Last Day before It Begins!

I have to be honest, I am feeling very tired and unmotivated.  This is the first time I have EVER felt this way before heading back to school.  I am not sure why I am feeling this way.  I think the summer went by way too fast and I just feel very over-whelmed.  I am hoping that tomorrow will be different.

Perhaps a return to routine will be good for me and hopefully, invigorate me to get back to teaching.

On a more positive note, I presented/ facilitated several successful sessions and conferences this summer.  I am beginning to feel more confident in my abilities to be an educational consultant.  that truly is my long term goal! I know I will feel better after this weekend...  I hope all of you guys are excited and that you have a Wonderful School Year!

Follow the Procedure: What kinds of procedures should we have in a class...

Hello, Hello!!!

Another video upload for the Classroom Management 101 Series.  this segment identifies the difference in rules versus procedures.  I hope you enjoy!

What's the difference between Rules and Procedures?

Hey Teachers!!!

I have started a new series on YouTube called: Classroom Management 101!  I'm sure most of you reading this probably do not need help with this issue; however, I thought you might find the channel useful and perhaps can pass some of this on to fellow teachers:  Here is Video 1:

Mind mapping in the Classroom

Hey Everyone!!  I uploaded a video that I made for a training session that I did this past week and I thought I would share.  Let me know what you guys think or if you have any ideas or suggestions.

With Love!

Vision Board Update!

After a bit or revision, this is what my Vision Board Looks like now:

I really wanted to capture my goals and progress in my life in regard to my personal relationships, and my goal as a person.  There are a few things here that capture some notion that I have about teaching and my career in education:

1. The quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
2. The Project Life Card that says, "Create"
3. The Awesome Frozen version: "Keep Calm and Let It Go"

These three pieces were important for me because I need to remember that I am happiest when I am CREATING, there are some things that I just need to LET GO, and I CAN DO the things that I am afraid I cannot do.  I think that anyone who teaches should do something like this whether its a journal or a Pinterest page.

Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves because others are just too busy to do it for you!

Affirmations

The last two weeks have been long and arduous.  As we begin our journey on the state assessment train,  I was reminded by a colleague how important it is to teach children how to create affirmations for themselves and their goals.  Last Friday, while I was getting ready, I had an idea!  I decided that I would create an affirmation for myself.  I want all of my student to know that they have the potential and the ability to do anything they want, but more importantly, I want them to know that their value as a person is not a measure of the State Assessment.  

I think too often we place such a heavy burden on ourselves and our students to perform well in the "standardized realm."  But what about the other realms that a Standardized test DOES NOT measure?

What about Creativity?

What about Good Character?

What about Empathy for Others?

What about Effort?

What about Compassion?

Are these not a better measurement of a person's worth? I believe that if educators, the people who are in the classroom every day, place more of an emphasis on teaching these lessons, we can relieve the stress placed on our students and the unnecessary stress that we place on ourselves.

I am a good teacher because I work hard for my students and I care about their overall well-being; a standardized test will never measure that.  I hope that all of you know this as well.

Vision Board for the Next Few Months...

I was checking out my vision board just s minute ago; I have just been home from a movie with my husband.  I was looking at the stuff that I have posted and I thought how I might need to adjust some of the pictures and ephemera on the board.  It’s not that I want to take anything away, I just want to add some intentions about my goals for the remaining school year and then into the summer. 

Right now I have agreed to do three different training sessions this summer.  I’m really excited about this because, being an educational consultant is my ultimate goal.  I want to help people be better teachers.  In order to do this, I must be a good teacher. One part of that is getting experience training.  I have presented some training and had a session or two at different conferences, but I’m really excited about this summer’s opportunities. 

My first session will be on a mind mapping technique that I utilize for Science Literacy in my classroom.

The next session will be a full day that covers some of the Foldables that I have created in my classroom. (Pictures to come for those of you who love Foldables!)

Finally, I have agreed to present a three-day session on matter an energy which is a weak spot for me. This is going to take the most prep work and be the most challenging, but in the end, it will be the most beneficial to me.  I will have to get down and dirty with the content…

Back to the vision board…I want to capture my intentions for these trainings in a creative and meaningful way.  At the moment, I can’t think of anything in particular that inspires me; however, I know I will find it.  That said, let me share my current vision board with all of you in teacher land…I’ll post when I have an update.