My biggest struggle, and something I think I am working to overcome, is balance.
I love to absorb content about self improvement and success. I listen to podcasts, read books, go to conferences. Any opportunity for growth and insight fuels me. What I always come back to though is "How do they do it?" When I listen to or read about these rockstars out conquering the education (or whatever) world, I can't wrap my mind around how they manage to balance the normal demands of the job, personal life and all the rockstar extras. Currently, I am reading Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. It has really allowed me to gain some insight on my desire to succeed at balancing it all. I'm writing this post today in an effort to work through my own thoughts and maybe help someone else work through their similar desires. 1. Timing Get ride of the timeline! It's a common problem for goal oriented people to say "I want ___ by the time I __." We've got to let go of these unrealistic limitations. I can think of a dozen times in my life when what I thought I wanted was right in front of me and I didn't get it. I remember being torn apart in the first several instances of adulthood misses. But now, when I look back I see how the pieces fell together. Had I gotten that first job, I would never have landed where I am now. It is really hard in the moment of loss or disappointment to see the big picture or have faith that it's going to work out, but at some point, we have to let our past fails guide or perspective to give us the power to move forward. We can't let our goals parish when the timeline runs out. The moments you are experiencing are all building the path to where you are meant to go. I realize my biggest ailment in my trip to success is I am always looking at whats next, instead of enjoying today's success. I've been preaching this to my younger brother and realize now that I need to take my own advice. I need to take time to enjoy each milestone and the moments that come along with it. 2. Refine your goals Rachel Hollis would probably say "No, NO Niki. Have goals, as many as you can!" In her book she writes often of the importance of having goals. I have no shortage of goals. My struggle is staying focused on the goal. I have so many goals that I can't keep them all straight or give them proper attention. I want to be a rock star teacher, I want to be a leader in my district, I want to inspire kids outside of my classroom, I want to be a leader at church, I want to be a good mom, and wife, I want to impact foster care and poverty in my community, and the list goes on and on, really. Most of these things I am already doing, but I need to evaluate whether or not I am doing them well. This is the voice that has been echoing in my head for months. I need to slow down, evaluate where my heart is truly pulling me and shift accordingly. For me, this is going to mean a painful separation from some things stealing my attention.Things I value and love, but I can't do it all, not at once at least. Which leads me to my next bit of advice: 3. Say "No" I'm not the first person to tell myself this. I've heard it 100 times. I've started each of the last few years echoing this statement and still can't get it to stick. "I'm going to take on less this year." I say over and over. The truth is I am the product of two overachievers. This is a habit that will take years to change. This year though I realized something: I want to do what I am doing well. This probably seems obvious, but every new commitment takes away from each of the previous. Saying "no" doesn't mean that I am letting anyone else down. It means I am building myself up. It allows me to give my best to where my attention needs to focus to achieve my goal and follow my heart. Teacher tips: Teaching takes a lot of balance. Standards, expectations, communication, grading.... the list goes on and on. Consider these things when seeking balance: 1. What are you passionate about? 2. What is expected of you? 3. What is necessary? 4. What matters? In reality (or at least mine) we can't do it all. Take a day to ask yourself "why am I doing _____?" Is it grading a specific assignment, or planning an assignment? With each daily activity if you can justify each of the above questions with a positive answer then keep it. Otherwise, consider letting it go. What do your students really get out of that worksheet they filled in the blanks of while you went through the answers? If the answer is "very little" is it really worth your time to prepare and then grade later? If you can eliminate some of these unnecessary things, you may be able to give yourself back some personal time, take less home, focus on something more valuable at school like small groups or individual conferences OR recess. Your personal wellbeing, your mental health, and your happiness contribute majorly to your success as a teacher.
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Tuesday, Nov. 13th is World Kindness Day. I hope that you will take this day to incorporate a message of kindness in your classroom, or join my class in our 14 week kindness challenge starting Tuesday and running through mid-February, RAK week. This year our class motto has been "Consider what kind of day you are making for someone else." I remind my students of this often, as they walk out to PE or lunch, when tension is high in the room, and as they leave for the day. I want them to understand the powerful impact their words and actions can have on other people. I want to help them to develop into people that can consider the feelings of others, and when necessary put their own feelings or desires second. It's natural for children to be self-centered. They are used to everyone being centered around them. They are used to family members and teachers meeting their needs. That really is okay, however, it is never too young to start teaching them to see outside of their self. This lesson is something we all could stand to be reminded of. It's very easy to get caught up in our own struggle, our busy days and our own wants/needs. Along the way, we may overlook the impact of our interactions. You may think one frustrated grumbling at the Starbucks worker who messed up your order and made you late, isn't that big of a deal in the scheme of things. But imagine if the worker has 10 or 20 negative interactions throughout the day. How will they feel at the end of the day? I'm sure their evening reflection will not be "I love my job." You can help your students see beyond their self by:
1. Modeling: Be an example to them of someone who puts others first. Let them see it in your interactions with students, parents and other staff members. Also, tell stories from your life about being on either side, the good and bad examples of how other's actions have impacted you. 2. Talk it out: When a student makes a bad choice, take time to discuss with them the ramifications of their actions. For instance, if they are continuing to disrupt the class lesson, explain to them how it makes you feel and what the negative effects on the other students could be. When they understand that their actions effect you personally, hopefully they will think of those feelings before being disruptive again. 3. Don't give up: Some kids are going to need many "talks" before they are able to curb their behavior. Taking the time to share your feelings and get to know their's can have a huge impact. 4. Praise the good: When you see students doing well, point it out, make note of how they are impacting your (or someone else's) day. Ex." Wow, thank you Jimmy for cleaning up your table, I know our janitor will really appreciate coming into a clean classroom." 5. Talk about the bad and connect to their feelings: Have occasional (separate from specific instances) conversations about how our actions can impact others. For instance, have them give examples of times they feel frustrated. Then, discuss instances when teachers or family members might feel frustrated. That connection of emotion will increase their understanding of other's feelings. 6. Remind them: Since it is natural for kids to be self-centered, give them encouraging reminders to consider others that are specific to the situation they are approaching. Ex: "Guys, while you are at PE today, think about how we want Mrs. Berry to feel at the end of the day and how your actions can influence that. Do we want her to feel worn out and frustrated? No! Good, so go make PE fun for Mrs. Berry by being great listeners, playing hard, and treating others well." There are many other ways to incorporate these concepts into your classroom. The bottom line is that it should be a constant effort. Be patient with your student and you will see beautiful things develop in their lives. Each of these websites have great ideas for incorporating kindness in your classroom: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ http://www.lifevestinside.com https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com/ Hello and happy fall day. Today, I want to write about a writing strategy I use in my class called "Free Write." Free writing is exactly as it sounds, freedom to write about whatever you want. Once a week, my students take part in a free write. During this time, their only direction is to keep writing until the given time runs out. Surprisingly, this is challenging for some students. They are used to being prompted, given guidelines and directions. So, for some, they spiral in this frantic thought process of "what should I write?" "Will this be good enough?" and so on. Getting over this hurtle is the first step, but may take a while, weeks maybe even for some. Most importantly, it requires two things from the teacher: 1. Be patient. If you continue to pressure your students who struggle with this it only clouds their process and adds stress to the experience. 2. Consider each child's ability separately, and shape your expectations accordingly. The idea though, is that just by writing we will get better at writing. I use an analogy of basketball when kicking off the idea to my students. Wouldn't a basketball coach tell their players they will get better the more they play? They would. Our students can get better at writing, just by doing it. Grab any one of my students' Writer's Notebooks at the end of April and you will see the proof. Flipping from the first entry to the last you can see their writing ability and comfort level grow. It's beautiful really. Don't grade this effort. If you truly want students to focus on building their writing stamina and dig deep into their creativity you have to take away the pressure of the grade. Reiterate the intention of the assignment every time they start writing. Encourage them to push their self, to proofread as they write, and to try new types of writing. Every time we start I say something like: "During this free write you can write about anything you would like. You can write about your weekend. You can write about your cat. You can make up a story. You can write about how awesome I am. (funny right?) You could even write a poem. Just keep writing until I say stop." I really even say: "If you don't know what to write then write 'The crazy lady said to keep writing, but I do not know what to write about." This adds humor for those who are anxious and, hey, if they do write that, they've written a sentence, and may come up with their own idea while setting their worries aside to write it. Use this as an opportunity to connect to your students:
1. When a kid, or kids, struggle to get started, sit down with them and quietly brainstorm some ideas. You could even write a sentence down and tell them to finish it. I usually ask about their weekend or their interest and encourage them to write about something they share. 2. Collect them every once and awhile and read what they are writing about. If you have time, add a comment of encouragement or a question that demonstrates your interest in their writing. This will excite and motivate them to keep pressing on. 3. Let them share their writing. The last five minutes of the session, have them share with the kids around them or have a few brave kids share what they've written with the class. This also adds value to their writing when they know their class community will have a chance to experience their writing. The Free Write activity takes 15-20 minutes a week. Not only does it allow my students an opportunity to practice writing, just for the sake of writing, but it also gives me a glimpse into their life and their interests. When my students see that I value these things, it strengthens our connection and motivates them to do better each time. I’ve been working on this post off and on since we started school two weeks ago. It might seem strange that homework could take me so long to wrap up, but really it's huge. It’s hugely debated. It’s hugely influential in our students' success. I just finished reading Ditch that Homework by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler. It was a great read. In addition to backing the “no homework” movement with sound research and reason, it walks through many in-class strategies that can help make your time with the students more efficient, lessening the need for homework. If you’re a teacher, consider these questions regarding your homework:
Reasons to consider the switch…
Ideas for making the best of your day with your students so they can make the best of their evenings, minus homework….
In the following points, I will blend my summary of the chapters and personal thoughts. If you like these ideas, read the book. It is jam-packed with so many valuable insights, I couldn’t possibly highlight them all right now. Ditch that textbook: When you think outside of the box, prepare lessons that are creative, meaningful and engaging, you will find yourself using textbooks less. Make learning something kids want to do, inspire them, engage them, and you’ll find getting them to participate will be a whole lot easier. Ideas…
Ideas…
Ditch that referral: This, I could go on about forever so I will leave, for now, just this great quote: “For a student, a solid relationship with a trustworthy adult is a lighthouse in a tumultuous sea of uncertainty, which means that one of the most important things we can do, as educators, is build positive relationships with students-- the kind of relationships that make kids want to come to class.” (p. 40) Ditch that resistance: Parents, most, want to be involved, want to know what their kids’ days are like, and want to understand their child’s abilities. For some, daily homework may help them feel these needs have been met. Help them understand your intentions by providing them with research, listening to their concerns, and connecting with them. Ideas...
Ditch those habits: How do you learn best? Sitting still for hours on end? Probably not. Research suggests that incorporating physical activity in students’ days increases their cognitive abilities. This includes P.E., recess and in-class movement opportunities. Our “students need less time being still and quiet to achieve more academically.” (p. 78) This chapter also hits on the idea of letting them make mistakes. Don’t we all learn from our mistakes? Consider letting them solve a problem before being taught the solution. I struggle each year to get my students to take this plunge. They’re used to being feed procedures and repeating steps. Learning them on their own, even if they fail on the way will make their understanding so much deeper. Ideas…
The exchange for active time may equal more attentive time, which I think, is a worthy trade. Ditch that remediation: Homework should not be used for remediation. If students are struggling on an assignment, sending it home to struggle only makes it worse. It adds frustration and reinforces bad practices. Helping students have a deeper understanding eliminates the need for remediation. Ideas:
Ditch that compliance: If we really sit down and think about what we are preparing our students for, we need to think about what their future employers will be looking for. Is it compliance? Don’t get me wrong, we need to teach, and model, respect. But we also need to equip and inspire students to be thinkers, creators, questioners, and collaborators. All of these skills are hard to measure on standardized tests but do make for great employees. Especially in the fast-moving innovative world we live in now. Maybe the best quote from the book: “Students are still learning how to live life, and the way they think and operate creates a hot mess in our classrooms. Instead of avoiding those messes, we’ve got to pull on our rubber boots and wade through the mess with them. Yes, it requires time and patience, but it’s also how we can help them learn to make better decisions in the future.” (p. 123) Ditch that red pen: Find ways to make their efforts more meaningful. If students are unsuccessful at a task and we move on, it tells them that that task isn’t meaningful, or that their understanding isn’t. Ideas:
Let’s talk about talking with parents. I’ve known teachers on both sides of the fence. Some that go above and beyond to include parents and others who work hard to keep them at a distance. I challenge you this year to consider where you stand on the subject and ask yourself why? How did you form your philosophies on parent communication and involvement? Is there a connection between your student success and your connection with their family? I’m reading Ditch That Homework by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler, another must read. It is not all about eliminating homework but rather, strategies for effectively teaching and eliminating the need for homework. I’d like to talk about homework in the next post, so I’ll move on. To me, your students’ success can be drastically increased by building a relationship with their parents. In their book, Matt and Alice suggest “If we want students to learn and parents to support that learning, they need to buy into the importance of learning. One of the best ways to get students and parents to buy in is to improve our relationships with them.” Buy in from families also increases student accountability and motivation. When they see you as someone who cares about them beyond the classroom, students are more likely to open up to you, work hard and form their own connection with you. They already want to make their parents happy, so knowing that you have connected with their parents pushes them to step up their game. Parent connection should start early in the year and focus on the positive. Two points of positive parent contact to jumpstart your relationship with families:
2. Call, just to say something good. Early in my teaching career someone shared this idea with me. Call with something good to say early on so if you have to call later with a negative issue you’ve already established a connection based on a positive point. Parents will believe you have their child’s best interest in mind when you’ve made an effort to see the good in their kid, and take the time to share it. Be genuine and specific.
Each year when I make these calls they are so rewarding. One, it gives me an opportunity to start learning about the whole kid and what's going on with them. Two, I’ve learned about past traumas, busy schedules, interests, needs and so much more. Each year I am always shocked by two comments that I am sure to hear at least once on both sides…
These calls, they take time. Honestly, a lot. The beginning of the year is busy. It may even take you a month to build a connection with the kiddo that allows you to build that positive conversation but I promise you, IT IS WORTH IT. I have laughed, cried, and gained so much understanding. This understanding allows me to best teach that individual student. If I have the opportunity to understand what a child’s life is like outside of my classroom it is so powerful in helping me understand what is going on with them regarding their school work and behavior. Gaining that understanding and building a relationship with parents that will increase their support of what's happening in the classroom couldn’t possibly lead to anything besides a successful year for that kiddo. As the school year approaches, like many other teachers, my mind has begun to fill with ideas, questions, plans, aspirations and so on. I’d like to share my reflections from Dave Burgess’s book, Teach Like a Pirate, in hopes of inspiring you to set sail in a new and passionate way this year. Read this book! If you can’t get to the whole thing before the year starts, read section three first: Building a Better Pirate. The ideas and inspiration in the first two sections are fantastic, but it is in the third section that Dave’s most powerful encouragements come that I believe will truly make you question your motivation and set sail to achieving greatness. Dave himself encouraged me to find a way to start sharing my ideas, via social media, presenting at conferences or any way I could. The thought of putting myself out there online was a little daunting and I have made excuses about the time commitment and such. I recently said to a friend and colleague “I’m going to write a blog this year to keep track of my ideas and reflect. It’s fine if no one reads it…” I realize now, as many of us do, I was letting my fear mask my true desire to be successful. In Dave’s book, he brings up a great point that really sunk in hard for me… In other professions, it is expected that you strive for greatness, but in our profession people who go the extra mile or push the envelope are often criticized or shamed. I remember in my early years of teaching another teacher saying to me “why do you have to do all of this extra stuff, are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?” I remember almost cowering and feeling bad. I certainly didn’t have the confidence to say “BECAUSE IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!” But now, after having several years of teaching under my belt and inspiration like I find in Dave’s book, I’m ready to shout it from the rooftop and challenge myself to stop fearing failure and judgment. I hope you’ll join me. Greatness: When you’re starting your teaching career you have a lot of opportunities to expose yourself to different teachers. I remember saying to a near retirement teacher who was surprisingly on fire “I hope to be like you, to have energy and passion even as the end of my career approaches.” Since then, I’ve continued to wonder, “what happens?” Surely we all start teaching with the same desires but then somewhere along the way the fire burns out for too many. Somehow we’ve got to find a way to continue to aspire for greatness year after year.
Let’s start by encouraging one another. Being a great teacher isn’t about outshining other teachers, it’s about lifting each other up, pushing each other and surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best in you. We also need to evaluate what we consider to be greatness. Are we aiming to have a classroom full of compliant high achieving testers? That’s not what the world is looking for? I can not think of one profession that this prepares kids for. So, I hope not. Rather I hope we are aspiring to empower kids to be self- confident, compassionate, well-rounded people who will one day shape the future of our world. To do that, they are going to have to learn to question, take risks, be creative, and take the lead. Dave compares teachers to superheroes, it’s a good comparison. We have a lot of power. For some kids, we are their only exposure to a positive uplifting role model. We owe it to at least those kids to strive for more. To make every day in our classroom worthwhile. To build relationships that are genuine. To believe in them. To take time to prepare lessons that make them love school, learning, and wonder about the world. Our success, our greatness, will not be reported mid-summer in a statistical data report. It will come years after our students have walked out of our classrooms and be reflected in their ability to shape the world, to make it better and to make a life for themselves. And in reality, we can’t do it alone. We only have one small group of kids at a time for just one short year. We have got to rally around one another to achieve greatness year after year for these kids. They deserve it. Let’s aspire to be great, put in the hard work it takes, and work to build a community of empowerment in our whole school for all teachers and kids. Comment to share your beginning of the year “greatness” ideas and leave some feedback. |
Niki EgelhoffI love learning and sharing ideas. Please join in my conversations. Archives
January 2019
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