Coming Back from Breaks

Anytime we return to school after an extended break - winter break, spring break, even the occasional 4-day weekend - it can be tough for students to find their footing, maintain positive momentum from their time away, and create a sense of consistency. 

This is always especially true after winter break, which can sometimes last up to two weeks. With a nice stretch away from the 'grind,' most of us are usually able to unwind, catch up on sleep, relieve a little stress, and find enjoyment in activities outside of school. For many students, there can be much apprehension around returning to the day-to-day business of school, and they can quickly feel overwhelmed like they're back on the hamster wheel.

In my mind, there are a couple of important things students/parents/families can do to help ease these transitions. 

*First, be intentional about how you use your time. One of the most practical pieces of advice I received from experienced Principals, Superintendents, etc. during my Admin program was this: "run your schedule or your schedule will run you." While that made a ton of sense within that context at the time (and still does), I feel it applies to all of us in our everyday lives. It is so vitally important to be "in charge" of your time, as it is one of our most valuable commodities!

• carve out time every day for activities/hobbies/etc. that bring you joy! Maybe this is something you started over a break or it's a lifelong enjoyment...either way, make time for it. Even 30 minutes per day goes a long way.
• write down your commitments --> assignments, practices/games, weekend plans, etc. Seeing everything in front of you can help greatly with managing time.
• ask for help or guidance whenever you're feeling overwhelmed or just need a helpful hand with time management...parents, teachers, coaches can all be great resources. The good news about just any adult you ask is that they've been through it before!

 *Make a point to exercise your mind, spirit and body on a consistent basis.

• read for your own enjoyment 20-30 minutes a day. Not a big reader? Try shorter articles, the sports page, a magazine suiting your interests, etc. Read a wide variety of topics and genres if you can.
• pursue your interests and passions! This goes with the point above, but can even go beyond...look to join a club, do some research, find a cool documentary.
• plan to get yourself outside to play, get exercise, and be active a few times a week! Fresh air, vitamin D, exploring, creating games with friends...all of these have great benefits to our physical and mental health! If you're in middle school or high school and don't have recess anymore and/or only have gym class every other day, this is even more crucial. 
• make and build connections with people...help a parent around the house with some chores and talk while you're doing that. Write a letter to an extended family member who lives in a different state. If you have younger neighbors and you see them outside playing, help them build a snowman!

Bottom line...coming back to the daily grind of school can be tough, especially after a nice, long relaxing break! Be intentional with your time, value your time, and make time for yourself and the things you love to do. Create and maintain a healthy balance in your life and you'll have the outlets needed when things get stressful. 

Establishing New Habits & Building

Coming off the business of the holiday season, winter break, and juggling many activities, I've come to the realization of just how important it is to have highly established habits. Not just for myself, but also - and more importantly from my professional standpoint - for my students. 

Down the road and in tweets I will address some of how that applies with my students. For now, I'm reflecting on how this plays out in and affects my own life. 

Over the last 3-plus months I have been recovering and rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury suffered in late September. Following surgery, I have been diligent with my habits...first around recovery - following doctor's orders, doing the right thing, etc., and then with rehab exercises and disciplines. As a result, my surgeon, PT specialists, and I have all been very pleased with how things have progressed. I still have a ways to go, and am now working toward larger goals: one-leg calf raises, holding body weight with one leg, and building toward running and jumping again. 

Throughout this whole ordeal it has become increasingly obvious just how important small, consistent, and disciplined actions - habits - can be in our lives. I've subscribed to James Clear's email newsletter for a while, and have been reading his book Atomic Habits. It truly is amazing to see firsthand just how small habits can create change over time. With an injury recovery it can be so easy to become impatient! But, staying the course and being diligent can lead to sudden improvement. As cliche as it sounds, I have had days where I wake up and seemingly out of nowhere I have crossed some sort of invisible threshold. Walking feels stronger, the stability in the leg seems more sure, flexibility & range of motion have grown. 

For me, the next step is to apply this practice to other parts of my life. Re-establishing those small habits around working out. Carving space out of each day to read for pleasure. Creating purposeful sleep habits. Establishing household routines that lead to less moments of "oh man, we need to clean up the house!" Finally, making time each and every day to do just this...write. It sharpens my mind, helps me reflect on my teaching & coaching craft, and will hopefully help lead to building an audience of students who want to grow, parents who want more resources and ideas for their kids as students, and like-minded professionals who can share ideas and insights. 

So, here's to 1% more & better each day. Here's to small growth compounding over time. Thanks for reading!

Fall Break, Life Skills, and What's Important

 

Twenty-one years into teaching, and I have to say making it to this fall break feels about as needed and gratifying as any other. Every year is very different from another; each class of students has its own unique identity. Sometimes the beginning stretch of the school year - traditionally from Labor Day weekend until mid-October - seems to fly by; other times the same stretch can be a slog. 

This year, it's just been...different. 

We started a week before Labor Day weekend, so we've just wrapped up our eighth week. To be honest, those eight weeks have flown by. But the phenomenon within this is that while the weeks have been fast, many of the days have been slow - a grind. 

It could be easy to point at one particular thing or variable and say "Yup, that's it!" ... however, that just isn't the case this year. Students, work load, expectations, unique challenges...there isn't one thing out of that group that jumps out. This year just seems to have a lot of everything.

There has just been so much --> needs of students, meetings, feeling the push to play catch-up from the last couple of years, and back-filling/supporting so many typical 'non-academic' skills. Everyone - students, teachers, paras, administration, custodians, etc. - was very ready for a break this week! It'll be good for everyone to rest up and recharge. 

Now, about those 'non-academic' skills I mentioned earlier...

Non-academic skills, soft skills, life skills...call them what you want. What cannot be ignored or underplayed is just how important these are, and how so many students are behind or lacking in having & utilizing these skills. Because of this, I have found myself doing a lot more teaching, mentoring, encouraging, and modeling the following skills:

-live in the NOW...not dwelling on the past or something that already happened that you can't change; not worrying about what's in the future or what might happen. Believing in the Power of NOW and taking action and living in the moment. 

-showing up and doing the work EVERY DAY... this is hard for students, and also really hard to model (especially when you're tired, frustrated), but it's so crucial for young people to experience what it means to grind and get even 1% better each day, and to learn that every day and every class is an opportunity to get better, learn, and grow.

-listen to others and keep yourself open to new & different viewpoints...it's not required to have to agree or be best friends with everyone, but we're much better as a group, class, culture, etc. when we show that we can listen to and respect others. 

-collaborate and work with others...we're all so connected now, and will only continue to be more so moving forward; kids have been online their entire lives but need to learn the value of truly connecting with others and how to share ideas, compromise, and work toward a common goal together. 

-pragmatic problem solving...learning to analyze a situation, weigh pros and cons, think rationally about next steps to take...whether as an individual, as a group, for an academic problem or a personal problem - these are all skills students need. 

-time management...learning how to plan ahead, budget time, and prioritize is so important and is something many adults may still struggle with...school can be such a great time with many chances for students to hone this skill and set themselves up for success in the future. 

-reflection...this world is so fast-paced and filled with so much distraction, students don't take the time to look back on an experience - good or bad - and reflect on what happened, what worked and what didn't, and what could be changed/done differently in the future. 

Thanks for reading and pondering! Hadn't written in a while and there's been plenty going on. 

Media: giphy.com, peacock

Self-Advocacy

For this week's focus, think about the importance and value of Self-Advocacy. Any adult reading this knows first-hand how vital these types of skills are in life. For most of us, we can point to impactful moments where we benefited greatly from being our own best advocate, while there are undoubtedly other times we might regret inaction or lost opportunities.To any student who is looking over this...I would encourage you to reflect on your own experiences - both inside school and out - and reflect on times when you might have benefited from utilizing strategies around Self-Advocacy.

So, with that in mind here are some great Self-Advocacy Strategies for students to use:

1. Ask Questions

-this is the most obvious but sometimes the most difficult. fear, anxiety, shyness, and other barriers can keep us from asking the questions we need answers to. 

-students: if you're nervous about asking questions aloud or in front of the large class, consider:

• sending your teacher an email (more on that below)
• asking via your school's LMS (learning management system)...most of these have messaging capabilities
• ask your teacher at the start/end of class, during those looser passing time periods
• stop by before school starts (even 5 minutes prior) or on your way out if possible

2. Learn How to Craft an Email

-this is important! there are basic elements you need to include in order to sound legitimate and thoughtful. research online or even ask your own teachers to see what features to include. when you have the confidence to write a quick, informative email you'll feel much more comfortable to use that form of communication with teachers, coaches, etc.

3. Establish a Homework/Studying Routine

-decide on an ideal location at home to always do your homework and studying. this will help build consistency, which is crucial. you'll find it easier to focus and eliminate distractions, as well as communicate with other family members that "this is my space" to get done what needs to get done. 

4. Use a Planner

-paper, digital, app-based, etc... whatever you're comfortable with is fine (huge fan of paper planners myself), just USE A PLANNER! write down upcoming tests and projects; record homework the day it's assigned and cross things off as you finish. you'll feel more organized and ahead of the game!

5. Take Time for Yourself

-you absolutely need to do this! take care of yourself...make sure to find space and time every day to:

• do what you love
• participate in activities/sports you enjoy
• spend time being mindful, meditating, or otherwise 'resetting' your mind
• get outside! sunshine, fresh air, and movement are huge for overall self care
• spend time around "your people" - friends, family, teammates, etc. who bring you joy and fill your cup!

There's more, but this is a good list to get you started :)

Feedback --> additions, questions, comments, etc. feel free to reach out! 

image: quietrev.com

Obstacles and Opportunities

As far as setbacks go, I was met with a pretty solid one this week. Last Saturday, while enjoying some outside activities with friends - badminton, to be exact - I ruptured my Achilles tendon. Not fun. Sometimes the universe is very aggressive in delivering simple messages like "hey, you're getting older."

Looking ahead to surgery in a few days followed by physical therapy and recovery, I know there will be plenty of smaller obstacles to work through that lie ahead.

With this situation comes opportunity. Personally, it's a chance to become more intentional establishing daily habits like stretching, being mindful, focusing on what my body is telling me and focusing on my body as a whole. There is every reason to think and believe I can emerge from this process better and stronger in many ways. 

The other opportunity for me is to be an example to my own kids and my students. In education we tend to talk a lot about mindset, grit, positivity, goal-setting, etc. This is my chance to show the people around me - in real time - what this might look like when working through very real setbacks. 

There will be tough days, good days, and bad days. Days where it will be very hard to put on a good face and power through. It'll be important for me to remember that it's okay to be honest with my students --> tell them when I'm struggling and why. Demonstrating thoughtfulness, reflection, vulnerability and - yes - toughness and grit, will hopefully be an example they can draw from in their own lives. 

Here's hoping... (also hoping that eventually that leg will get back to where it was - even though it might take almost a year!)

Essentials

Been thinking quite a bit lately about what's important - especially when it comes to learning and teaching. Typically you'll find that phrase written the other way around: Teaching and Learning. However, I am striving to be much more intentional in reversing the order. 

Why?

Because everything starts and ends with Learning.

In my mind, the number 1 goal as an educator has always been to promote, foster, and help create a love and natural curiosity for learning. 

With that said, here are some of the things I find are essential when it comes to tools, skills, strategies and resources students need to feel and become successful.

-A consistent time and place to study and/or work on homework. This can be tricky with busy lives and activities, but if students have a place in their home they mentally designate as the "work/study" place, they'll have a better mindset for that time. Some consistency around the "when" can also help in establishing and maintaining positive work habits. 

-An organizational method or system. Our school is a binder school (much evidence and research around to support this!) and this works pretty well. For some, it might be the use of folders and notebooks; others it might be an accordion file. Either way, a consistent, clearly labeled system will pay dividends. On that note...

-Planner use and/or direct instruction on Time Management! I've found that most students under the age of 14 or 15 really benefit from using a paper planner. Much can be said of the cognitive benefits of writing things down and being able to go back to check. Most schools and districts have LMS with calendar features. Teaching and training kids on how to effectively utilized these as well goes a long way.

-A school filled with caring adults that kids feel they can trust and lean on. Enough said. This is most definitely #1 and can't be overstated.

-The opportunity for students to build and use their voices consistently and creatively is huge! 

-The chance to READ and WRITE. Every. Single. Day.

-The space to take chances boldly, fail safely, and reflect thoughtfully. 

-An environment with high expectations around LISTENING to and RESPECTING different voices, viewpoints, and experiences. 

-Consistency from me as their teacher; with high expectations, support, and follow-through. 

Thoughts? Anything you'd add? Agree or disagree?

image: clipart-library.com

Takeaways and Truths

 

After a couple of weeks getting into a new school year, it seemed like a good time to reflect on some observations and takeaways of what is going on and what I have seen. Additionally, reminding myself of some of the more universal truths that seem to reintroduce themselves every fall. 

Two weeks in, here's what has resonated:

1. It is so unbelievably fantastic having all of the students back in class and together! They're engaged, love working together and collaborating, and feed off of each others' energy and creativity. 

2. Many students have not been in a classroom consistently - and some not at all - for a year and a half...and in many ways it shows! There are a lot of details around the rhythms of a school day that some are a little rusty on. That's more than okay! All in due time...and some of this stuff is always in need of updating/modifying/adapting anyways. 

3. Kids have become so much more knowledgeable and proficient with their use of technology skills over the past couple of years. A lot of this is due to necessity; some is a byproduct of their lives fully lived digitally.

4. Middle School students - especially but not limited to 6th grade - definitely need recess or some sort of built-in time for physical activity! Ideally, gym class (and frankly ALL the allied arts classes) would get just as much time as others. **if you've read much of what I've written previously, you would know I'm a huge believer in the whole child, well-rounded approach**  It would be so nice if the kids were able to have a daily chance to get movement, be active, clear their minds, and release some of their energy in a positive way!

5. Students love creating. Even when they don't realize it, they seem to feed off of and get energy from creating. The more I can put opportunities in front of them to create, share, give/get feedback, and reflect - the better! 

6. It's vital to have balance in tech/computer use and doing things "analog" as well :)  The students need it, I need it, and everyone benefits from finding that balance after so much time needing to rely on technology. It goes back to those guiding principals around tech use --> is it useful? transformative? enhancing to the experience?

Beyond those thoughts, here are some seemingly universal truths around what students need to do - and what I can need to help with and foster - for successful learning:

a. all kids love learning and are curious. it's a matter of supporting them and building an environment & culture to foster that excitement.

b. every kid deserves an environment at school where they feel safe, respected, and valued. what I've found in 20+ years of teaching is that when kids feel this need is met - no matter what "type" of kid they are - they will flourish and grow.

c. so much of life - and learning - is just about giving it a shot and throwing yourself out there! for some this comes naturally. for many others, it does not. it's incumbent upon me to be their cheerleader when necessary.

d. effort goes a long way and makes up for so much!! 

e. when students know I'm invested in them they will almost always reciprocate. while I understand this doesn't always check out and you'll never get that from 100% of students, that's not a reason to NOT engage with kids!

f. kids need organizational skills and they need to be explicitly taught these skills!

g. at the start of the school year --> start SLOW to go FAST!! 

image: istockphoto.com