Dear Teacher/Love Teacher – Page 7 – Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Challenge, General Inspiration, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, Perseverance

What is the point?

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I know, the title sounds a bit negative, but this is far from a negative message. It is a question we teachers need to think about every day before every class or lesson taught in a day. We need to ask ourselves this question because our students are going to come in with this question. What is the point?

I find that my best teaching days do not revolve around activities planned. They do not hinge on the minutia of my lesson plans. They do not even focus on the details of my standards that I hope to address. No, they have nothing to do with these things (though they help).

My best days hang on having a goal. They have a “point,” so to speak. Great teaching days come when I have a concept or idea (based on my standards) that I focus on in the lessons and activities. I hang my hat on these things. If the lesson goes another way than I planned, I roll with it. If my students come in with too much energy to do what I hoped to do, I adjust. I adjust to them and in a way that still focuses on my goal.

This, I believe, is one of the keys to being a great teacher.

You need to know what the “point” of the day needs to be. Then, no matter what the day brings, you move hell and high water to meet that goal. Have back up activities in mind. Know some good real world examples that you can bring up. Have some challenge problems you can have the students work through. Know your materials. Know your content. Know your stuff. Change an old activity to make it fit in the moment. Roll with the punches. Be flexible. And beyond all else, make your “point” your goal and do not sweat the small stuff that got in the way of your plans.

Make your goal, your point, happen, no matter what!

I share this today because I need to hear this. I have A LOT of things planned for my students. I am a science teacher, so there are a lot of details for me to work out with activities. However, I can not let these activities make or break my day. I need to focus on what I want them to get (the relationship between electricity and magnetism that causes electromagnets in my case). No matter what, I need my students to understand this one thing.

If I have to adjust my plans, so be it.
If I have to do demos instead of hands-on for a class, it is not a big deal.
If the lesson takes a turn I do not expect, I can roll with it.

I have one goal in mind. I know what they need to understand, and this is what will make my lessons. I do not have to stress over things not working out the way I planned. I just need to get to my “point.”

I can do this. You can do this. We can do this!

So what is your point today? What is the one thing you need your students to get by the end of your lesson? How will you roll with the punches? How will you get to the point?

You are awesome! You’ve got this! This is your day. You will get to the point, I know it. You are amazing. You are making a difference! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk

Do Something

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Last post, I encouraged you not to waste your todays. Today I just want to remind you of that. Today is all you have. Today is what your students need ythatou to use.

Do something today.

Do something big.

Do something meaningful.

Do something lasting.

Do something.

Make today count. Do not let it slip away. Make it last for a student. Make it last for all of them. Make something of today.

Do something.

You are awesome! I know you will make today a memory worth having for someone. Remember that I believe in you. I think that you are an amazing teacher. Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, Perseverance

So Close…Never Give Up..

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear 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!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Get Psyched!, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, You Are Awesome!!!

Almost There…

Posted on December 19, 2013December 19, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

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!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk

No Idea…(teachers have the upper hand)

Posted on December 11, 2013December 11, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

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!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, Perseverance, Theme Song

Move Along (like I know you do)

Posted on December 3, 2013December 3, 2015 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

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!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Pep Talk, Picture Note, Poster/Graphic

The Gift of Today

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

You have today. That is it. Nothing else. Only today.

Yesterday is no longer here. Good or bad, it is gone. Celebrate it. Cry over it. Do what you need to do, but it is over. Done. Completed.

Tomorrow is just that, it is tomorrow. It is not here yet. The worries of tomorrow are always a day away. The promises of tomorrow are just out of reach. It is the future. Not yet. Not here. Not now.

You have today.

You have here.

You have now.

It is so easy to be wrapped up in what has happened (yesterday) or what will happen (tomorrow) that we forget that we have the here and now. We have today.

At any second, we can look around and take stock of what we have and make the best of it. Really, all we can control is what we are experiencing in the moment. Think about it. That is all we can do. Act in the here. Act in the now. Act today.

We can use the experiences of yesterday. We can learn from mistakes and successes. We can use what we have gained and accomplished. We can withdraw from the bank of yesterday, but we cannot go back and make deposits. We can’t be stuck in yesterday. We have to use yesterday to make today better.

Now, we can make deposits in the bank of tomorrow. That is certain. We can make choices today that make tomorrow’s today better. Don’t get me wrong. We do need to think about that. But it cannot be all that we do. Tomorrow never really gets here. We have to remember to live in today. Today is where we always are.

Today is it.

Today is a gift. It is what we have to give to the world. It is where we live our life and strive to make a difference. It is the now that lets us make tomorrow’s todays better and better.

It is a gift. However, it is only what you make of it. Will you make it something that you remember and can withdraw from in future todays? Or will you make it a weight that weighs you down? What it is up to you. It is all in how you use it. Your attitude determines so much of what today will be. How are you thinking about today?

Today is all you have.

What are you going to do today? What are you going to make of today? How will you change the way you look at today? How will you make today count? How will you make today be something you remember tomorrow and lets you be stronger in the next today?

How will you use today to change your students’ tomorrows?

How will you teach them to use today?

How will you model today?

Today is our gift.

Let’s give our today to the world. Let’s make it count. Let’s use it to change ourselves, our students, and our world. Let’s make today about making other people’s todays better.

Are you with me?

I know I am thankful for today. Today is mine. I want it to count. Will you join me in making today great?

You are awesome! You make every today count. I am so proud of you for that! You are so amazing! I believe in you. You are making a difference. Keep on living today and keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

Choose Positive, General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Pep Talk, Theme Song

Wake Up Everybody (teachers and students, too)

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I know, since most of you that read my blog are from the US, are headed for an extended break this week. I have been pondering about what I should write about at the start of a week like this. Do I do a full message on a short week? What should I talk about? What do I need to hear? What do you need to hear?

I think I know.

But first, it is Monday, so you know what to do. This post has a theme song and it is your theme song for the week. I am sure that I have heard this song before, but it was fresh to me this morning as I looked for a song that went with the theme for this morning. I like it. I am glad to have this song in my head this week and I hope you will be, too.

So, what do I think we teachers need to hear about this week?

What is a message that we need to hear about on this week when we think about what we are thankful for?

What do teachers need this week?

Hope.

Hope is a state of mind. Hope is an expectation of a positive future something (event, change, etc.). Hope is an outlook on the world that changes our perspective on what is happening. Hope is a contagious catalyst for emotions that drive us from negative to positive thoughts and actions.

Hope changes us. Hope makes us stronger. Hope makes us work harder. Hope lets us persevere through the difficulties and stress we go through until our hope is realized and materialized on the other side of obstacles.

What is hope for a teacher?

Students are our hope. We can not lose them as the focus of what we do. We teach because we want to see a change in students. We want them to become productive adults one day. We want them to learn and learn on their own. We want to see them become the leaders of tomorrow. We want them, in essence, to change the future and what we are experiencing now.

Students are our hope.

Because students are our hope, we can get through anything. All of the little things that we have to go through and put up with are nothing when we remember that we are doing what we do for the sake of students. When we have to pick and chose what can actually be done of the millions of expectations that are put on us, when we prioritize, we remember this hope and make our choices based on this, on them, on our students.

When we plan, we think of what we are planning for. When we grade, we think of what we are grading for. When we go to meetings, we think about what those meetings are for. When we go to PD, when we read, when we _______________ (you fill in the blank), we remember what all of these things are for.

The “what” that these things are for is really a “who.” It is for our students. It is for their future. They are the hope we need.

When you have a bad day…remember your hope. When your students are not doing what you planned…remember your hope. When that one student gets on your last nerve…remember your hope. When your fellow teachers make things difficult for you…remember your hope. When your administration seems to add stress after stress…remember you hope. When you feel like you are on the edge of burnout and just can’t go on any more…remember your hope.

Remember your hope.

Your hope is your students.

Remember your hope this week.

I know that it is a shorter week, but do not lose sight of that. It is still time that you have with your students. It is still time to teach them. It is still time to influence them. It is still time to make a difference.

Students are your hope.

As you remember what you are thankful for, remember to be thankful for your hope. Be thankful for the reason that you are a teacher. Be thankful for the very purpose that you get up each and every day and muddle through all that you have to go through. Be thankful for the hope of the future. Be thankful for your students!

I would like to add, that you, Teacher, are a part of my hope. You going on gives me hope. You getting through the tough parts of what we do gives me hope. You teaching your heart out gives me hope. You not giving up your hope gives me hope.

Thank you for being my hope. I am thankful for you!

(c)DearTeacherLT2013 (You may use this picture if you link back to my blog.)

You are awesome! You are amazing! You have a hope that keeps you going. Don’t forget that hope! You are making a difference! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Reflection, Weekend Note

As You Look Back…

Posted on November 23, 2013November 23, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear 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.

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.

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?

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!

Love, Teacher