Dad & Husband. High School Administrator & Doctoral Student in Educational Leadership. Author of Fair and Consistent: School Climate Practices for Educators.
Kids aren’t inspired by district goals and standardized tests. They are inspired by school leaders who promote a culture of relentless self-improvement.
Be positive, not just for yourself but for your colleagues. Negative people take up 10% of my time and drain 80% of my energy! My daily aim is to spend more time with positive people & be a positive influencer on the negative - be a positive influencer in your school this week!
Music is the ultimate motivator and activator of movement. When music is played, 4th grade students are up to 6 times more likely to enjoy PE class. scienceblog.com/491896/music…
Sharing a #poem by my son, Eric.
Grade 2.
Camouflage
Can you see me?
No you can't
Plain sight is where I am
Great camouflagers like the chameleon
Are masters of plain sight
Look around, can you find me?
Do you want to be fed without being seen?
Camouflage is what you need.
This is a must read for educators & students. NBA stars @KevinLove and @DeMar_DeRozan are sharing their battles with #mentalhealth. Now's the time to bridge their courage w/ conversation. Our students don't have suffer in silence with anxiety & depression.
theplayerstribune.com/kevin-…
This is the time of year where school leaders who comprehend the significance of culture hit the halls and ignite their visibility. That’s because inspiring leaders understand that running a building actually takes running the building. #edchat
Teachers overwhelmed by the struggles of a long school year need not fret over conflicted feelings on teaching. It’s a difficult job that tests your will during March. You are not alone. Spring is coming and a rebirth is on the way. For now, stay energized by being collaborative.
A1: Angela Duckworth, professor of psychology at @Penn has done extensive research linking grit and perseverance to success in all fields, including teaching. There is evidence that grit can be measured and predict a candidates ability to teach long term. @angeladuckw#PLN365
Educators are allowed to make mistakes and have regrets. Sometimes the most powerful lesson you can provide your students is simply saying, “I’m sorry” when the situation calls for it.
February is often times a hard month for educators. We gotta dig deep. We gotta lift each other up. And we gotta remember why we do what we do. The students need us... more than many of us realize. We’re not just showing up for “work” ... we’re showing up for the kids.
The difference between a leader and a manager is not complex.
Leaders say, I work for them.
Managers say, they work for me.
Managers never let you forget who you work for.
Leaders never let you be forgotten.
#leadership
Started a 4 day February break today. Educators need these breaks. It helps us to hit refresh and stay ready to inspire. But as everyone runs for the door...so many kids are still hanging around. Never forget that not everyone has a fun and refreshing place to rest and regroup.
Today I was inspired by a girl who bent down to pick up a candy wrapper in a crowded hallway. I saw others take notice. I rejoiced with a thank you and took a moment to ask her why she picked it up. She said because she already walked past it once. That is #culture personified.
Classroom management is not about whether you can keep your kids behaved, but rather whether you can keep them engaged. Planning helps, but it is mostly about relationships. #edchat
My kids have nicknamed me Dr. Doze so they made a list to get active during late afternoon downtime. They chose:
1. Play ball
2. Write
3. Family games
4. Do a chore
5. Make music
6. Make art
7. Gym
8. Family walk
9. Stretch
10. Dance
A reminder that activity replaces lethargy.
Here is an effective strategy to use when trying to get students to understand why their inappropriate language is a problem.
Take school rules out of it.
Tell them your job is to protect the workplace environment of school employees. Kids get that.
#MakeItReasonable
When a student makes a poor choice & held accountable w/ consequences, sometimes they can be argumentative and/or face twitching mad.
To deescalate, calmly say - You made a mistake; mistakes have consequences. Tomorrow is going to be a better day.
#MakeItReasonable#edchat