to pledge to be drug free. Each day has a theme that allows students to participate via their dress or actions. There was backwards day, team day, bring in canned foods day, bright clothing day, and pajama day. Throughout the week, my principal and myself did our best to participate. Our thinking was to enthusiastically set the tone for the entire school to show school spirit and participate in this wonderful event. It took stepping out a little, but we thoroughly enjoyed participating.

Pajama Day posed a challenge. I personally do not own pajamas that can also pass for assistant principal attire. My idea for participating was to borrow one of my childrens' teddy bears to use as a prop. Borrowing a teddy bear turned into a larger challenge than I originally envisioned. I got caught red-handed by my 2 year-old, Olivia, snagging one of her teddy bears. Olivia naturally wanted this teddy bear upon seeing me pick it up out of the corner of her room. She was not having it. I had to give it back to her and continue about getting ready for work. I  waited her out. She went back to watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She lost focus and laid Teddy down. Like a ninja, I jumped into action, scooped up Teddy, and placed him in my work bag. All was good. Mission complete. Not so fast....my usually unaware 6th grader happens to see Teddy hanging out in dad's work bag and decides to return it to his darling, younger sister. At this point, I am trying to walk out the door to begin carpools and drop-offs. I ask Olivia if I can borrow Teddy and she says no (her favorite word). At this point I did not want to accept defeat. I still wanted to participate in PJ Day. There was only one way to make it work. I had to call in my wife for back-up. She stepped up like a champ. She quickly assessed the situation, bit the bullet, snatched Teddy from Olivia's grasp, and handed it to me. At this point, Olivia screams like a banshee. She screamed exactly like she did when she got her flu shot last Saturday. This was a fairly traumatic way to leave in the morning. It was pretty tough seeing her so distraught as I left. Long story short, I called to check on her and she had made a remarkable recovery within 2 minutes.

I greet the students at the bus lot as the bell rings. They are all wearing their pajamas. They think it is pretty cool that their assistant principal is carrying a teddy bear. Teddy is asked to give out a few hugs to kindergarten students and 1st graders. Teddy was a hit and he allowed me to participate in pajama day. It was worth the early morning drama. Then something unexpected happened.

One of my most tough, unique, and challenging 5th graders approaches me at breakfast and very earnestly asks to hold Teddy. For this blog, we will call him Freddy. At first I was defensive. I thought Freddy was being funny. I just knew this was leading somewhere inappropriate. In my mind Teddy was either going to lose his head, or "bear" minimum, learn some risky dance moves. Freddy assured me that he was serious, that he just wanted to hold on to him for the day. I explained the origins of the teddy bear. I told him who it belonged to and even the challenging story of the morning. Freddy genuinely wanted this bear. I gave in. I explained to him that I was going to walk around the school with him for a bit but that I would stop by his classroom and see if I could work something out with his teachers.

About 30 minutes later, I stop in and ask his teacher how Freddy was doing. After receiving a positive report I sat Teddy on the desk of Freddy. In a comical way, I address Teddy. I ask him to keep an eye on Freddy and to report any problems directly to me. As I walked out the door, I could already see the smile on Freddy's face. Throughout the day, I stopped by to check in on Freddy and Teddy. Each time I simply saw him holding Teddy while he was working or Freddy working with Teddy sitting on his desk. I asked his teachers how it was going and made sure that my intention was for Teddy not to be an incentive for Freddy to interrupt class. All three of his teachers assured me that it had not been a problem and that it actually seemed to help.

I went along my day. I did my normal assistant principal duties. No one seemed to mind too much that my participation in pajama day was non existent. We dismiss around 4:00. At 3:15. I stopped by Freddy's room to pick up Teddy so I could return it to my feisty two-year old. I was met with resistance. Freddy begged me to let me keep him until the end of the day. I am a softy so I agreed. "Fine, just hand him to me as you get on the bus." This made Freddy happy. Sure enough, before he loaded his bus Freddy came up to me and handed me Teddy. He noted that he didn't mess with him and thanked me.

On my way back from bus duty I reflected back on the whole incident and was floored. I could not believe the impact that this Teddy Bear had on my tough, sometimes-ornery 5th grader. I remarked to my principal on how much it seemed to mean to him. I described how he had held that Teddy Bear as if he was holding a baby brother or something else that was precious to him. I went home and shared the story with my wife (a fellow educator). The story soon touched her as much as it had touched me.

It was then that a wonderful plan was hatched. My wife handed me Teddy and said "you are taking this bear back to that school and giving him to that boy." This was not a question or a suggestion. This was going to happen. She explained that we had plenty of teddy bears and that the girls would never miss this one. We talked about how he might not have ever had a teddy bear before. The thought of a child not having a teddy bear is both inconceivable and unfortunately likely at the same time. The decision was made. Freddy would be receiving a present the next day at school. My wife carefully wrapped Teddy for Freddy and I wrote the following note:

Freddy,
Please accept this gift as a reminder that you are an exceptional, young man. You have people here at Micro Elementary who believe in you and know you will go on to do great things. Please take care of Teddy and always remember that you can do anything that you choose to do.
Sincerely,
Mr. Parrish

The next day, Freddy came to the office at an opportune time. I invited him in my office. On my desk sat his present. He sits down and clearly doesn't think the present it is for him. I tell him that the present is his. He reaches into the bag, sees what is inside, and broadly smiles. He makes a comment about having taking care of the bear yesterday and not messing it up. I told him that I knew he took good care of him and that "Teddy is yours now." He reaches further into the bag and reads my note. After a short pause, he coolly says, "thank you." The look on his face also said how appreciative he was. Freddy received a gift, but so did I.

I am as proud of this moment of any other thing I have ever done in my educational career. I believe in this moment I created a positive memory that will out live me. With the help of my wife and my two-year old, on this day, I made a difference.

    

Important Information Regarding Tomorrow (Action)

Attention All Teachers:

It is your duty to complete the following list:

1. Thank your students for being your students.
2. Fist bump or high five 100 students at your school.
3. If you see a student who is sad, mad, or alone make them smile and/or laugh.
4. Play with students at recess. Kickball is my personal favorite but don't sleep on me at Dodge Ball.
5. Learn the names of any staff members who you do not know.
6. Learn the names of 5 students who are on your hall but not in your class.
7. Tell a co-worker that they are awesome and you appreciate what they do for kids.
8. Plan an exciting lesson for next week that students will brag to their friends about.
9. Call at least two parents and brag on their children.
10. Leave your teacher bag at school when you leave for the day.

I expect a full report upon completion.

Be sure to enjoy each and every moment at school. We have the best job in the world!

Because of me

This week I challenge my peers to focus on the great contributions they are making in the world. Not just at their schools but at their homes. I want folks to celebrate the positive things that are happening in their neighborhoods because of them. The purpose is not to brag or bring attention to ourselves but to rejoice and take pride in the positive impacts that we are making. This doesn't mean we are satisfied. We are not finished products. We are all in this for the long haul and are dedicated to constant self-improvement. Celebrating our accomplishments is a way to continue the positive momentum. The goal is to keep the mojo flowing. We are celebrating on the positive to continue the trend onward and upward.

I intend to start a movement (however small) where we celebrate our accomplishments. We have so much to be proud of. There are great things going on in our schools and in our lives because of our efforts. Because of things that we do, the world is a better place. The rest of this week's blog will be used to celebrate things that happen because of me.

Because of me, my beautiful, selfless wife has someone to be her best friend. She has someone who supports her 100%. Because of me, she does not need to worry if she is loved or if anyone is on her side. She has someone who will help her decompress from a long day. She has someone who will tell her the truth and maybe an occasional white lie. Because of me, she has someone who encourages her professionally. She has someone who helps her with household chores. She has someone who will help her bathe children, cook dinner, and wash dishes (one of my better talents). Because of me, my wife has an appreciation for sports. Because of me, my wife has been the champion of a fantasy football league. I make a difference in the life of my wife.

Because of me, my four sweet, wonderful children have someone who encourages them. Because of me, my children have someone who teaches them to be responsible. They have someone teach them to be good people. Someone to teach them to challenge themselves. They have someone who will make them email their teachers if they have a questions about an assignment. Because of me, my children have someone rooting for them at their soccer games (maybe even embarrass them a little) Because of me, my children have someone who reads to them. Because of me, my children know how to make fun of themselves. Because of me, my children have someone who plays with them. They have someone who tickles them. They have someone who chases them around the house. Because of me, my son has someone he can dominate at FIFA 17. I make a difference in the lives of my children.

Because of me, students at school have regular, positive interactions with an adult. They have someone who smiles at them. They have someone who gives them high fives. Because of me, students have someone who will search through the garbage can if they accidentally throw their glasses away at lunch. They have someone who will tie their shoes and get the knots out. They have someone who will fix their bookbags when the zippers get stuck. They have someone who celebrates their successes. Because of me, students at my school have at least one adult who loves them and wants great things for them. Because of me, students at my school will be disciplined fairly and respectfully. Because of me, students have someone who will notice them and give them kind words. I make a difference in the lives of the students at my school.

Because of me, my teachers will be greeted with a smile each day. Because of me, teachers will have an assistant principal who understands the blood, sweat, and tears that they put into their classrooms. They have someone who understands how much they care for their students. Because of me, teachers have someone who will encourage them to innovate. They will have someone who thinks a new idea is a great idea. Because of me, teachers have someone who will listen and support them. They have someone who will encourage them. They have an assistant principal who remembers what it is like to be a teacher. I make a difference in the lives of the teachers at my school.

As educators, we are constantly critical of ourselves. Sometimes we need to take a step back and realize the good we do for all the people we come in contact with throughout the day. Please take the time to share some of the wonderful that happens positive in your world because of you. Celebrate yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back. It will help you focus on why you do what you do. There are some awesome educators out there, far greater than me. I cannot wait to hear what they have to share. Use the hashtag #BCofMe. 

Be an #Eduhero with Crazy #EdSwag

My weekly post almost fell victim to negativity. My topic was going to be titled "Don't be a troll!" Luckily, my chrome book did not fall under the troll's bridge. It was close. I was going to blog away on the topic of teachers whose attitudes remind me that of trolls. Trolls are moody. They are snarky. They are not the teachers they want to be. They are teachers who under plan, plan boringly, or set up engagement free classrooms. I was going to blog away about trolls and say "don't be a troll." I was going to write a post about confronting trolls. If you see someone walking around with an angry face and their arms crossed stage an anti-troll intervention...OMG I am blogging about edu-trolls!!!

I came to the realization that there is just too much positive in the world of education right now to focus on the negative. It is not like a troll was going to read my blog anyway. I'd rather challenge all of my fellow educators to dare to chase their dreams. I am more excited about education than I have ever been before. With that being said here is my proverbial call to arms.

Be the educator you dream you are. You can be Ron Clark. You can be Dave Burgess. You can follow in the steps of your #eduhero. Heck, you can overshadow your #eduhero. You do not have to settle for mediocrity. You can be the best teacher in your school or even your district. More importantly you can be the best teacher your students could dream of, right now! You can be the best teammate. You can turn students on to learning. You can change the world one child at the time!

Coaches implore players to leave it all out on the court. I am imploring you to leave it all out on your classroom floors. When you shut your door in the afternoons or more likely early evenings. Walk away with pride in that you taught your butt off today and that no one in the world could have done it better. Carry yourself with #edswag because you know what a huge difference you make each day.

Don't be afraid to try an outside the box idea. George Couros challenges us to be creative inside the box. Do that, too. Start a new initiative at your school. Try a new instructional style. Dare to be exciting. See what happens when your students see you caught up in the excitement of your own lesson. Intricately plan your lessons. Think about every tiny detail of your lesson. Design your lessons so students do not want to miss out. Ask yourself; if my students did not have to be in my classroom would they choose to come anyway? How can I design my teaching so that students would hate to miss it? What parts of my room do they love? Which do they hate? How can I make it better?

Reach out and grab the positive. Overcome negativity. Be the educator that you want to be. You are in control of your educational destiny. I hope you choose to be an #eduhero with crazy #edcred. Breathe life into your classrooms, your teams, and your schools. Like Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." There is not a better time than today.

Writing this blog reminded me of a quote from Haim Ginott on the power of teachers. I hope it helps you reflect like it has for me.

"I've come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized."

This Week I Shall Roar

My goal this week is to be a lion. Wherever I am this week I will do my best lion impersonation. Don't worry, I will not be stalking around on all fours or roaring at unsuspecting visitors! My hope is to channel the focus of a lion at school. Have you ever watched lions up close? I have. Not on safari on the Serengeti, but I watch them all the time on TV. From Animal Planet, to Amazon, to viral videos shared on YouTube I am a fan of these fierce felines. I hope that I am successful in being just like them this week.

Lions have the most amazing ability to be totally engulfed with whatever they are doing. When hunting, all their senses are focused on their prey. Their ears are tuned for the softest sound. Their eyes keen to slightest of movements. They are deciding which water buffalo is weakest. When to make their move? When sleeping they do not move. They sleep with their whole beings. Seemingly nothing could disturb them. Not a playful cub or 1,000 annoying flies. They can sleep on command and with no restlessness. No multitasking whatsoever. Regardless of what they are doing they are 100% invested.

I listened to a Ted Talk a few months ago given by a gentleman named Boyd Varty. He is a South African conservationist who has invested countless hours observing animals in their natural habitat. The talk highlights his experiences with animals of the Savannah and a lesson filled encounter he had as a youth with Nelson Mandela. The part of his talk that made the biggest impression on me however was when he talked about lions.  He spoke of them being totally in the moment, being in rhythm with all that is around them. My favorite line of the talk was that lions are " always where they are."  At the bottom of the blog I have left a link to his Ted Talk. I highly recommend taking the time to check it out.

Anyway, I digress. This post is supposed to be on the importance of focusing. This week I aim to operate with the focus of a lion. If someone enters my office I will stop reading email (or whatever task I am involved in)and give them my complete attention. I will tune out other thoughts. I will ignore my phone buzzing. I will give everyone and every task my total attention. While on bus duty, I will be completely there for the students. Wishing them a good day, reminding them to make good decisions, and to offer high fives. I will make prioritized to-do-lists. I will ignore distractions and be as "in the moment" as possible.
 
I believe we can all be in the moment more. I had to pry my iPhone out of my hand, ignore my fantasy football score, and tune-out Once Upon A Time streaming on Netflix (shout out to my awesome wife, Meagan) in order to muster the attention needed to type this blog post.  Okay, I exaggerate a little, but it is a goal of mine to increase my ability to focus on a lone task. I want to focus on a task, complete it well, and move on the next one. I think we are not being honest with ourselves when we claim to effectively multi-task. If you are working on multiple tasks at once, one of them is given less attention than the other. This lack of attention surely results in work that is less than our best and our performance suffers. When focused, I am more likely to act with intention and clarity. I am more likely to be the best version of my self possible. Wish me luck and be where you are.

Boyd Varty Ted Talk

Beat the Funk

I had a slight case of the Monday's this week. All of my fellow Office Space aficionados understand that is when you feel slightly blah on a Monday. The rain may have been to blame or it maybe it was because my family had a big weekend of soccer games, cookouts, fall festivals, etc and I was tired. It didn't hit me until the late afternoon. There was not a big scene. I didn't get short with anyone. There just was about a 20 minutes span where I was quiet and not my usual outgoing self. I wasn't smiling. I didn't ask people how they were doing. I didn't have a pep in my step. The worst part was, I know people noticed. One of my most trusted co-workers asked me if I was okay. She asked me twice. If she noticed, it is likely that students and other teachers noticed, too. The people I strive to be a champion for cannot see me caught in a moment like that! As I reflect back I cannot pinpoint any particular trigger. For a brief period the hustle and bustle of the job got in the way of the educator that I aim to be. I have just recently began blogging for the purpose of reflection and growth. I have been blogging about things that I am passionate or excited about. Then the COTM happened! I think it is only fitting that I try to learn, grow, and reflect about this experience as well.

My wake-up call was when my friend checked on me for the second time. She might as well said "Earth to TJ, Earth to TJ!" "You are being ridiculous!" I realized that the bad feelings that I was experiencing on the inside were visible and obvious to everyone around me who had a pulse. Luckily, at this moment I began turning it around. I am very thankful of this dependable and supportive friend. I thought of something I heard one of my #eduhero's say on a recent podcast. Todd Nesloney (co-author of Kids Deserve It!) told a story where he was having a bad morning and he found strength in simply repeatedly telling people that he was "fantastic." If you say it enough times you can eventually convince yourself that everything is okay and that your issues will be resolved. As you make a concentrated effort to talk in a positive manner, you can put the pep back into your step. If we want our schools to be positive and productive we must model this as much as possible!

It is easy to look back at our accomplishments and successes with pride. You should do that. We must enjoy our successes whenever we can. Thinking back to moments like Monday can also be valuable. It was a mistake. It was unnecessary. I can do better. I have very high expectations for myself. I strive to improve each and everyday.  My goal is to learn about it so that it is less likely to happen again. 

My message to fellow educators is to always remember that it is our responsibility to be there for our students. We need to be the consistent, positive influence role models our kids need everyday. Take care of yourself when you can. Find and focus on the positive going on in your schools everyday. Support your peers. Hold each other accountable and challenge one another to always be your best. 

  

Upgrade yourself

I updated my iPhone to the latest software version, iOS 10.0.1. This update seems more encompassing than most. Email and text messages look totally different and there seem to be much more emoji options. It took me a day or two to get used to the new format and there are plenty of new features that I have yet to master or even discover. Instead of swiping to get to your password, you must hit the home button. I am still adapting to that change! Overall, the new update makes the iPhone more user friendly than it was and has more capabilities.

I began thinking about how Apple must approach the update process. They must plan, experiment, analyze, and reflect intensely to achieve everything needed for an update. Surely they survey users and find out what they are looking for. They must cycle through their steps many times over before they have a finished product. It must be a non-stop process. I am confident that they are already working on the next few upgrades. They surely cannot rest on their laurels. They have competition from several different companies. They must keep their customers satisfied.

As I pondered on how Apple accomplished this update, I made a comparison to what today's educators must do. We must constantly be seeking ways to improve our classrooms, our teams, and our schools to keep up with the latest demands of our students because they are always changing. We have to satisfy our customers who are our students! The world of education is evolving faster now than ever before. Educators must have an innovation plan for themselves. I have heard all of the analogies to the medical world. When we need a medical procedure we do not ask them to use best practices from 30 years ago. We want our medical team to implement the latest, innovative, yet proven strategies. We want what is best for our health. Similarly, real educators crave what is best for their students. We must be working on a better version of ourselves to unveil to students. Today's version is the best available version, but what are we doing to improve tomorrow's version? What tweaks and innovations are we preparing? What are we doing to get better for our students? All educators should be in the "lab" developing their next jaw-dropping version that will blow learners away!

Reflect:  The power of reflection is huge. Merely thinking about and playing over lessons and days is extremely beneficial to our practice. Asking ourselves questions is huge. As you drive home, ponder questions like the following is a worthwhile exercise (drive safe as you reflect!):  Did the lesson go as intended? How was it perceived by the students? What worked? What did not work? Were all students engaged? Did the lesson achieve the desired outcome? Was it challenging enough? How can it be improved upon? If I taught it again what would I change? What can I do better tomorrow?

Brainstorm: After reflecting, go back to the drawing board. Think of new ideas. Search Pinterest, Twitter, or where ever you go for new ideas. I cannot plug Twitter enough for its ability to act as our own personal PD machine. Search a hashtag that matches your classroom or area of expertise. I guarantee you will find a network of educators already sharing their thoughts on what is important in your realm. The #ObserveMe hashtag on Twitter has loads of examples of teachers sharing what they have focused as they have developed the latest version of themselves. Teachers are basically laying out the focuses of their classrooms and are demanding feedback. How empowering this is!

Sit down with a teammate and pick their brain. Find out what they are doing and see if their idea can be incorporated into your classroom. Listen to the students and see what they are talking about. Incorporating their likes and interests into lessons and activities is always a successful recipe.

Challenge:  Set goals. Make expectations high. Don't allow yourself to be complacent. There is another version of yourself waiting to be unleashed on the world. Just like the next iPhone update it will take work, time and effort. So be patient and steadily plug away on your constant growth.

Plan:  Be intentional. We can't just try every idea that we come across or think of the very next day. Take your time and be sure to think things through. Make a timeline. Plug small goals and tasks into your calendar. Work with a partner and hold each other accountable. Ben Williams, a principal that I've worked for, loves to say "Plan the work and work the plan." When you put more thought into your work, the product is always better. Recently I team taught a lesson with a 5th grade math teacher. It was a Breakout EDU activity that lasted about an hour. I easily invested 6 hours in preparing for that lesson. It was successful but far from perfect. We executed it three times. Each time we learned something new or found a better way to frame a small portion of the activity. One of my favorite takeaways from Dave Burgess and his book Teach Like a Pirate is his attention to detail. He talks about planning every last detail of a lesson. What will be written on the board when students walk in? Will there be music playing? Will the lights be dimmed? Challenge yourself to always put as much thought as you can into your lesson plans.

Release the upgrade:  When you are prepared and ready. Put your new ideas to work in your classroom. Keeping things the same will bore both you and your students. Your students cannot be excited about what you are doing if you are not.

Repeat: Remember we will never get "there". We must constantly evolve and work on the next version of ourselves. We must constantly reinvent the wheel. We must challenge ourselves to constantly improve. Our world is forever changing and to stay relevant so must we. Many teachers have found ways to integrate Pokemon Go into their classrooms. Great for them! They will also find ways to implement the next hot craze that motivates students. Do not get left behind. Abandon the thought that your classroom can remain the same. Be brave and take calculated, intentional risks.

What will students say about you?

Have you ever heard students talk honestly about teachers? I have. Sometimes it is flattering and positive. Other times it is sad and depressing. Here are some examples of how this conversation could go: 

Whose class were you in last year? Did you enjoy that class?  The next sentence could be. 

I had Mrs. "So-in-So" She was awesome. She is the best. He is my favorite. 

Or it could go something like this:

She was always mad. He was funny. He didn't like me. She was tough. He was always busy. 

The response is usually short and I've also found that it is either positive or negative. Very rarely is it a neutral review. You teach a kid for a year, 180 days. That is 1,440 hours. They will be able to sum you up in a blurb. In one sentence.  It will be based on how you made them feel most of the time or how you made them feel one particular time. They could have felt awesome and empowered or disrespected and mortified. This snapshot could be justified or unjustified. We must be intentional with our actions as we serve our students. We believe in them. We are their champion. They are better because they are our students. No matter how tough a student is, we can still prove to them that we are a caring adult that wants good things for them. 

What message are you sending kids? What do you want them saying about you? I want the following: 

He is Mr. Parrish. He cares about us, he believe in me. If I don't to the right thing he will call my mama. I can come to him with anything because he has my back. He is fair and he treats me right. He listens. I want to be like him. 

It sure beats: He won't do anything. He won't show up for me. He doesn't care. He doesn't listen to me. He doesn't even know my name.  

Seize all opportunities that you have to make a positive difference in the life of a child. Never forget the impact that a positive, caring adult can have. Deliver discipline with dignity. Model that we may not always agree with each other but we can always respect one another. Give high fives and hugs often. Look a student in the eye and tell them that you believe in them. Smile and tell them hello. Call their mom because you saw them make a caring gesture. Tell them you have their back. Encourage them. Tell them to have a good day and you look forward to seeing them again tomorrow.   

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."-Ghandi

My review of Kids Deserve It!

I fell in love with this book starting with the title. I feel a strong connection to its message and recommend it to anyone who works in a school. The book itself is an enjoyable read. It does not rely on research or jargon. It is easy to read and apply to everyday school life regardless your role. The chapters are short and perfect for busy educators who strive to fit in as much personal development as possible in the midst of a bust schedule. As I've read the book and shared my thoughts on Twitter I've had the opportunity to interact with the authors, Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome. They are highly active on Twitter, Periscope, and Voxer. They are both very responsive and clearly practice what they preach in their book. I kinda feel like I know Todd and Adam. They both have what I call "Ed Cred". They are still in education, not retirees who only speak at conferences. They are real practitioners and they know what it's like in schools today.  It's the perfect fuel for all educators who serve on the front lines of public education. It reminds us all why we chose to be educators. KDI meshes two major themes: giving students our all and being innovative risk takers as we go. It's exactly what this 15 year veteran needed to read over the summer. It definitely helped me get fired up for the 2016-2017 school year. KDI has had a huge impact on my daily performance as an assistant principal so far this school year. I'm all in on KDI. My staff is participating in an innovative book study with it this fall. As we read, we will be responding and reflecting via Twitter. I am also hoping to convince Todd and Adam to hold a Google Hangout with us during a staff meeting. Maybe they will read this shameless plug and be game! I cannot wait until our KDI book study begins. It will be so exciting to see the impact this great book has on my teammates and more importantly I cannot wait until I am able to see the impact it has on our students. Order the book today and thank me later because......Kids Deserve It!

Help the kids that need it the most.

If we do nothing else as educators this year and every year we must go out of our way to help our neediest students. By needy I mean the students who are always in trouble, who don't like school, who never have their homework, and who may have little support at home. The students who other educators warn us about. These students know failure all too well. Lets make it our mission that this year they also taste some success. I love working with "problem" children and try to make it my mission to be their champion. Below is what I think is important in making strides with these students.

Respect
The start of most meaningful relationships begins with respect. Kids who are used to getting in trouble are going to be surprised when you show them respect and kindness. It is amazing the difference just showing students kindness can make. Shake their hands. Ask them how they are doing. Be kind to them, especially at times they may not expect it because of their choices.

ListenWhen you talk with students ask them questions and find out what makes them tick. The goal is to engage all students. It helps if we know what they are about in order to prove to them why school can be relevant for them. Learn their names and call them by it every chance you get. This is a small thing that adults can do that goes a long way. Find out what they are interested in. What do they do for fun? What hobbies or extracurricular activities are they involved in? I learned last week that one of the students at my school has been assigned the chore of feeding his familily's chickens and dogs. You better believe I will be asking him how the chickens are doing this week. By listening to students we gain valuable information that can help us connect and reach them.

Be Fair and at times LenientStudents who are habitually in trouble are not going to be very afraid of the consequences. However, we can build rapport with them by showing that we will give them chances and that we are not going to throw the book at them every chance we get. Students need to understand that last year is the past and that you are going to help give them a fresh start. One mistake us educators make is to categorize and hold low expectations for students. Too often they will meet our expectations, however high or low they are. Treat them fairly. Explain to them the process. We must have the ability to discipline students without disrespecting them. Being lenient does not mean that we let students walk over us. One of my personal favorite strategies is to forgive students for a small mistake and then remind them of that leniency down the road. This is a very easy strategy to implement yet I have found it to be quite effective. I have found success with students trying to "pay me back" by making good choices.

Talk with students and Keep it Real with themStudents appreciate it when you keep it real with them. They don't want to be treated like they are babies, dumb, or as if they don't understand. Explain to them the real ramifications of continuously making poor choices. Students with a history of getting in trouble need to learn that every interaction with an authority figure will not be a negative one. It is our job to prove this to them with every opportunity we have. Speak to them by using their jargon. Find out what their nicknames are. It is important to learn about students interests and what makes them "tick" we can help them make goals that are related to their hopes and interests. Again if we can figure out what is important to them we are more likely to make an impact with them. I also like to tell them personal stories from my school days. I share choices that I am proud of and stories that include times that I would like to have had a do-over. They love to hear that we are not perfect. I think it is also important to show them that we can overcome most of life's mistakes.

Help Students Taste SuccessWe must set students up to be successful. Give them accomplishable tasks that will help them gain recognition. Ask them to lead the pledge of allegiance over the intercom. Volunteer them to help carry materials to a teacher's classroom. Use your knowledge of what they are good at to give them jobs that they can be successful with. When students are successful be sure to celebrate the success and then give them an obtainable next step. In closing, we must do everything that is within our power to help students be successful. Please don't ever give up on a student. Be a champion for our students who need us the most.

A Wonderful Opportunity

For an educator the most exciting time of the year is the Fall and the start of a new school year. It is a fresh start, a new beginning, and a special opportunity to make a difference in this troubled world. As we begin this new year I'd like to take my second blog as an opportunity to share 10 pieces of advice to all educators everywhere. These are my keys to a successful year.  Here we go...in no particular order.

1.  Be a good teammate and more importantly a good friend: Support your teammates or your co-teachers, or your administrative team, whoever you work with. Share your good ideas. Listen to your teammates  ideas. Be a patient listener. They may not want you to solve their problems. Most of the time people just need to be heard. Kind words and small acts of kindness go a long way. Have your teammates back and they will have yours.

2. Get connected: Create an Instagram account, Tweet, blog, pin away on Pinterest, whatever. Pick some form of media and reach out to educators across the world. This is an excellent way to learn new ideas and rekindle your passion for learning. Social media allows us to expand our circle. It allows us to network with peers we didn't even know existed and be the captains of our own Professional Development.

3.  Quality over quantity:  Its not how many lessons you teach or how many of the Common Core Standards you cover. Its more important that we offer deep learning experiences for students. Create memorable learning experiences for them that they will not forget. Delve deep into lessons. Remember that an outstanding lesson cannot be contained to an hour lesson. Plan lessons that take several class periods to complete. Taking the time to really focus on topics and ideas equates to deeper learning for our students.

4. Stay in the moment:  Don't let the wonderful, everyday small moments at school pass you by. Too often we educators allow ourselves to over focus on mundane tasks, looming deadlines, etc.  We become distracted to the point that we can miss the extraordinary things going on in front of us on a daily basis.   Don't miss opportunities to shake a child's hand, tell them "good morning", or ask them how their ballgame went.

5.  Involve your parents:  Make them feel welcome in your classroom. Keep them informed.  Reach out to them. Find out what they want this school year for their children. Form a partnership. Having their support will only help you reach their child more. Find out what they think works best for their child. They hold key information regarding their child's learning styles and motivations.  Call, email, or message them with positive news. Don't allow the first interaction with them to be about something negative.

6.  Empower students:  Give them real leadership opportunities in your classroom and in your schools. This is a step further than engagement. Allow them to have a voice and to make decisions that impact the pathway of their learning. Facilitate more, lecture less. Give them real responsibilities. Challenge them. Make them think for themselves and make difficult decisions. If they struggle be there to encourage them to keep at it.

7.  Don't sweat the small stuff:  Many times we allow ourselves to get caught up in problems that are actually inconsequential. We allow ourselves to stress out about things that don't really matter. Before you get too upset, ask yourself, "Does this really matter?" or "Is this really that big of a deal?" More times than not we will find that these problems are simply solved or unimportant. Don't let a bad 5 minutes snowball into a bad day. Don't allow small things to get in the way of your lofty goals.

8. Let your hair down:  Let your true self out. Let the students see your passion. Plan your instruction so that it will be enjoyable for you to deliver. Let students get to know you. Being authentic will allow you to be more approachable. It will also become more likely that the learning you lead will stick better with students.

9.  Remember that every interaction that you have with someone has the potential to be the bright spot of their day: The smile you give a student or co-worker could be the only smile they see all day. The kind word you offer could help them shake off a negative thought. Do not underestimate the positive impact we can have on each other with simple kind acts. Take time to greet your students as they walk in the door. Make them feel special and make sure they know you care about them. On a daily basis be a champion for your students.

10.  Challenge yourself:  Be the best version of yourself as possible. You have the opportunity to be better than you were last year.  You can reach more students than last year. You have the chance to try more innovative strategies. Abandon your comfort zones. Demand more of yourself. Personalize instruction better for your students. Don't settle for average.  Set goals for yourself. Hold yourself accountable by adhering to a timeline. Do not settle for less than your best. Go home every night knowing that you were the best teacher you could have been each day. You can do this!

The Struggle is Real

My goal this summer was to focus on improving my leadership capability. I assigned myself summer reading. This list consisted of Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath, The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros, and Kids Deserve It! by Todd Neslonely and Adam Welcome. Dave Burgess's Teach Like a Pirate is up next. The interesting thing is I've read the three at the same time, during different times of the day. I've enjoyed this rather than finishing one and then moving on. It has suited my untreated adult ADHD well. As I write this, I'm pages away from finishing Innovator's Mindset and David and Goliath. These texts have been inspiring and have helped re-energize me for the upcoming school year. I'll focus more on thoughts from all three books in a later blog but now I want to focus on the idea of having a growth mindset. (Growth Mindset by Susan Dweck is also on deck.)

My oldest daughter is 8. I will preface this story by stating that she is sweet, loving, and thoughtful. She endears her know-it-all older brother and is the best big sister to her 2 younger sisters. But right now she is going through a stage where she has been giving up easily and abandoning difficult tasks. The girl easily mouths the words "I can't" 50 times a day. She uses it as a crutch...her out, her white flag. When I hear the repulsive "I can't" I hit her with my best stink eye look I can muster. At gymnastics class she peers over at the experienced girls, who've been gymnasts since they were toddlers, with envy. She doesn't understand that in her one year of classes  (1 night per week) she cannot expect to be as skilled as those who've taken classes for years, several nights a week. I tell her, that doesn't mean you can't do what they do, eventually. Their skills developed over time and so can yours.  Watching her and thinking about her has made me compare her "I can't" habit with something I see at school.

Too often I hear educators talk or focus on what kids can't do. I am including myself in this. Unfortunately I can remember making excuses for a student's behavior or undesired achievement by saying he/she just can't do that. Maybe if I'd only phrased it as "He can't do that right now, but if I try strategy X,Y, or Z maybe he can progress." We can't lower our expectations for students or focus on what they can't do. We must focus our energy on growing them, building them up from where they currently are in hopes of helping them create a better version of themselves. We use "she can't" as our crutch and our excuse for our poor performance as educators. Don't give up on students and don't stop trying to reach them just because they perform "poorly" or struggle. 

Struggle. That is where I want to go next. My son is starting middle school this year. He has attended school with his assistant principal dad every year of his school career. Over the years he has had some phenomenal teachers who've helped make him into the fine young man he is today. He had a great elementary school career and it will be bittersweet not having him in the car with me to and from school. However, the one thing that never happened for him was a learning opportunity that presented him with great difficulty. Students need opportunities that trouble them and make them think. Not that he wasn't challenged, he was, I just never really saw him bring home a struggle that required deep thought, reflection, and time to process. I want him to face challenges. The growth opportunities that I remember best were getting him to write neat, stay organized, and check over his work. I want there to be questions that he can't answer right now. I don't want his learning processes to always be easy for him. To prepare him for life and career he needs to learn how to make mistakes, struggle, fail, and be frustrated. I firmly believe success requires blood, sweat, and tears. Struggling will also teach him to be resilient, rebound, rethink ideas, and learn from his mistakes.  Too often as parents and as educators we focus on keeping everyone happy. Growth does not occur in our comfort zone! Don't get me wrong. I do want him to be happy and enjoy school, I just want school to be challenging for him. I wouldn't mind getting a phone call or email from his teacher giving me a heads-up that he had a hard time at school on a particular day. Maybe his experiment failed. Maybe he couldn't find the flaw in his summary or he couldn't narrow the topic of his Genius Hour project. I would welcome such news. I think back to my own teaching experiences as a 4th grade teacher. I could have done far more to challenge students. I could have devised more challenging ways for them to manipulate their learning content. This idea of struggling that I am promoting must be controlled and intentional. I'm not talking about giving multiplication or division problems to a room full of kindergartners who have just learned to sequence numbers or having 1st graders complete book reports on War and Peace. I am talking about assigning tasks and activities that are designed to be challenging for all learners at their different levels. Without struggle, there is no growth. 

This initial blog was pretty exciting to write. I hope to grow as a writer and learn from sharing my experiences. I look forward to receiving the feedback and thoughts of others. In the meantime lets all focus on being the best version of us as possible.