8 days and counting...."Monday" Mush

Ok, so it is Tuesday, but this will still be our “Monday” Mush….the good news in that is that we only have a 4 day week!  Yea!  We are nearing the end, so that is good and bad.  Good…because we get that well deserved break.  Bad….because our time of influence has stopped…we are done…so don’t think “oh well the year is over.”  You have 8 days to make a difference and leave that great mark on the students for the summer.  Look for tools they can practice to have ready for the next year.

I had an amazing day that started with watching the choir at the Fort Bend County-wide Memorial Day Ceremony.  It was an AMAZING remembrance of the men and women who gave their lives for our country.  If you follow me on Facebook, you heard my favorite quote from the event... “They gave their tomorrows for us to have our todays.”  Powerful….I am sure I have heard it before, but it really struck a chord with me today for sure. The choir did amazing as well, so thank you for giving up their day off. 

The quote I found today is “A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after a success.”  (Pinterest) – yes I found it on Pinterest…

How true is that?  How many times as educators have you seen that first hand…How many times how you experienced it personally?  The times that you needed to be praised wasn’t when you did something right, it was when you did something wrong.  It was the fact that you had someone of the sidelines telling you could do it, and they genuinely believed that.  They wanted you persevere….they wanted you to succeed.  We learn more from our mistakes, than our successes.  I heard that a lot growing up, and I don’t know I believed it then.  But, I sure do now….  We need to slip, fall, and get up.  So we need that cheerleader telling us we can do it. 

Your job is that…you are the one that is a first responder to the kids when they fall…you help them up, teach them a new way, and let them try again.  Thank you for your life mission to do that…you are amazing at it.  Every day I see very vivid examples of how you are taking time to pick kids up and encouraging them to succeed.  Please don’t stop! 

I hope you have a great fake “Monday.”  Thanks for all you do!

Friday Flush -- Go and Get It.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQlzz6jGCfI (1:59)

This is a short video that I LOVE.  It can be summed up with the one quote….”If you want something.  You go get it.  Period.” 

 

I like this video for a couple of reasons.  I think it first shows us the power of our words to children we have a relationship with.  We can build them up, or we can tear them down.  Instantly.  In the video, the boy was willing to drop his dream based on 2-3 sentences from his dad.  That is scary how much power we have.  We have all heard the stories about asking how you could walk into a Kindergarten class and ask “Who is a good dancer?”…every hand would go up.  Ask “who can sing?”….every hand will go up.  Ask “who is good at math?”….every hand will go up.  Now, walk into any high school and ask the same question….you will see different results for sure.  Dreams seem to get deflated along the path…no doubt life teaches us all the hard lessons.  But, how many of us dropped some dreams a tad too soon?  Never underestimate that power of your words…you can uplift or you can teardown….

The second part I like about this quote is the proactive nature of it.  He didn’t say “if you want something…hope for it, and hopefully life will bring it to you.”  Life doesn’t work that way.  We can’t wait for the things we want.  Doesn’t work in any aspect of life that I can think of.  If you want a certain job, house, relationship, make a sports team, or so many other things, you have to go out and do it.  Sometimes you need a plan and goals, and sometimes you just need to go for it. 

 

I appreciate all you do with and for kids.  You have a tremendous impact because of the relationships that you have made.  Don’t ever sell yourself short…you have the power to help students achieve great things.

Happy Friday!

Evolution of Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lExW80sXsHs (4:29)

Ok, I am a former music teacher, so maybe this speaks to me more than most.  But, that was an amazing 4 minutes by an incredibly talented group.  It would be very difficult indeed to take “music” and smash it into 4 minutes.  They literally left out millions of songs and probably 10’s of thousands of music that could be considered “revolutionary.”  They had an impossible task it seems, but they did it in a way that seemed fun and built anticipation. 

What I think makes this video “mush worthy” is basically two things.  #1.  It shows the evolution from style to style to style without as much “clash” as you would expect.  “Pachelbel’s canon” to the 1960’s to “I Kissed a Girl” seemed almost like it was supposed to be that way.  Like the “new” was just an extension or part of the “old.”  I think that it is.  How many times in education have we heard “just wait around a few years and it will be back again.”  We see similar trends, methods, or strategies with a new “twist” or flair.  But, I would argue that “flair” is what makes them better.    If we only did things the “old way” we would only get the “old results.”  But, if we don’t change everything, and just add that twist, we get something new and unique.  We can blend the new with the old.  I think you see the obvious path for us as educators.  You don’t have to “write a whole new song,” but you do need to “learn to fit new things/elements into what has been working.”

#2 It shows the power of teamwork.  Each of those 5 people is very different in looks, personality, and sound.  Very unique talents that are vastly displayed in that 4 minutes.  If you asked the guy in the top left to switch with the guy in the bottom left, it would have all fallen apart.  It wouldn’t work.  They each had to use their talent/gift in a way that was supported by the others.  They each knew what each person could and could not do.  They built their 4 minutes on those very things.  Do you do that as a team?  Do you build your team/grade level/content area by supporting one another’s strengths and weaknesses? 

You guys are all amazingly talented.  I am lucky to work with you, and I know it isn’t always easy to do what we do.  But, there is something pretty amazing when we work together and enjoy using our strengths.  Continue pushing towards that last day…we aren’t there yet, but we are close!

Happy Monday!

Friday "Flush" --5/17/13

http://www.slideshare.net/AntwerpManagementSchool/19-challenging-thoughts-about-leadership (best viewed in full screen)

 Attached is an online presentation that I found about leadership principles.  There are 18 principles presented with a 19^th as an advertisement from the company that made it.  It is really well done as it seems to quickly point to all areas of leadership.

It would be easy to find a leader that we know of and read those 18 principles and find the strengths and weaknesses of that person.  We are good at judging others…evaluating the actions of others….or looking for ways that others can improve.  We are not so good at doing that in the mirror. 

I have identified 3 principles that I am weakest in…I could grow in a LOT more, but I felt 3 was a good start.  I am hoping to begin focusing more closely on these 3 areas.  I want to improve so being honest about where I could get better is important.  If I am a basketball player that is amazing with my right-handed layups, I better start practicing the left handed lay ups….we have to face our challenges and weak areas to grow even though it would be WAY easier to stay with what is comfortable. 

I will not be formally asking anyone to share any of your choices for yourself, but I do want to challenge everyone over the weekend to find 3 areas that you can grow in as a leader.  That is a leader of kids, a leader on campus, or a leader in your community/family.  Be honest with yourself, and set goals that are achievable….like a book/seminar over the summer….increased focus daily….or some other method that will help!

 Thanks for all you do!  Happy Friday!

Monday Mush -- 5/13

“Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.” -- John Locke

What a quote!  It comes at a very needed time for me.  I think it is highly important to see how we fit into the total development of a child.  We are in the business of education, but that is SOOOOO much more than just teaching skills and learning information.  It is helping kids find a passion for reading, a thirst for knowledge, and a zeal to become better.  It is teaching kids how to find the “right friends,” be a better friend, or practice forgiveness.  It is also learning from our mistakes, becoming stronger based on our own set goals, and choosing a better path than we did the day before.  Kids have to learn a lot!  It is a lofty task that we take on, but I know we don’t take it lightly.  Remember that as you teach….the “book stuff” is just the beginning…we can make it so much easier on ourselves when kids are truly connecting and taking the load on themselves. 

I know you just got the stereotypical “May Nastygram” about not giving up yet and pressing on to the very end….this is all part of this quote.  We want students next year in our classes that not only have a good grasp of the skills to get started, but know what it means to set their own goals.  Or, they know how to keep “on the straight and narrow”….or they know how to look back and fix mistakes that they made along the way.  Don’t miss an opportunity to finish strong and set these kids up for greater success next year.  To steal (and paraphrase) a quote from Dr. Randle….”You can rest in June, so keep on going strong now!”

I believe in you guys…I have seen so many positives this year.  Thank you for educating kids, but thank you more for loving these kids enough to put up with all you do.  Hopefully this week after teacher appreciation, you can tap into all that stored food energy for a great week…

Happy Monday!

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”  -- Corrie ten Boom

I am thoroughly convinced that there are no stronger words in the English language than “I forgive you.”  We have all been on one side of that or the other, and I would venture to say probably both.  It is tough to forgive, and it is tough to be forgiven.  We all have relationships that we avoid because of baggage…we all have chips on our shoulder that still sting….we all have hatchets buried with the handle still sticking out. 

I love the above quote.  It is from an amazing lady of intense value and foresight.  It speaks to the fact that we have the power to forgive beyond what we “feel.”  Sometimes, we don’t want to forgive because someone doesn’t deserve it, we have been hurt too badly, or we just can’t be vulnerable again.  But, often times, if we are truly honest with ourselves, when we are not forgiving, it only hurts us.  We feel shackled or tied down when we are giving that power to someone else. 

I have heard someone say that relationship aren’t 50/50….that it isn’t about meeting in the middle.  They say, and I agree, that is 100/100.  It takes both people willing to go all the way to the other one, regardless of their actions.  That is true love or a true desire for a relationship.  That is taking that first awkward step in saying “Hey, I know we have had our issues in the past, but I want something better” or “Hey, I know I have made you mad in the past, can you forgive me for ____.”  None of that is easy, but wow would it be freeing, if we could all do that!

 

Below is a link to an AMAZING article on the benefits of forgiveness from a health standpoint from the Mayo Clinic.  It really lays out well the stress our bodies and minds are under, if we can’t forgive.

A quote that spoke to me is “If you're unforgiving, you might pay the price repeatedly by bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience. Your life might become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can't enjoy the present…You might lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others.”

My challenge to you this weekend is to think honestly about relationships that need some forgiveness from you….think about the benefits that you could receive from letting go of that baggage.  I encourage you to do it.  It will make you a more effective educator, citizen, and give you a few more days to travel around the sun! 

Read the whole article here:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness/MH00131

 

Monday "Mush" -- Teacher Appreciation Week

“Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret.” – Mary Kay Ash

Ok, it is official – I APPRECIATE YOU. This week is all about you guys, and I want you to feel spoiled. First, remember that you have lunch provided ALL week. This is from a community that LOVES YOU. They know all you do for the students, and they were begging for a way to show you. We are so thankful to so many groups for taking care of you guys. Tomorrow, FOH is providing lunch and some treats. I will keep you posted each afternoon about what is in store for the next day. 

All year long, you have worked so hard for the kids in your classrooms. I know it isn’t because you just wanted a week of lunches and cakes, so there has to be a deeper reason or mission that drives you. We choose education for our career, not for the perks, but because we know the difference that we can make. You know that you have a gift….a gift that you can share….and we have a very needing audience.

I appreciate how you get up each morning and put others first. I appreciate how you get along with other adults in a very close setting every day. I appreciate how you work for a crazy principal. I appreciate how you treat parents. I appreciate you grade papers at home. I appreciate how you go to watch your students’ sports games. I appreciate how you plan for a class when it would be easier to just do the same old thing. I appreciate how you clean noses, tie shoes, set up small group stations, open ketchup, put on band aids, call back parents, blog, email, take money, donate money, give awards, and so much more. 

Just know that what you do isn’t unnoticed and it truly matters. Whatever you do for kids in a meaningful way, it is valuable….so thank you.

I hope you feel spoiled this week…I hope you know that I love to brag on you guys. It was so fun to be at LEAF and get to be a winner of an amazing cake…it was a tribute to how many people love Huggins because of you guys that we got to bid $7000 on a cake…

Happy Monday!

Friday "flush"

"It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving."  -- Mother Teresa

What a perfect quote for today!  Tonight is LEAF's "Surfs Up," so the LCISD community is focused on one type of giving.

We,as educators, focus on giving every single day, and we do it out of love.  So, I could go on and on about that, but I think we all see the obvious ties about how we pour love into kids everyday.

What I want us to focus on this weekend is how do we give to the adults or "team mates" in our lives.  I couldn't give or show love, if I didn't have people in my life giving to me.  We have team mates all over in life, but sometimes we are too busy to see them.   I want to encourage you this weekend to think of someone that have to you out of love.   How can you pass that on?  How can you help someone else keep on giving by supporting them?  Is there somewhere you need to give more or love more?

Thanks for all you do...thanks for supporting LEAF and thanks for supporting each other and thanks or supporting our community and students.  (Yes, I know it is a run on...)