TL;DR: Advance teacher-leadership by transforming yourself, mentoring, identifying needs, clearing obstacles and distractions, and focusing on self-care. NOW is the time for mentors and school leaders to challenge self-doubt, soothe despair, and invest in our teacher-leaders. The COVID-19 crisis has proven that extraordinary change can happen in a short period of time. Nearly every aspect of educational practice—planning, teaching and … Read More
Creating Mindful Moments
TL;DR: There are a number of strategies for creating mindful moments as an educator. Mindful moments will help you create balance in your teaching career. “We are the creators of our own destiny; with each moment we live, we have the opportunity to touch another life and make the moments count.” Mindfulness is a Buddhist-inspired spiritual awareness practice. It allows … Read More
Teach Resilience.
TL;DR: Sometimes there will be a cheering squad behind you and other times there isn’t. When things get tough, resilience is key to getting through. Intentional discomfort is at the top of the hierarchy of resilience. Mindful moments can help us get through situations of intentional discomfort that create resilience. My 2021 WORD continues to be resilience! Why teach resilience? … Read More
The Empathetic Teacher
TL;DR: Our learners’ behavior is an important form of communication. Consider and revise your responses to student behavior to be more empathetic. Don’t assume how a learner is feeling; ask them directly. Validate your students’ feelings to ensure they feel heard and understood. During my first year teaching, I spent countless hours learning, planning, and creating. I loved every second … Read More
Navigating Self-Care Through the 3 Ships
TL;DR: Navigate your self-care through the 3 ships: relationships, leadership, and partnerships. Teachers are more stressed, overwhelmed, and past the point of burnout than ever before. Implementing self-care is something that needs to be done proactively and often. When I first started on my maiden voyage into education, our school had a part-time wellness coordinator. As a stipended paraprofessional, her … Read More