teacher encouragement – Page 6 – Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Challenge, Feedback, General Inspiration, Get Psyched!, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, Perseverance

Fed Back and Tested (get back up, Teacher)

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I don’t know about you, but yesterday was a rough one for me. Not bad, so much, just rough. You know those kind of days?

I gave a test. I had high expectations. It went horribly wrong. My prediction of high averages were dashed on the rocks of reality.

I gave the students an opportunity to give me some feedback about behavior. They rated me, themselves, and the class. It is never nice to have to look into the mirror of perception! Nothing surprised me too much, but it doesn’t feel good to know what you thought is true.

So here I am this morning left with two things to come to grips with:

The students didn’t learn what I thought they learned.
I have as much to work on in myself as I thought I did.

So, what do I do with that? Do I beat myself up? Do I wallow in it for a while? Or do I pick my teacher hind parts up off the floor and get to work?

I have shared this quote before, but I love it and am going to share it again. It is from Jaime Escalante, the teacher the move Stand and Deliver was about (I wrote about him here). He said this:

“Life is not about how many times you fall down. It’s about how many times you get back up.”

It does not matter what a dose of real does to me. It does not matter if it knocks me down. It matters if I learn from it and change. It matters if I find a way to make what I need to do or teach work. It is more than an idea. It is a necessity.

It is a necessity as a human being. It is a necessity as an adult. It is a necessity as a teacher. But more than these, it is a necessity as a role model to my students.

I must get up. I must brush myself up. I must make changes. I must try again.

I must because one day the must do the same.

It is not about me.

It is about them.

I will get up today. I will brush myself off today. I will make changes. I will try again.

I will do these things because I am going to ask my students to do the same. I ask them to do this every day. They need to see me do it first. They will see me do it today.

How about you? What do you do when you are knocked down as a teacher? How do you handle it? How do you teach your students to get back up? Do they see you do it? Do the see you do it with grace? Do they see you do it with style? Will they and can they see you do it today?

I know that you get back up. You are a teacher. You have to. Can you get back up better today than yesterday? Can you show your students what it takes to bust through failure to get to success?

You are awesome! You do get back up. You do it with awesome. Help you students to that with awesome today! You are amazing! You are making a difference! Keep on teaching and getting back up, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

From venspired.com (shared by Edutopia).

Choose Positive, General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk

Two Wonderful Minutes

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Garfield Friday – Image Found: http://www.xm105fm.com/2014/01/24/for-the-drive-show-on-your-friday/

Dear Teacher,

For two wonderful, glorious minutes I thought today was Friday. Then like a slap to the face the shock set in that it was merely Thursday. It was like a cold water wake up…but now I am away to my Thursday reality.

That reality is simple:

I am a teacher.
It is a school day.
I have a job to do.
I have minds to mold.
I have hearts with which to connect.
I have students’ needs to meet.
I have arrows to block from my students.
I have monsters that need to be fought for my students.
I have content to teach.
I have concepts to make real.
I have weight that I need to carry for others.
I have lessons that need to be lessened.
I have ideas that need to be thought.
I have thoughts that need to be communicated.
I have too much to do and prioritizing that needs to happen.
I have a future to affect.
I have a world to make better.
I have a difference to make.
I have students who need me.
I have me to be.
I am a teacher.

The thing is, no matter what day of the week it is. You, I, and all teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world. We need to embrace all that we are as educators. I hear others (and myself) complain about all that we have to be for students. I am not talking about standards and administration expectations…I mean all that we have to be for students. We have to give them supplies. We have to make sure the get to where they are going. We have to remind, reteach, and re-give instructions until we can’t take it anymore. We have to be nurses. We have to be moms and dads. We have to be mentors. We have to be protectors. We have to be advocates. We have to be forgiving. We have to be patient. Oh, and we have to be teachers. We have so much that we have to be. It is easy to be overwhelmed.

I need to spend more time embracing these all-too-many roles that I have. I need to remember why I do what I do. It is because I care for my students. If they do not have what they need outside of school in these many parts we have to play, then we need to be those things and do so with pride. This is why we are in this game to start with. We are here to make a difference. We need to make that difference and do so joyfully…even when we are too tired to do so much.

And even when it is not Friday.

You are so awesome. I know you are better at embracing these things than I am. One day I will be as good as you. You are making that difference. You are embracing those roles. You are amazing! Keep on teaching and making a difference, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

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

‘Twas the day before break…

Posted on December 20, 2013December 20, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I hope you have the best break ever! You deserve it.

I am going to leave you with a little poem. Have a happy holiday season and stay safe, get rest, and get ready for 2014!

A Break from Your Classoom

‘Twas the day before break, when all through the classroom,

Each creature was stirring; the teacher, too, I assume;

The students were antsy and moving here and there;

In hopes that the clock would move faster if they stare;

The administration was nestled all snug in their offices;

With having visions of no calls about students from all of us;

And you in your holiday sweater and matching cap,

Just want to settle your brain for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the hall there arose such a clatter,

You sprang from your chair to see what was the matter.

Away to the door you flew like a flash,

Spun doorknob and moved the door with a crash.

The fluorescent light from the hallway gave off quite a glow,

You looked left and right to see what you could know,

When the noise that had traveled to your wondering ear,

Helped you realize that it was the bell that you did hear.

The end of the day really did come so quick,

It was just like a present from dear old St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles the students they came,

And they hustled and shouted, and you called them by name:

“Now, students! bye-bye students! Bye you wonderful children!

Bye, students! Do be careful as you leave this dear buildin’!

To the top of the hallway! to the top of the hall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As papers and dust in their happy wake fly,

When they meet with their bus they jump in not shy;

And back to their houses with them the bus oh it flew

With all of the girls and boys, and their energy too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard you so true

Your prancing and dancing to your door as you did shoo.

You got in your car without turning around,

Down the parking lot you and your car were home-bound.

The school, in your rear view got smaller by sight—

“Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!”

Saw this on Facebook this morning…I had to use it!

You are awesome! You are amazing! You are a teacher! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

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, Pep Talk, Picture Note, Poster/Graphic, Theme Song

Happy Medley (don’t worry, Teacher)

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I have been so busy this month, can you tell? Sorry for space between notes to you! Hopefully everything will settle down after Christmas break. I hope!

Well, even though it is mid-week, I figure that we all could still use a theme song for the week. Click play and then read on.

The message is simple today, which I have been saying a lot lately…it is nonetheless true. 🙂

Don’t worry, Teacher.

School can be hectic. There is so much to do. There is so little time. Teaching is tough.

It is easy to get caught up in the cycle of stress. We get worn out. We start to let plates fall. The stress builds. We get even more tired. We let more plates fall. More stress. More tired. More broken plates on the floor. And the story goes on and on this way.

We teachers like to worry. Okay, we don’t like it, but we are drawn to worry. We have to worry. There is often no choice but to worry.

Stress is coworker. It is in our classroom. It comes in with the students. It comes in with the administrators. It comes in with our fellow teachers.

It surrounds us. It swallows us whole. It is the lurking monster around every corner. We walk on eggshells trying not to let it know that we are around.

Such is the life of a a teacher. Stress and worry.

And that is just the school stuff! I won’t even go into the stress and worry that comes along with the rest of our lives. Family. Friends. Life in general.

And all of this just gets magnified this time of year. I am writing this before Christmas, but pick the time of year and there is probably something to magnify stress and worry for us.

So what do we do?

We remember one thing…it will all eventually be all right. Everything’s going to be all right.

We can stress less. We can.

We can not worry so much. It is true.

We just have to prioritize and focus.

Easier said than done…but we can do it.

It is not a crime to let some plates drop. We can clean up the mess and move on. It is not a big deal. It just isn’t.

To quote my friend Pete the Cat when he lost one of his groovy buttons, “Do we cry? Goodness no! Buttons come and buttons go.” We can keep on singing our song!

Stuff, stress, and worries come and go. They do. They do not have to drive us to the brink. They don’t.

Don’t worry, Teacher. Every little thing is going to be all write.

Don’t worry, be happy.

It is okay to be happy.

Be happy today. Do it for your students. Do it for you. Find something about what needs to happen today and the rest of the week that makes you happy and let that drive you. Don’t worry so much. Be happy!

I know that you can! I believe in you!

As I said, I am writing this before Winter Break. If you are reading this before break, take the rest of the week and make it less stressful. Find a way. Be happier. It is okay. You are allowed to do that from time to time. You and your students will be better for it!

You are awesome and amazing, as usual. You can and do try to stress less and be happier. Good for you! You students are definitely reaping the benefits of it! You are making a difference in their life by showing them it is possible to stress less and be happier. They will need those lessons one day! You are so great and I believe in you so much! Go get it today and make today great! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

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, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk, Perseverance, Poster/Graphic, Reflection, Thank You!

The Thankful Teacher

Posted on November 28, 2013 by 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!

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