Student Work

Time to change the bulletin boards.

I figured some good ole growth mindset couldn't hurt.   

=^_^=

#oneword2018 part two...

Are you following me on Instagram?

I ask because sometimes I'm a forgetful blogger... tis true!

You can see photos of more student work there!  

Take a looksie, ya'll.

Do you see that?

Right there.  Smack dab in the middle.

"I feel that I am ready."

This is a photo of student work and I had asked some end of the semester reflection questions.

They're ready.   They're growing.

And even...

"I will read it..."

This right here.   This is why I do what I do.  

"But what I really want to say is..."

First off, a huge shout out to Dan Tricarico who helped me overcome my writers' block!   The title of this post is for him!  

So here's the deal.    I'm feeling annoyed.
Eh... maybe flustered is a better word?
I don't know... Dan gave me permission to write some "crap" and ... I'm getting it off my chest.   :P

As I was reading The 4 O'Clock Faculty... there were a few quotes in there that really spoke to me.

The first one is credited to Steven Anderson.   "Alone we are smart.  Together we are brilliant."
YES!   Yes!   I feel like we need to spend more time together as educators.   Ah yes, I said a dirty four letter word.   TIME.   Good ole Willie Penn (I can call him that, I'm from Philly) once said that "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."   I guess I'm not understanding why people can't find the time to grow professionally.   I'm annoyed at myself for not understanding.   Some would argue that it simply might not be important to others as it is for me.   No clue.   Hence, annoyed.   With myself.  

The second quote I enjoyed (and can't remember who to credit...whooops!) is "It is better to be alone than in bad company."  In some cases... yes!   I get this!   My question to you is... have you found your tribe?    It's really quite remarkable when you do!   Get out there.   Take a risk!  

And lastly... good ole Mike Tyson.    "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."   I so get this quote!   So this is where I have bad things to say and you see where I'm annoyed.   I get that I can only change so much.

OUR STUDENTS SEE US!   As I go through social media and I see the posts of other educators in my life (note: this does NOT reflect on my district) I want people to remember that our students see us.   Complaining about teaching... impacts our students.   Even if you didn't complain "to their face." Counting down the days to a break or even summer... impacts our students.   How would you feel if someone was counting down to the last day they were with YOU?    Or posting about dreading going back to work.... how would you feel as a student if you saw the teacher post that they really didn't want to be with you?   Ouch!   That's a big ouch, ya'll.  

I think it's important that as teachers we are mindful of what we say, where we say it and how it is shared.   I think we need to refresh and keep in mind who our audience truly is.   I think it's time to find time for you as a teacher and as a human.   Stop with the excuses.   Find the time to grow professionally.  Find the time to rejuvenate personally.   Find the time.   What I'm saying is - find your tribe, surround yourself with positivity, be kind to yourself and find your "zen." - take the time.   Our students see us.   We see you.  

Book 2/60 complete!

I've said it once on here and I'll say it again.

If you told me that I could GROW as an educator because of Twitter... I'd really want to know how much you had to drink.  


The Four O'Clock Faculty is a refreshing read divided into three sections.

The first section talks about the big one... CHOOSING to pursue RELEVANT PD.   I enjoyed this section because as a special education teacher, there have been many PD events that really did not do much of anything for me.   Sad, but true.   The good news is though that times have changed and the last five years or so, those moments have been few and far between.  

Section two takes off with humor and wit.  I absolutely loved the chapter on learning from one another and also a chapter was devoted to taking advantage of Twitter.   Again, if you told me I could grow as an educator because of Twitter... I would have rolled my eyes and thought you were nuts!

Instead, I find myself making connections, having meaningful conversations, constantly learning and developing friendships with people I haven't even "met" face to face (but would love to!)

The beauty of Rich's book is that he does not leave you hanging.   The book ends with strategies on how to solve problems, how to create something meaningful and how to create a game plan.

I gave this book a 5/5 stars on GoodReads.   I highly recommend it.   I also want to thank Matthew Larson for inviting me into the Voxer book chat.   The book chat isn't over until the end of the month. I enjoy listening and learning from the educators in this group.   I simply could not control myself and finished the book ahead of time.  This is rare for me... I loved the book THAT much!  

Healthy Teacher Mantra

I've talked about this here and there - healthy teachers are needed!   As I continue on my journey with weight watchers (I had a big gain because of a dumb tracking mistake), I came across this article on my quest to be more connected.    It's worth the read, so much so that I cut and pasted it in here just in case the link does not work.

Stay healthy.

Do things for you!

Create a mantra!

Self-care is important!  ESPECIALLY teacher self-care.   These kids need us!

Much love!  

       --LeLe

Link to article below is from weightwatchers.com

Whether they’re tweeted with a hashtag or played on repeat in your brain, mantras have helped Weight Watchers members reach their goals—and they can help you, too.

Mantras have been a part of Eastern spirituality for thousands of years. (In Sanskrit, the word means “instrument of the mind.”) The idea is that by repeating a phrase, a word, or even a sound, you can calm your mind, ward off anxious thoughts, and remind yourself what you should be doing differently or what you want to accomplish.

Now, however, people are embracing new types of mantras: ones that motivate them to walk more, stick to their diet, and take control of their health.

“Reciting a phrase over and over helps us internalize the message,” says Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD, an adjunct associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester and the author of Bright Line Eating. “Every action exists in thought first, and when you change your thinking, you change your behavior.”

These new types of mantras may not be the epitome of Eastern spirituality, but like the ancient philosophy, they work. By tamping down on anxiety-provoking thoughts, you can prevent your body from releasing stress hormones like cortisol, which, over time, can trigger heartburn, stomach pain, and even heart disease.

In addition, a mantra can help you silence your inner critic—that tiny, nagging voice that doubts your ability to meet your goal. In that case, repeating a motivational phrase like “5K a Day” can help spur you into you action enough times that the behavior becomes automatic and habitual.

How to Create a Mantra to Form Healthy Habits

The first step is to choose one thing that you want to accomplish, says Mary Jane Ryan, a personal change coach and the author of Habit Changers: 81 Game-Changing Mantras to Mindfully Realize Your Goals.

Use firm language

Ryan tells people to use strong words like do and don’t: for example, “I don’t eat sugar.” Choosing a definitive statement puts you back in control of your actions, she says. This way, you’re not relying on the unconscious part of your brain that wants a doughnut.

Whatever you do, Ryan says, don’t use the word should. “Saying ‘I should’ or ‘I shouldn’t’ do something causes you to feel guilty, and guilt is a very toxic emotion,” she explains. “We tell ourselves we shouldn’t eat something, but when we do, we feel terrible. It’s like a spiral of misery.”

Make it catchy

“A mantra should be short enough that you can remember it,” says Ryan, who recommends keeping it to no more than six words. For example, if you want to overhaul part of your diet, try saying something like, “Water instead of wine,” she says. And yes, you get bonus points for using alliteration.

“When you articulate a sound [over and over], that repetition is almost like music,” says Marlynn Wei, MD, a psychiatrist and the coauthor of The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga. “By focusing your attention on one particular word or syllable, you prevent your mind from wandering and thinking about your work or deadlines, for example.”

Say it every day

It takes time to create a new habit—but you can’t internalize your mantra’s message if you never remember to say it. “The brain is structured to do what its always done,” says Ryan. “In the beginning, you need an extra reminder or two.” Try writing your mantra on a Post-it note, saving it as a reminder on your phone, or using it as the background on your laptop.

Mantras are effective even when you don’t say them out loud. Whenresearchers from Israel asked people to silently repeat the Hebrew word for the number one, they found that their subjects experienced a decrease in activity in multiple regions of the brain, including the area that’s associated with self-evaluation.

Be kind to yourself when you mess up

You can tell yourself that you don’t eat dessert, but on occasion, you will cave. And that’s okay. “When you mess up, you have to show yourself some self-compassion,” says Ryan. Tell yourself that, while you might have chosen to eat dessert today, you won’t choose to do so tomorrow.

Or, put another way: “Don’t turn goof-ups into give-ups,” she says. And as Wei says, “Every day is a new day and that’s all that matters. There’s no judgement or competition. It should feel right to you.”

#oneword2018

It's amazing to see how a hashtag on Twitter can catch your eye.   Over winter break, I kept seeing people in my PLN post about #oneword2018 - One word?   What word?   Huh?   I soon learned about this wonderful read.  

It got me thinking... what would my one word be for 2018?   Could I do this?    And if so... how?
My first stop was to Amazon to order the book.   I immediately learned that in order to find my word I needed time to prepare my heart.   Reflection time.

Book excerpt:

As I read the book it became increasingly obvious that I needed to unplug.   The irony of this is I read it on my Kindle and my word deals with connecting.    

I needed to ask myself some questions.

1.  What do I need?

2.  What is in my way?

3.  What needs to go?

All sorts of words were popping into my head and when I narrowed it down, it came down to CONNECT.

The past 12-15 months have been all over the place for me in my personal life.   Specifically, regarding my health.   As I read on, I found myself lost in my thoughts and the word connect came popping into my mind time and time again.   To be honest, I thought my word wasn't profound enough.  It seemed so simple... but sometimes the simplest of needs end up being the most complex.  

So the nerd in me broke out ye olde thesaurus and went old school with a Wordle and made this:

I then reflected on the word CONNECT and related it to the six dimensions listed in the book

1.  Spiritual

Am I where I want to be spiritually?   No.   Absolutely not.   This is something I really need to work on and to be honest I'm not sure how public of a journey that is or should be.

2.  Physical

My body has been through so much since the end of 2016 and I need to keep working on it.   I'm down 40 pounds thanks to Weight Watchers, but there is much work to be done.   I need to not only be mindful of the weight I'm losing but also focus on rebuilding the muscle mass and strength I lost.  

3.  Emotional

This is important!   As teachers we tend to put the needs and emotions of our students long before ourselves and let's face it - that can eventually take a toll on our bodies.  This is where mindfulness and Zen practices will really come into play.  

4.  Relational

I need to continue making the connections in my professional life but also rebuild the connections in my personal life.   How often do you get together with someone over the Holiday's and you either think or say - "We should do this more often."   And do you?   Do I?  Believe it or not, I can be quite introverted.  

If you're in my life, I want to connect more.

In The Power of Moments I couldn't help but think about making every moment count and making moments happen.   It's critical.   In some regards, it feels downright mandatory to me.  

5.  Mental

This is where my reading list comes into play.   We ask our students to make connections with the text.   I should be doing the same.   I have so many wonderful books on my Amazon wishlist.   I set aside goal to read SIXTY (yes, 60) books this year.   What connections can be made simply by reading a book?   Where can a book take you?   Endless possibilities!  

6.  Financial

Ah yes... there is a financial aspect to this.   Let's face it, we teacher folk aren't rollin in the dough. To be completely honest, I'm not sure how to connect when it comes to finances.   But I know that proper management of my finances will allow me to make further connections.   How cool would it be to get on a plane and connect with some of the amazing people in my PLN?

Next Steps:

Doing this with my students!

Holding one another accountable!

I'd love to hear your feedback on this post!

Comment!

Tweet!

Tell me your word!  

When you greet your students with toilet paper...

It's here!   It's here!   First day back from Christmas break!    I was pumped!  Ready to go!   Missed my kids!   So naturally... I greeted them at the door.   With toilet paper.

A new shift.   Why write about New Years Resolutions and what happened over break when you have toilet paper!?!?

I think some of my kids truly thought I lost it.   One kid grabbed their TP and said, "I love that I never know what is next."  Ha!   So as the kids started filing in, I stood at the door and listened to them chat.   

"Why do we have toilet paper?"

"Dude, if we end up having class in the bathroom, I'm going to laugh."

"Ah man, our toilet paper is so cheap.  We need that kind with the bear on it."

"Seriously, what are we doing with this?"

"Ok, this isn't enough to make a mummy."

"Not even kidding, I need to blow my nose."

"Oh dude.   Over there.   Is that a kid potty?"

"Geib!  What are we doing?"

As I'm waiting for the last of the kids to filter in, my colleague next door says to me, "I so can't wait to hear about this later."   

As class begins I tell the kids how happy I am to see them and to make some guesses as to why I gave them toilet paper.   It finally comes out that we're just going to write away all the crap of 2017.   Students are instructed to write down anything and everything they won't miss about 2017.    They are told I'm going to be watching as they write and reflect, but I will not read unless that want me to. 

I almost cried when a student showed me theirs.   They wrote, "In 2017 I didn't love me.  I love me now."  

We then put the negative of 2017 in the potty and flushed that stuff away.

Hello, 2018!  Hello, new beginnings!

Reflective writing can sometimes be a challenge for my students and to be honest with you... I think it can be a challenge for all of us.   For some, reflection is not a natural state of being.  For my students, many of them would prefer to write about something where they can answer a more direct question.  

As a class, we then broke down 2-0-1-8

We talked about TWO things we would like to accomplish this year as a class and individually.   

We focused on one thing we would like to ZERO in on such as building relationships, improving our social skills, growing in executive functioning, etc.

We talked about that one thing we wanted to IMPROVE on for the number one in 2018.  We talked about SMART goals and being more specific and it was interesting to see how many students talked about their need to focus more on time management.

Last, we compiled a list of EIGHT things we are looking forward to this year.   

As the class came to a close, I introduced the #oneword2018 concept.   Today we are diving in.   I can't wait.   I have been having so much fun with my period 2 through 6 kids!