Friday Flush

http://on.ted.com/RitaPierson (7:48)

I have had the pleasure to hear her in person…she is truly amazing.  It is a pretty long video, so make some time to watch it.  I won’t write too much, so you can spend your time watching and reflecting.

Here are some of my “take aways” from watching it….jot down your list and/or share your thoughts with someone!

·         There is value and importance in human relationship

·         No learning can occur without relationships

·         Kids don’t learn from teachers they don’t like

·         I am somebody…I was somebody when I came here…and I will be a better somebody when I leave.

·         “Plus 2 says I ain’t all bad”

·         Leave a legacy of relationships

·         You won’t like em all, but they can never ever know it

·         We teach anyway

·         Teaching and learning should bring joy

·         Every child needs a champion

·         We are born to make a difference

Happy Friday!

Monday Mush

Love this quote….I think it is quite fitting this time of year too.

We for sure have lots of obstacles…we have lots of things in the way of our goal.  That must mean it is a path that is heading somewhere good! 

I appreciate all you guys do every day….I do brag on you….I know the deck seems stacked against us sometimes, but you hang in there and play the cards you are dealt so well!  You are making a difference for every student in the building, and your dedication shows.

Don’t question your path…you are doing the right thing for the right reasons….what is “right” and what is “easy” are usually not the same thing….so we are definitely doing the right thing as it is a HARD job for sure!

Thank you for all you do….thank you for fighting against the obstacles to make it to our goal.

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush

It was a long week for sure, but it was really, really good….I saw some amazing teaching for sure.  I also saw some people that were choosing to take a positive road instead of that negative one. That is a huge thing on campus when we continue treating others with grace and respect.  I appreciate everyone taking a step back to realize that this time of year, we all need a little extra “cushion.”

We are a successful organization….we aren’t successful because of any one person, our parents, our students, or because of luck.  We are successful because of the image above.  We do … we do again…and again….  Persistence is what “wins.”   Teaching and education are tough fields, and we all have days that we want to stop or we need summer now…..but we gear up for another day, and our persistence makes a difference.

This weekend, try to reflect on something in your life you consider to be a “success.”  Did it just fall in your lap?  Was it “easy?”  Most likely, it was something you held in high regard and you stopped at nothing until it was achieved. 

I hope that same is true for every kid in your class….some things that work for other students may not work for “that one”….so we do and do again and again and keep on doing….  

Thank you for your passion to teach…thank you for persistence in teaching….and thank you for your respect for those that are here with you!

Happy Friday!

Monday mush...not some day!

"The worst day of the week is SOME day, and the best day is TODAY!"

I love this quote...so simple and so powerful.  That is probably my opening line of so many "mushes," but so fitting.

Many times in life we talk about doing things "some day"....it is a day that never seems to fully come...it is a day that only exists in the dream world.

However, TODAY is reality...it is here and something great is possible.  

I firmly believe that if we spend more time in "today" and less in "some day", we will be happier and more efficient.  

What are your "some day" wishes?  Is there anything you can do "today" to get there?  What can you do today to make it better than yesterday?

Thank you for all you do! 

Happy Monday!

Monday Mush

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAJVfEaaw3w (3:58)

I thought this was a funny video to start off the week!  I hope that everyone finds it as funny as I did…and sadly a lot of truth to it. 

We are all victims of procrastination…it is scary how it can creep in.  We take more time and energy avoiding a task than it actually takes to do it sometimes.   In a video “book” that I have shown a few times (www.eatthatfrogmovie.com) Brian Tracy quoted William James in saying “procrastination is attitude’s natural assassin”.  That is so true!

I hope this week, you are able to see the “frogs that you need to eat each day.”  I hope that gives you energy and that will strengthen your positive spirit.

I think you are all amazing at what you do!  I appreciate your work ethic and your attitude at work.  Take a look this week at what needs to be done in your life and DO IT!

Happy Monday!

Friday Flush -- Marshmallow Test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ (3:27)

I have probably used this video before, but I do love it.  It is one of my favorite cute videos, but I truly think there is a deeper message in all of it that speaks to us.

We are often promised something down the road that we cannot see.  We know it is there, but what is in front of us at the moment gets our attention.  I am sure there are 1000 directions to take that lesson….but how does it apply to us as educators? 

We can teach/educate in a way that takes the “quick route” – maybe that is the easy way, low-hanging fruit, or it is the less complex way to handle a problem.  Maybe it is an activity that keeps the kids quiet, easy to grade, didn’t take much planning, or something that we know is “good” just not “great.”

We can also teach in a way that takes much more personal endurance…we can teach with patience….knowing that going deeper is slower, but later will double the rewards.  Maybe it is spending time creating a new activity because you know it can be twice as good.  Maybe it is simply knowing that investing time now will take patience, but you need to stick it out.

However you take the video….spend some time over the weekend to reflect on how it can help you be a better you! 

Happy Friday!

Friday Flush 1/22/15

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

Ok, this is a 72 question “self assessment” – so I won’t type much.  It is basically a form of the “Myers-Briggs” test that scores your in 4 different categories.  It finds out if you are more of an introvert or extrovert, more Intuitive or Sensing, more Thinking or Feeling, or more judging or perceiving.  It indicates if those “labels” are slight, moderate, or strong. 

Then it describes your type as well as tell you other famous people with the same “label.”

We are all different…that is what makes relationships great and teams work.  But, it is worth knowing ours and sharing with others that we work with.  It helps us understand them more and be a stronger team mate.

I am an INTJ….no surprise on any of those at all. 

Enjoy the test….tell your team mates and family. 

Happy Friday!

Monday Mush

I love this quote…I have used it in several other parts of different “mushes” throughout the years, but I think it is a “stand alone” quote this time. 

The comparison game is one with only losers….there truly is no way to win.  When we start to see what others have and compare it to us, we will ALWAYS find somewhere that we are being “beaten.”  Someone will have more money, a better house, better kids, or a better car….someone will not struggle with weight, making friends, or jealousy….someone will be a better athlete, cook, or organizer.   There is no way to win.  We are taking their “highlight reel” and comparing it to our bloopers.

The most dreaded problem that we face is making a “super person” to be jealous of….it makes the insecurity problem exponentially worse.  We take a good characteristic of person A, another good part of person B, another good part of person C, and we take the best qualities from another 6 people.  Then, we make this fictitious person in our heads that is ALL of those things at worse.  So now our standard is not just high….it is unrealistic.  So you are guaranteed to lose.

So how do we fix this issue…it seems a part of “who we are.”  I think the best cure is looking at what you have and not what you don’t.   Your new car seems super nice until the next year’s model comes out…the iphone 6 is totally the best…well until the 7 comes out.  We don’t need to view out lives by what we don’t have….we view it by what we do have.  

We are taught to not be selfish…we are taught to look to the needs of others before looking at our own needs.  But, I think we need to be a little more selfish sometimes.  I think we need to focus on ourselves in looking at the good.  What blessings do you have…what brings you joy that you currently have….what qualities do you possess that you are proud of?   I was in Africa several years ago in remote villages that essentially had nothing…truly.  But, they had more joy than most Americans have that are stuck in the rat race. 

This can be something that seems focus on “stuff,” but we also do this with qualities in people.  We need to be careful.  We need to remember that EVERYONE is real and not the person that appear to be just on Facebook or Instagram. 

Thank you for all you do every day! 

Happy Monday!