Understanding and Compassion Must Lead the Way

Well, we are in the middle of September and "the honeymoon is over" for most of our kids and for some the "honeymoon" never happened.  In other words, teachers have established expectations for behavior and we now know who are going to challenge those expectations.  It's easy to say that you are getting to know your kids pretty well by now...in some cases we know more about our kids than we want to.  In other cases wonder what the home life of the child is, or maybe what they have been through that has created the behavior patterns that exist.

Here are two words of encouragement to help when you are feeling the frustration of persistent behavior management...Let understanding and compassion lead the way.  When I mean by understanding is referring to what motivates the student, what makes the student get up in the morning and come to school, and most importantly, understand what they are trying to get out of the misbehavior (the function of their misbehavior).  If you ask what the student is trying to get out of it you have a greater understanding of the how to move forward.  Leading with compassion means allowing the understanding to guide your emotions.  If the emotions are too tightly tied to focus on "projects" instead of "people" we lose the humanity and compassion that is needed to nurture our children.  If we forget that they are feeling, hurting, imperfect, sensitive, and human we treat students like are a barrier to achieve our agenda and the teaching process becomes about us, not about the students we serve.

Remember, as we seek to understand and think compassionately about the students we serve, we will serve them better while reducing our stress and anxiety to move at a pace that leaves those students behind.

ONEWORD - 2016 - INSPIRE

In the wake of holiday activity and in the anticipation of the long stretch to spring break I had a great gift given me. I was asked to take part in a conference while feeling depleted and absent of energy. I was so privileged to attend this conference recently held in San Jose where I felt incredibly inspired. The symposium was with Google and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, partners in educational hardware and software for schools. The organizers of the this conference decided to present highly inspirational minds from the education sector at this conference. While at this conference I heard speakers and connected with others that were so thought provoking and dynamic that I couldn't help but feel inspired. I listened to others talk and related to this energy and fire that came out of so many that I spoke to. When I interacted with others I couldn't help but reflect on the words that come out of me and how others percieve me as a person and a professional. I couldn’t help but think about what others feel when they interact with me. I've always hoped and prayed that others would be better off by interacting with me, but sadly, due to my own failings and inadaquacy, that is not always the case. That's where my One Word 2016 comes into play.

I chose the word "Inspire" as my word for the year because I sense at times that I don't feel inspired, and therefore don't inspire others. I wanted to know more about this word as I coined it as my One Word 2016, so I looked up "inspire":

The first aspect of this verb is that it primarily refers to creating a feeling in others that brings them to action. It infers that when someone is inspired, they then are compelled to do something creative, which can in-turn inspire others, and so on. Ultimately, inspiring others isn't done in isolation, it can run through an organization. Can you inspire others without being inspired first?...Absolutely and thank goodness for those that can inspire themselves and others without provocation. But inspiration is meant to be shared, and in that sharing is when the excitement and wonder takes hold in our lives... in the classroom we call this synthesis. It is not only natural to want to share what has inspired you, but it is also beneficial for all, both the sender and receiver of the inspiration.

Can sharing an inspiration be a negative experience? The factors to determine the potentially positive or negative way inspiration is communicated have everything to do with the relationship of those that share. The trick is to share your inspiration with someone like you would share an amazing precious gift you were given that you want to pay forward. How can someone be offended or construe that as negative?

What does it all meant to me? Why "inspire"? Simply put, the concept of breathing into something in order to provoke or stimulate creativity is amazing. What imagery...something or someone who feels deflated and stagnant. Unable to create, innovate, or even unable to feel...I picture words building that person up, inflating their self-worth and encouraging them. ("encourage" in Middle English meaning to "put courage in" someone.) The miracle of this reciprocal process is when you breathe into someone inspiration, you are encouraged as well. As I feel inspired by others it provokes something within me to share which fuels my spirit to lead and serve others. When I lead and serve I feel like I am the best version of myself personally and professionally.

In education there are so many shifts where teachers have more emphasis to be facilitators and developers of student creativity, innovation and problem solving skills. The pressure is sometimes insurmountable for teachers to make these shifts constantly from the way "things were" to the way "things are heading" while keeping intact their teaching style and expectations under this new format of instruction. Teachers really need this inspiration to breath new life into their minds, bodies and spirits. I feel privileged to inspire students and teachers to be their best.