Monday Mush -- Creating Magic

Thank you Ms. Krahn for sharing this.  Sooooo perfect! 

I am a comfort zone guy.  I like all “known quantities” in life.  I am not big on surprises or risks that aren’t extremely calculated.  But, that isn’t always a good thing.  I miss out on a lot of “magic” in life. 

Do you ever see “dreamers” and “risk takers” and wonder how they do it?  I do.  I might scoff or look for reasons why they are “crazy,” but that is just to make myself feel better.  It is such a great quality to have some free spirit.  I need to write that on my mirror every morning, so I remind myself that I need that too.

We have a habit in education to do what we have always done.  We don’t even always know why.  We don’t know the research on why or if there is some better way.  We just do what we have done.  Sometimes that is because it is easy…not that we are lazy, but time is a factor for sure.  New stuff takes time…   But sometimes we do what we have always done just because we have never thought about it.  We trust that if we did it that way before, it must be right.  Education seems stuck in this concept a lot.  We teach the way we were taught as kids.  We teach how we are comfortable.  So, that would we mean that if we do that, we teach without “magic.” 

When I think of “magic” – 2 things come to mind.  David Copperfield and Disney.  I remember growing up and always watching the next David Copperfield TV special.  What will he do next?  He can walk through the Great Wall, move the statue of liberty, and escape from Alcatraz (yes, I did those from memory!)  It is probably offensive to call it “magic” because he is an illusionist…and I mean no disrespect to him.  But the magic of watching him is something that is truly unique.  It could only have been done because he thought out of the box…he tried what others wouldn’t try…he tries to make the impossible, possible.  That is how illusion works…you mind says “It can’t happen” but your eyes see it happening.  You have to move out of the realm of things can only happen that I understand completely. 

Disney creates magic.  Whether you remember how Mary Poppins changed the face of movies or whether you have seen a child’s face (and adults too) light up at a theme park.  There is magic created.  Walt Disney had to step out of what was comfortable…he had to take risk…many were seen as ludicrous at the time. 

If you want to be different, than you have to be different.  It is so simple and so wise.  I want to be known for doing something meaningful and real….I want to be known for making a difference and creating something that helps others in a way someone else couldn’t.  To do that, we need magic…and if we need magic, we have to step out of the comfort zone we like to stay in. 

Thank you for what you do every day.  Thank you for creating magic.

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush -- Perceptions

Perceptions are a funny thing.  We know from lots of aspects of life that perception is reality.  That is true for the students we teach, those that teach next door to us, and those that are parents of the kids in our building.  Each one holds a perception of you, me, the school, and education as a whole.  What can we really do to affect that in a positive way?

One of the aspects we strive for is communication and relationship building.  We want to develop the “relational capacity” to have those hard conversations with or about students.  We want parents to know that we cheer as much as we criticize.  That builds trust.  I take bad news much better from those that I know give me the kudos when deserved too.  I take criticism better from those that I know have my back no matter what too.   Notice I didn’t say that I take criticism well….no one really does.  We all struggle with it, and it is never easy to hear.  But, we want to have the best and most trusting environment when we need it.  Parents might not take “bad news” well, but they hear it when they trust the source.  We need to also communicate what we do…we know we work REALLY hard all the time and we do things that would surprise the average Joe.  So, don’t be afraid to communicate that to parents and other stake holders.  Let them see some of the magic behind the curtain.  Transparency is a good thing.

We wear so many hats in the field of education…we are soooo many different things to different people.  I can honestly say that you guys are amazing…you are able to choose your battles well.  We attack what needs attacking, and we work on what needs to be worked on.  But, you are good are putting on blinders when you need to as well.  Thank you for having those “multiple personalities” that help kids. 

I appreciate you guys….what a great week of STAAR!  We know the results will be great!

Happy Friday!

Monday Mush -- Got Stress?

I hope everyone had a great and relaxing week!  I had a great mentor once tell me that

“Your stress is your stress.”

That quote alone has been a motto I have tried to live by.  It was told to me when I was accepting my first job as an assistant principal.  He told me that above quote, and he followed it with the idea that no one really cares everything that you have to do.  You can’t impress people with how busy you are, what all you can balance, or what stresses are on your plate.   He encouraged me to be a person that tries to serve others without them having to feel like they are a distraction.   He said that we should be able to walk down the hall to a crisis on the other end of the building, and no one should know something is wrong.  He said that people that look like their job is easy are doing something right.

One of my pet peeves is asking how people are and they always respond “busy.”  We are all busy, so it is impossible to get any sympathy for that.  We try so hard to make sure others know that we have a lot to do.  We try to communicate our importance to others by allowing them to see our stress.  I think there is a better way.

As we move into testing, we don’t want our kids to stress…we want them to relax…we want them to trust that we have this under control.  In wartime situations, they have determined that soldiers respond quickly and without fear to leaders that are confident.  They trust cool and collected people better.  It keeps their heart rate down…it keeps their brains engaged and not flooding with emotions…it keeps them rational.  We can learn from this as instructional leaders.  We can be cool and collected for our students…it keeps their heart rate down…it keeps their brains engaged, and it keeps them rational.

I appreciate what you guys do.  I know you are stressed, but you do a tremendous job of overcoming that to be a leader at this school.  Allow yourself the confidence of being ok with answering “I am doing well” to the question of “how are you” or being real to say “I am making it, and I am really having a time trying to get….”

You are an amazing team.  Thank you for being awesome!

Happy Monday!

Fake Friday

As we are going into a long weekend, I was thinking about what my hope for you would be.  It is that this weekend provides you rest and peace.  In searching for a quote, video, or picture that truly encompassed that,  I came across this….   At first, it didn’t fit what I thought I was looking for.  But, it kept coming back to mind.  That is truly peace…that is contentment. 

One of the toughest jobs that I have as a parent is trying to teach my kids that they are not entitled to what everyone else has.  I can’t tell you the amount of wind I have sent their direction in speaking about how I want them to be content.  I remember years ago trying to explain to my then 5 year old that an xbox couldn’t bring joy.  I had him on my knee discussing all the joys of giving, how things don’t make us happy, and how to find true contentment in life.  It was a pretty proud moment…for about 10 seconds.   He looked at me like I was a complete idiot and said “Dad, you don’t get it at all…an Xbox would make me REALLLLY happy.  I promise it would!” 

I hope this weekend is a time of family, friends, and relaxation.  I hope you have time to reflect on everything you have going on right in your life.  It doesn’t matter what a neighbor, cousin, brother, or friend have…it only matters that you can see the joy in your life. 

My preacher once said that we have this problem as humans.  “We often compare our blooper reel with everyone else’s highlight reel.”  That is sooooo true!  We look at one aspect of this person, another aspect of that person, a different quality from this other guy, and we create this super human “person” that we try to live up to.   We have to guard against that “monster” of envy and comparing.  We each have gifts, abilities, and our deck of cards to play in this game.  Life wouldn’t be fun if we were all the same.  I am glad we are all different.

So, on this long weekend…look at your own highlight reel.  Look at your own gifts and talents.  Slow down the rat race to see the joys you have.  They are in your own yard.  Remember the grass is greener on the other side until you get the water bill…

Happy “Fake Friday!”  

Monday Mush -- RCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFSR53NJFAY (5:43)

This is a great representation of the Ron Clark Academy.  This was a special done a few years ago, and I think the 5 minute piece does a great job in capturing the climate of the school and the enthusiasm of the students/teachers.  It is very contagious in the visitors as well, and you can even see it in the newscaster’s face just talking about it after. 

What can we learn from his school or his style?  How can we be better this week?  How can you change your classroom/teaching style to be even more effective? 

Here are some of the quotes that stuck out to me…for sure something to think about this week.  I put some of my thoughts and hopefully reflective questions next to them.

1.       Got some unconventional teaching methods that could change the face of education.  (So doing what we have always done will get what we always get…)

2.       It’s language arts class….yet these kids are singing (Movement and song is vital to students these days…do you find ways to incorporate it?)

3.       You can’t teach the way that we used to teach kids…you can’t just bring kids in and expect them to sit down and have their attention for an hour (We don’t have that kind of attention either…sitting and listening is hard…the only time I can sit for long periods of time is a movie…entertainment is part of our business now)

4.       Teachers come to our school, and they see color, life, and excitement…they students that are on fire.  (Would visitors say that about our school?  Your class?)

5.       Extremely high expectations (The fun is the doorway, but it isn’t the “room.”  The fun/music gets the students ready and in place, but the rigor and expectations have to be there too)

6.       It all revolves around the teacher (You have amazing power…you are how students/parents view our school, district, and education as a whole.) 

7.       Give teachers their own freedom and trust them more.  (You are creative…be willing to take risks for the students)

8.       Success is shown in the faces, hearts, and minds of these students.  (We have the power to effect all aspects of a child)

9.       There is no room for fear…teaches you how to be a global citizen and leader. (Teaching kids for skills they need as adults).

10.   If you are there and you WANT  to be there, you will learn…. (That is the key to everything we do…)

You guys are amazing at what you do.  You come to work to change lives every day.  I know you are pulled in so many directions….and I know you want to make a difference.  I appreciate your heart for kids and education, and I am excited to see the learning taking place every day.  My strongest desire is that Huggins is a beacon in this area as a school where kids love to learn.  I want to lose the stereotypes of school where kids are bored or doing the same things all the time.  I know we can be a place where kids facing are beaming from their excitement to learn.

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush -- Are you Crazy???

I have also heard another quote this week about being crazy….”I want to continue being crazy; living my life the way I dream it, and not the way the other people want it to be.”  -- Paulo Coelho

I figure if you get two crazy quotes in one week, that is sign that it must be a part of the Mush/Flush cycle.

I mean how many times in life have you been called “crazy.”  Is it ever a positive thing?  I know for me being called “crazy” doesn’t happen too often.  I am kinda boring and not a risk taker…see previous Mush about always ordering the same things at restaurants!  So, when I am called “crazy” it is usually negative.

But, I can specifically think of friends and associates that are genuinely “crazy” in a wonderful way.  They take risks and they walk a walk because it is right, not because others are doing it.  We chose a profession to make a difference, not be one of a crowd.  So, there is a certain degree of crazy needed to do that.

I once said in a faculty meeting that we should approach our jobs like they are making a movie about us.  Unfortunately, that movie might be boring, if we don’t find a way to do something grand.  If we look at great educators that they make movies about, well, they are  crazy.  They don’t care what their neighbor is doing next door, they don’t care what the students are “supposed” to be like, they don’t care where the kids came from, and they sure don’t care about being “normal.” 

They step out of their skin to make a difference.  Every day I see teachers do things in classrooms that they wouldn’t “normally do.”  They talk in voices, make up songs, dance around, stand on desk, or a variety of other things.  It is more important to you to get their attention than be “normal.”  It is more important to inspire than be “normal.”

Think of your favorite teacher/coach movie.  There are a bunch.  Think of the character.  What made them inspirational?  What made them “crazy?”  Can you take any part of that and apply it?  You are made from the same materials that they are/were.  Our only difference is choice….what do we choose to do?  We can choose to be just “good enough” or we can choose to be “crazy great.” 

Thanks for being on this crazy ride with me…you guys are great.  Find someone this weekend to brag about your students with, and brag about how some of the great things that you have done.

Happy Friday! 

Monday Mush -- Letter to students

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/bob-jacobs-mvms-retiring-teacher

I think this blog post kinda speaks for itself.  It is truly amazing to see the heart of this educator.  It speaks volumes about the relationship that he to the kids, that I have doubt he  was able to leverage for his Science classes.  He has a passion for the material, and I could bet those kids caught it.  That isn’t an easy age group either.

But what really struck me about this letter was the obvious effect those kids had on him.  Yes, we got into education to change the world and help kids become more successful in life, but wow these kids change us too.  And they change us in amazing ways.

What have you learned a positive from the students you teach?  What lessons do you carry now as an adult because you were influenced by those you see every day? 

We are all programmed to be relational people, I believe.  We don’t want to be here to take up space…we want to matter.  Students are the same.  We want to give them an identity and make them matter.  They do.

Thank you for loving kids and your career.  It is not something to take lightly.  Don’t be afraid to let kids know how much they mean to you…what you learn from them…or how much you care!

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush -- Being an Expert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg (7:35)

In the world of education, learning, kids, and teaching, you guys are truly experts.  I thought this was a funny video to end the week with on that.  Do you ever feel like being an expert doesn’t translate to others?  It is a frustrating process….it is difficult to be a leader, a doer, and efficient when you feel that you are not “understood.”  It is also very difficult to be in a working environment where the team is only a group of people, not truly a mission-driven cohesive group.

Teams are vital.  We are a campus of self-contained classrooms, and we wouldn’t survive without a team.  We need a grade-level team, a vertical team, a school team, a support/encouragement “team,” and so many other groups to help us achieve our mission.  Are we utilizing that team?  Are we being that team?

This weekend I would want you to evaluate what those around you would say about your ability to be a great team mate.  Would they say you are  “for” or “against” those that are around you?  Sometimes it is VERY easy to evaluate and/or be critical of those around us, but it is much more difficult to look in the mirror. 

If you could be a better team mate or help someone capture their vision better, what is stopping you?  Find some ways to make steps to be better.  Sometimes a simple “I am sorry” or “Hey, I am going to work on….” goes a long way.

If you are a great team remember, keep it up.  It is hard to be consistent…also what more can you push/help others do?  What do you need help with?

We need to seek to be people that listen, that care, and that support.  We can’t focus only on tasks and miss the people.

I appreciate what you do.  I appreciate your ability to be the expert.  Please continue that every day!

Happy Friday!