Sacrifice comes when we have to do what is uncomfortable to be our best selves for the purpose of serving others. It is when we are authentic and treat everyone as we would want to be treated.
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Friday Reflections: Communication
This week I am reminded that one of the hardest things for humans to master is effectively communicating. This one skill impacts every nuance of our lives. It impacts the quality of our relationships. It impacts our ability to apply our knowledge and gifts at work. It impacts how others perceive us. At home or … Continue reading Friday Reflections: Communication
Breaking Point
Educators. I see you and feel you. Teaching today is pushing us beyond our human limits. Protect your breaking point.
The Shoulders of a Teacher
In the beginning it was our dreams and aspirations we carried on our shoulders. We also threw in some hope and optimism just because we were told the road ahead may be rocky. It did not take long for us to experience our first heartbreak. Maybe it was a student who was coming from a … Continue reading The Shoulders of a Teacher
Trust: Why I tell my students I love them every day
I begin the year as every teacher does: In front of new students who do not know me and are cautious about the idea of ever getting to know me. Even before the dust of our first acquaintance has settled, I make sure to call each of them by name and say the most important … Continue reading Trust: Why I tell my students I love them every day
First Day of School
I just wrapped up my first week of my 18th year of teaching. It is kind of crazy because I keep waiting for my “burn out”, but here I am. I can admit that I am in a state of dread for the days leading up to that first day, but it never fails...Once the … Continue reading First Day of School
The F Word
A colleague of mine was wiping out an old work computer and found a video clip from years ago. In the video, students were participating in interviews unaware that their favorite teachers were dancing in the background like fools. As I watched this clip I was filled with a warm, familiar feeling that resonated … Continue reading The F Word
Tale of a Teacher’s Heart
There once was a young lady who could not wait to change the world. She wanted more than anything to become a teacher. Her dream came true, and she found herself in her very own classroom. Excitedly, she poured every ounce of love into developing her craft. The first years she stressed over the “big … Continue reading Tale of a Teacher’s Heart
Fear
Heart pounding. Hands sweating. Mind racing. For many of us, this is what we conjure up when we think of fear. A freight train of emotion that warrants an immediate and obvious response. However, the toxic residue that lies behind fear is not always the crushing presence of adrenaline. In fact, most often it is nothing more than a whisper. A subtle nudge in our minds, pushing us throughout our day without notice. Fear is a diet of insecurity we put ourselves on thinking it will protect us from the hurt or pain of “not being enough.”
Five years ago, I was boldly reminded of professional discomfort when I left my elementary school to teach in the depths of adolescent hell, also known as middle school. This renewed discomfort was a catalyst for indecision and self-talk that was less than flattering. I began mentally spinning out of control, spending…
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Conquering Grading
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in the world of education grades are often the indicators of subjective merits. Educators have no intention of misleading their students or families, but the slippery slope of grading can often have us handing over report cards drenched with ambiguity. This ambiguity stems from our … Continue reading Conquering Grading
Awake & Accelerate 