I don’t know what you are going through. I do not know if yesterday was the best day ever or a day to try to forget forever. I don’t know if you are in an upswing or a down. I just don’t know where you are in your teaching life.
I do know one thing, though. I know what you have. You have this no matter what you are feeling or going through in you life and your role as a teacher. This one thing is more precious than gold or money (though more of those would be nice).
You have today.
You have today.
You have today.
Today is not only something that you have. Today is really the only thing you have.
You know the saying, “Yesterday is gone and we are not promised tomorrow.” It is an old and tired statement, but it is nonetheless true. Today is all that we have. It is the only thing that we can be positively sure of.
Today.
What are you going to do with it? How are you going to use it? How will you make it count? How will you make it last?
Are you going to use it up on bemoaning yesterday?
Are you going to waste it on worrying about tomorrow?
Or will you make every second something worthwhile? Can I challenge you to try?
Will you use it to connect more with your students? Will you make your lessons something that will be remembered? Will you make students feel special? Will you make them feel loved?
Just like you, our students only have today. They need it to count. They need it to last. They need it to mean something.
Will you be the one to help them do it?
Will you help them make today matter in their lives?
They need you to.
You need you to.
You are a teacher and that is what you do.
Today is what you have. Use it well, friend, use it well.
(c)DearTeacherLT2013 (You may use the image if you link back to the blog and/or give credit to Dear Teacher/Love Teacher)
You are AWESOME! You are more than amazing. I know that you will make today count, matter, and last. You will teach your students to do the same. You are making a difference. Don’t you forget it! Keep on teaching, Teacher!
I saw this in an article this morning and just had to share. It made me think of you. Yes, it is a real picture. The whale-watchers had no idea they were being whale-watched!
Sometimes we are so close with helping our students turn a corner. Sometimes it is remarkably close, and we just don’t know it. This is why we can’t give up. This is why we must keep going.
Our students are getting it. We are making a difference. Keep going, Teacher! Keep teaching! You are so awesome!
Have a great break! Relax and recharge those batteries!
You are almost there! You have almost made it! Holiday break is just around the corner. You can almost count the minutes!
You have worked so hard to keep students engaged. You have poured your heart out. You have put in the hours and the energy to capture their hearts and minds. You have tried to make this time before break both educational and memorable. And you have done it. You have knocked it out of the park!
It may not have been perfect, you you have done well, my friend. Great job! Amazing! You are such a great teacher!
The students may not always appreciate the work you do now, but you are making a difference. You are doing so well. Every minute may not be awesome, but your awesome never stops. Nice job. You have done what you do so well. You are so awesome!
Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for working so hard. Thank you for caring so much. Thank you for being you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I hope you have the best holiday break ever! Take it easy. Take a break. Rest. Relax. Get charged up for the rest of the year!
You are so awesome! You are so amazing! Your students need you and you are making a difference in their lives. Keep on teaching, Teacher!
Have a great break, you have earned it and deserve it!
You are the one. You have what you need. You have plans, but you also have heart. You are ready…even if you are not completely ready.
You have a mind and know how to use it. You can roll with the waves and the punches. This day…this week…this year will not dominate you. You’ve got this. Somewhere deep inside you know that you can handle this.
Your students have no idea what is coming. Use that. You can do something different today. Take them off guard. Show them that you know your stuff. Show them that you care. Show them that you are the teacher that they need you to be.
What do I mean by this? That depends on you. That depends on what you are facing today. That depends on what you need.
Does that mean that I am being generic with my encouragement today?
No! It just means that the message for today is whatever you need it to be.
You really do have this under control, even if you don’t feel like it.
No matter what is ahead of you, you can do this today. You can teach. You can make it through. You can be who your students need you to be.
Be that teacher.
You are that teacher.
Do what you need to do today.
Need to change your plans? Do it.
Need to review though there is little time to do it? Review away.
Need to take a stand about an issue happening in your class? Stand up.
Need to hold your ground on a school issue unrelated to students? Do what you need to do.
Be who you need to be today.
Your students and those around you have no idea what you have in store today. You have the upper hand. You have the element of surprise. Surprise them today.
You’ve got this!
Teach away!
You are awesome! You can do this today. Go. Do. Be the teacher! You are amazing! I believe in you! Keep on teaching, Teacher!
Once again, the busyness of this time of year has pushed back the weekly theme song until Tuesday this week. I do apologize! Here it is now, though. A new week, a day closer to a break for most of us. A busy time, but it does not have be stressful. Okay, not too stressful.
Wait, I am getting ahead of myself. I almost forgot. The song! Click play and then read on.
Like I said, this is a busy and stressful time of year. Unfortunately, though it is supposed to be the “peace on Earth” feeling season, we feel anything but peaceful right now. So much to do, so much to remember, and oh so little time. We can get down to the end of our rope, and those around us can get anything but peace from us (especially our students).
So what do we do about this?
How can we keep the “joyful” season keep up from wanting to kill someone? (I say that in jest, only, and for effect.)
Well, it sounds simplistic, but…we can smile.
Smile?
Yes, smile.
Isn’t that like putting a band-aid on a severed limb if you are stressed out?
Maybe, but hear me out.
Smiling can change you. Smiling is powerful. A smile is powerful for those around you. A smile is power for you, personally.
To smile…to really smile and not fake one…makes something inside of you change. To have a sincere smile you have to think of something to smile about. When you are thinking about something to smile about, life and priorities get a little more focused. You start to remember what is important and what matters. As this happens, your smile becomes a little less forced and a little more natural. Stress melts away a bit and you start to feel like smiling.
Smiling changes your perspective. When that perspective changes, you will start to remember why you are up there in front of your students…to teach them, to care for them, and to help them grow into reasonable and self-sustaining adults one day. You remember that they are not there to make your life more difficult. They are there for you…for you to teach them…for you to care…for you to show them how to be them.
Smiling is infectious. You will help others smile when you smile. You will help your students feel better. You will help your coworkers feel better. You will help your family feel better.
Smiling changes things.
There is this old adage in teaching, “Don’t smile before Christmas.” I understand the sentiment. It is about classroom management and all of that. However, I am sorry. I have to cry, “BULL!” on that one.
Smiling is not a crime. Smiling breaks down walls. Smiling helps decrease stress. Smiling changes perspective.
Smiling is important.
It is okay to smile before Christmas. Heck, I say smile because it is almost the holidays. Smile because you have students to teach. Smile because your are a teacher and being a teacher is awesome! Smile because you are awesome!
I used to pride myself as not being the “Honey, Sweetie” kind of teacher. I hold my students accountable and I push them to learn and learn on their own. Not that there is anything wrong with the latter, however the former is important, too. This year a fellow teacher challenged my on my lack of terms of endearment for students. Mind you, I teach 6th grade so I did not feel like affectionate terms are important…that is for elementary school students. Anyway, I started to weave “buddy” and things like that into the day and into conversations with students.
I tell you, it has changed me. Stress has decreased. I can approach classroom management issues in different ways than before. The ice is broken by “buddy” and “pal.” Students had trouble with me talking like that at first, but now there is no fear in my approaching them about things and none for them to approach me with questions and misunderstandings in class.
“Buddy” changed things.
I share this because it is the same as smiling. Smiling and “buddies” de-stress us and de-stress our students. We can get to the heart of things and build a positive relationship and atmosphere. When we have these things, we can teach and learn a lot more effectively.
So…smile away!
(c)DearTeacherLT2013 (You may use the image if you link back to the blog and/or give credit to Dear Teacher/Love Teacher)
You are awesome, Teacher! You are amazing. Don’t forget to smile today as you are making a difference in your students’ lives. You are making a difference, and the smile will help that difference go further. Keep on smiling and keep on teaching, Teacher!
Love, Teacher
PS…Side note–Yesterday, I let the first “sweeties” slip from my mouth. Guess what? I did not melt into a pile of pixie dust! The students listened to what I had to say because they knew that I cared and was coming from the perspective of helping them make a better choice. Maybe “Honey, Sweetie” Teachers know what they are doing!
If we were to chose an anthem for the life of a teacher, I think this song should at least be on the ballot. It definitely sums up how I feel right now. We have so much to do. We hit so many roadblocks, but still we keep moving.
Click play and then read on.
You are tired…so am I.
You have too much to do…so do I.
You are behind on grading…so am I.
You have assignments/tests to put together and paper work to finish…so do I.
You are a teacher and you have teacher things to do (like them or not) and so do I.
We can’t possibly get them all done, can we?
On top of all of this, there are countless classroom conundrums, people and personality problem, and irritating individual issues that we have to work through day after day after day (after day).
We have those students that like to get under our skin…and they like to stay there.
We have coworkers who can make our work more difficult.
We have family and family things that are also apart of our lives (we have lives outside of school?).
We are overwhelmed.
We are over-worked.
We are over it.
What do we do?
We move along.
Yep. We move along.
A part of teaching, one of the biggest parts in my opinion, is the art of moving along. We find a way to keep our head down and plow on through the difficult times and situations of teacherhood. We focus. We prioritize. We move along.
How do you move along when you don’t feel like you can?
I am not sure how you move along, but I do know that somehow you have to find a way. I know for me it is just picking what I know is vital, what I know I can control, what I know I can take care of and then letting the rest go, do the minimum, or get help. I find a way to get through it.
Don’t give in to the “I can’t do this” part of you. You CAN do this. You CAN survive. You CAN move along.
Move along, like I know you CAN.
Even when your hope is gone, move along.
All you’ve got to keep is strong…move along.
Move along, like I know you do.
I do not know what you are going through, Teacher, but you CAN make it through it. You CAN keep going. You CAN move along. So move along.
Keep your focus on your students. Remember why you are here. Remember that it is about changing your students’ lives and futures. It is about them learning and learning to learn on their own. It is all about them. When you focus on the goal of your students and their needs, you CAN move along.
Move along.
I know you CAN.
You are awesome. You do move along. You get through the tough times. Keep moving. Keep going. Keep teaching, Teacher. You are amazing!
(c)DearTeacherLT2013 (You may use the image if you link back to the blog and/or give credit to Dear Teacher/Love Teacher)
Dear Teacher,
I was going to take a break from writing over Thanksgiving break, but I had a rough day on Tuesday (the last day of school for me before break) so I have been reflective. My reflections have been some thoughts that I really feel like I should write down. Writing helps me process them and will make them real to me. I decided to write them to you because, maybe, you are going through something similar and need some similar encouragement and thoughts.
This is one of those times that I am writing to myself and letting you listen in. Eavesdrop away, Teacher.
Too often I let myself get wrapped up in the actions, behavior, and/or attitude of one or a small handful of students. I let this small cluster change my day and change my attitude because of these students. I let this affect how I am feeling and change my behavior, actions, and reactions towards other students and my coworkers. I let this make me feel like a failure. I let this make me feel like a bad teacher. I let this make me doubt my choices the led to becoming a teacher at all.
These feelings do not last long, but they are nonetheless real. The feelings do affect me. They really do. Even if they are short-lasted, they do take a toll on me from time to time.
I know I shouldn’t let this happen. I know that letting one or a few students make me go down this road is not productive. But it happens. Every year. At least once or twice. The cycle begins and I have to work through it.
If I know that this cycle is not productive, why do I keep letting myself get forced into it? Do I have to go through this cycle? Do I have to let the few students affect how I am with the many other students that are learning and doing the right things every day? Do I need to go through this cycle of doubt and wonder about my choices?
If not, how do I avoid it?
Don’t get me wrong, reflection and analyzing what we do and say is important. It is vital. I am not saying that. I know that doubt can make you stronger when you work through it. I am just talking about the cycle that a handful of students can take you down where this few makes you feel like a failure as a teacher. Where your focus is on them and not the rest of your students who are thriving in your class. (I guess I should mention that it is not always the student that makes you feel like a failure…sometimes it is a parent like happened for me last year.)
So, how do I avoid this?
Today being Thanksgiving gave me a thought. Maybe one tool that helps here, one weapon in this battle, is thankfulness. Gratitude. The attitude of taking stock of what is going well instead of what is not.
Being thankful for the good things takes your focus off of what is going wrong. It puts into perspective that things really aren’t that bad and you that you can build on those things that are going great. It lets you see the “silver lining” and move on. Thankfulness lets the not-so-great things roll off your back like water off of a duck.
Being a thankfully reflective teacher can change you…especially in the moment when one or few students make you feel like you aren’t doing a good job.
Really? Can it be that simple?
I don’t know that this is all of it, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. A big step in that direction. As I have thought about this on this Thanksgiving morning, some of my stress from Tuesday has started to melt away. Not all of it, but a lot of it. It is changing my attitude. It is changing me. It is letting me remember why I do what I do and put up with what I put up with.
It is refilling my patience. That is a feat that is hard to do in the thick of a school year! I will be honest, it helps that I have a break from school…but I still needed a patience refill!
So, what can we be thankful for as teachers?
I am just going make a quick “Thankful List” for me. You can be thankful for whatever you need to be thank for…it sounds simplistic, but I think it will make a difference for you as it has for me. What are you teacher-thankful for?
My Thankful Teacher List
I have a job. That is important. Not all teachers have one right now.
I work at a great school with great teachers. ‘Nuff said. 🙂
I am on the best team of teachers at a school of great teachers.
I have wonderful, amazing students.
I have students who actually care when I am having a bad day.
I have students succeeding in my class who have had little success in school to this point (and I teach 6th grade).
I have students whose behavior has improved immensely and they are really starting to take their job as a student seriously.
Almost all of my students are interested in science, even if they haven’t been until this year (I teach science).
Most of my students work, cause no problems, and are improving in their ability to think and learn on their own.
I get to teach science to middle-schoolers, which is an amazing job to have!
I have a few students who work hard just because they know I care for them and want them to succeed.
Even those giving me a hard time will come around at some point.
I work with teachers who will help me become a better teacher.
I know I said it already, but I have amazing students.
Wow, I am glad I wrote those out instead of just thinking them. I feel so much better. Thankfulness does change you! Can you do the same? Write out a list of what you are thankful for in your classroom and with your students. You don’t have to do it here, but you can if you would like!
Let gratitude change your attitude.
I know that sounds cheesy, but it does work! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving, Teacher! If you aren’t from the US…Happy Thursday!
You are amazing! You are awesome! You are getting through to your students. Don’t give up! Keep on teaching, Teacher!
How was your week? Was it a rough one? Was it a “blah” one? Was it the best week ever?
Looking back is a part of our job. It is a part of what we do. It is a part of who we are. It is a vital function to the process of teaching. We have to do it. Good or bad, we have to analyze the week. What went wrong? What went right? What worked? What didn’t? Where did you thrive? Where did you fall on your face?
Reflection can be hard. It is hard to relive the week, sometimes. But we need to do it. We have to. As painful as it can be, we have to go through it day by day. This is the only way to become a better teacher and let your awesome shine in the weeks to come.
As you look back, though, focus. What matters most? What are the most important things that you need to do in your role as a teacher at your school (and any other roles that you might have)? What do your students need most? What do they need to learn? What do they need to learn about learning for themselves? What do your students need outside of learning? What do they need to become better, independent Earth dwellers one day?
What does your school need from you most? What do your colleagues need from you? What does your family need from you? What do you need from you? I mean truly need.
What matters most?
Let what matters most be the mirror that you judge yourself by. There are so many little things, the minutia of teaching, that can get us wrapped around the axle of the teacher’s life. These things can stress us out. These are the things that wipe us out. These are the things that can lead to burnout quickest. These are the things that don’t lead to what matters most.
Fun=House Mirror
Don’t reflect by these muddle puddles. They are fun-house mirrors. They are not a real reflection of you as a teacher. They do not show you who you really are. They are a false reflection. Don’t judge yourself by these things! Easier said than done, but you are going to have to let those things go.
Let them go.
Let them go.
Let them go.
Focus.
What matters most?
Use the “matters most” for reflection. How was your week when you look at those things? What do you need to change? What are you doing well? How will you make the “matters most” matter more next week?
Mirror – Ikea
Look back, Teacher. How are you doing? How was this week?
You are awesome! You know what matters most. You know how to let the other stuff go. You are making a difference…what matters most is your goal. This makes you amazing! Keep on focusing and keep on teaching, Teacher!
Dear Teacher/Love Teacher 