Monday Mush

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPDOgpfKLuo (1:04)

Ok, so that is an old one, but it always makes me laugh.   I figured it was a great way to kick off our testing week. 

I truly am excited about this week.   I know it will be a great week for the kids to show off their skills.

One of the reasons that I chose this clip is because it is the opposite of you guys.  Our students won’t walk into a testing environment without you truly KNOWING them.  That relationship truly has and will make all the difference. 

Utilize today as a “relationship day.”  It is a day to pump them up and let them know that you care.  They know it to be true because they know you too.

Remember what I talk about a lot during testing weeks.  You have an aura and an energy.  It is something science cannot fully explain.  When you get on an elevator, you know if the couple in the back is fighting even if they aren’t talking.  You know when the person in front of you at the grocery store is having a bad day.  We all give off an energy.  I cannot stress how for this week, our energy must be positive and light.  If you are worried or anxious, they are worried and anxious.  If you are calm and ready, they are calm and ready. 

Without a doubt, you have developed these kids by knowing them first.  That is true education….that is caring for them deeply.  Thank you for that! 

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush

The picture above isn’t a painting or a photo shopped piece of art.  It is a pretty standard photograph of the world’s largest salt flat.  The salt flat basically works like a giant mirror, and at night it reflects so well they can track stars using it. 

I found it on this website… http://distractify.com/culture/32-surreal-places-that-actually-exist-on-earth-i-cant-believe-this-isnt-photoshopped/

And yes, I even did some research to see if they were fakes…I mean a pink lake??  Who knew!   I can’t attest to the photos all be 100% legit, but the quick research I did seems to say that they all are.  So, I am going with that assumption.

We get stuck in our “bubble of life” sometimes.  Seems like we can only see the here and now.  But wow, there is a lot out there.  Here in Fulshear, we have great land, pretty cattle, a gorgeous sunrise/sunset, and the traditional Texas scenes.  If we travel a few miles to  Houston, we have great architecture, great construction, and some pretty neat landscape that are different.  There is a lot to see.  But what if that was all we knew existed….we would miss out on sooooo much more.  What if we only paid attention to what we see on tv or places we can travel?   There is still so much more out there, and we would miss out still.

Our students are the same way.  We often want to pigeon hole all kids of the same grade level as the same.  We have seen them all before, right?   Or is there more in them than we ever imagined? 

I am voting on the latter. 

You guys are amazing in what you do…I enjoy hearing from parents and students how much they enjoy being at this school and in your classrooms.  Thank you for not assuming all kids are the same or that you know everything that kid can do.  They will surprise you….keep looking.

The other aspect that I was blown away with was I want to “get there” all the time.  I am a destination guy…If I am supposed to vacation in Chicago, then I am only content when I get to Chicago.  These places weren’t seen and photographed by “destination people.”  They were discovered by “journey people.”  We need to be people that enjoy the journey….that can stop and enjoy the beauty or the experience around us.   Something I need more of is to listen to that little voice in my head that is whispering “Enjoy the ride.” 

Thanks for all you do…thanks for creating a journey that is fun and rewarding…happy Friday!  

Monday Mush

Hopefully this isn’t your version of 100%!   I know after working with all of you that it isn’t, but sometimes when we feel like the deck is stacked against us, we can feel like it.

I have worked at schools and know it is a common mantra that we give 100% for 100%.  It may be cliché to a degree, but it is so true.  When we are tired, we give 100%....When we are sad, we give 100%....When we feel frustrated, we give 100%.

We do that because we care 100%.  We care about 100% of our kids 100% of the time.  That is why you do what you do and run the uphill course that you run each year.

This week, I had an encounter with someone that didn’t understand why teachers choose their profession because it doesn’t pay enough….well after the blood pressure went down, I pointed out that they choose a mission, not money…they choose a profession, not a paycheck….they choose to change, not to collect.  (Yes, I did I came up with that alliteration all on my own too!)

You make a difference…it may seem slow and sometimes like the progress is backwards, but I see it.  I see the reading levels improving, I see the math problem solving becoming easier, and I see students excited to learn like they never have in the past.

This week wake up every day and choose to look yourself in the mirror and give 100%.  I have heard of athletes that write on their mirrors “100%” with their fingers, so that when it steams up, that is all they can see.  That is a great metaphor for life…life gets cloudy and steamy, but we can focus on giving 100%.

Thank you for all you do…I am looking forward to a great week!

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush

“If I had asked the people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses” – Henry Ford

I heard this quote in the attached blog posting…. “14 Things that are Obsolete in 21^st Schools.” 

I think it is quite a meaningful way to look at our job as educators as well.  Henry Ford was a visionary.  He saw passed what was the here and now.  He saw passed what people wanted.  People were tired of slow traveling…people wanted a better way…but people wouldn’t have thought about the car.  He did.  We shouldn’t be asking for a faster horse in our business either…we need a car.

This list is a lot of things that happened 10 years ago or when we were in school.  We need to move past them.  Some of them are tongue and cheek, but all of them have truth that rings in them.  It isn’t ok to wish things to be “like they were in the gold ole days.”  We have a group of students that learns differently than we did, but truly we are in an age where we have limitless potential.  We have the ability to make a difference in ways that we didn’t think possible. 

Enjoy the reading…it is worthwhile.  Use it as a contemplation point…try to find some things you can try differently to reach more kids.  What are things that need to be phased out?  What are things you do just because you have always done them that way?  I promise if you think about it, you will find some. 

I appreciate your ability to have vision…to not just look for ways to make a faster horse.  I love seeing the way you make a difference every day.

Happy Friday!

http://ingvihrannar.com/14-things-that-are-obsolete-in-21st-century-schools/

Monday Mush

I hope your spring break was relaxing and wonderful.  We are in the home stretch now…this year has been amazing, and we have already accomplished so much.  I always look forward to this time of year because we see everyone settle in to hit that final stride to finish out the year.  I know it will be a successful year, and we will be able to look back on it in June and be proud of the work we did.

This quote ties in so well with our goals for discovery learning and for student ownership.  Teaching isn’t the same as when we were kids…it is about allowing students the opportunity to discovery and problem solve for themselves.  These are skills that they can use for life, and they can be applied to any curriculum or subject area.  If you can think for yourself, you will be a better employee, student, and citizen. 

We can always tell students what they should be learning or how to do a skill/task.  Most likely that will only benefit 40-50%.  We can practice it together and that will help some too.  But, there is only way one to engage all the students and have all learning at a high rate.  And, that is to be their facilitator while they “teach themselves.”  I think it is exciting when you walk into a classroom and the teacher knows the end goal, but the students are excitedly figuring it out for themselves.  I can remember my own elementary, junior high, and high school classes that had lessons we learned while exploring.  I still remember how to do those things….some of the other information I was just told in school, well I probably have forgotten.

I bet we can all think of things that we had to teach ourselves.  Maybe it was a statistics course in college or grad school and the professor made no sense….maybe it was car repair and you couldn’t afford the mechanic….maybe it was a dance lessons for an upcoming celebration….maybe it was making curtains or valances...   The list could go on and on.

My point is those “self taught” activities are probably the most cemented in our brains.  We aren’t going to forget because we took the time to power through and learn them.  We do it because we had motivation to do it.  Those same principles are true for our students.  We need to give them the motivation they need want to learn it for themselves, and the coaching to power through to get the results.  They will be better for it on the other side.

I appreciate all you do!  I brag on you guys all I can, and I got to do it today…always great when people hear “how wonderful Huggins is.”  I get to say “Yep, the staff is amazing, and they are fun to work with!”

Thanks for all you do—Happy Monday!

Friday Flush -- How to Destroy Learning

Thank you, Jamie, for sharing!  This is a great “Mush and Flush” article that she found from a home school resource.  It is about how we, as educators, can destroy a child’s love of learning.  It is scary the power we have…we can inspire or tear down…   

http://project-based-homeschooling.com/camp-creek-blog/how-destroy-child-s-love-learning-15-easy-steps

This weekend take a moment and reflect of those…do any happen in your classroom?  If you can identify them in an honest and transparent way, you can fix them.  We all have areas that need to be addressed, and the true heart is shown when we are willing to look at them and make changes to become better.

Some of the comments on the blog are spot on too.  We spend a lot of time in education doing things “the way it was done when we were in school.”  That isn’t always the best method to choose how to teach.  Sometimes we think that we “hold all the knowledge,” so we have to be in charge of all aspects of learning.  Student ownership and choice is a HUGE piece of the education puzzle.  Students need to buy in to what we are selling.  Makes our jobs so much easier. 

This weekend and throughout Spring Break during your refection time…think of ways that allow students a better way to be truly engaged in the learning.  How can we truly create project-based learning…how can our stations be effective…how can students own their education? 

I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful Spring Break!

Monday Mush -- What are you proud of?

“What are you proud of?”

That seems like a pretty simple question.  But how often do you slow down enough to answer it.  Oftentimes I see  more problems than I do solutions, or I see the glass as half-empty.  But, I don’t take time to look big picture….to see where I have come from….to see things to be proud of.

Don’t get me wrong…I am proud of you guys and the work you do…I am proud to be a part of this team…I am proud of these kids.

But what I mean is I don’t focus on the specifics of what I do that makes me proud.  Maybe we think that is too vain…maybe we just don’t have time…maybe we are busy fixing other stuff.

I think it is a vital exercise to stop and look at what makes you proud.  Look at it professionally and then personally.  It is worth inspection in both arenas.    If you know what you are proud of…you see the good in what you are doing…you see that you are making a difference…you are finding something of value that you can emulate in other avenues.  If you are proud of the way that you build rapport with students, how can you use that to be an even better teacher?  If you are proud of your organization, how can you use that to be an even better teacher?

Are there areas that you aren’t proud of?  What can be done to address those?  Often we try not to focus on these areas because it isn’t fun to think about.  However, making changes in these areas is important to.  If you aren’t proud of the way stress affects your tone, you can find ways to be more aware of that.  If you aren’t proud of your classroom management, then you can find a couple strategies to try this week. 

Focusing on your work is important.  We don’t have the luxury of just going through the motions.  We get bogged down in the details, so we need to be reminded to step back.  If you are looking at a painting, you can admire it from a distance…you can take it all in.  But, if you put it so close that your nose is touching it, you miss out on so much.  Don’t be afraid to step back and look at how far you have come with the kids.  You have made a big difference.

Thanks for all you do – Happy Monday!