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New Year = New Goals!
December 29, 2013
As 2014 is about to begin, it causes me to think about making some changes. These changes not only in my classroom, but a bigger part of me wants to make some changes in my life too. I think many teachers think about the same things. This past year of 2013, I found myself pushing myself out of my comfort zone in teaching by learning some new ways of teaching hybrid classes (some face-to-face teaching / some online teaching). After 24 years in education, and all of the recent changes in education - this was a real positive step for me. I have decided that I needed a jolt into my career, a kind of shot in the arm so to speak. I was (still a little bit) thinking about getting into administration, maybe getting back into coaching basketball in the next year, something different to re-energize me in this wonderful career of education. This new avenue of hybrid classes, might just be the avenue for that in the next few years - I don't know. But I do know this - I need to change and get better.
Part of this re-energizing process for me is this website. The areas that I'm passionate about are all right here: teaching, helping students & student athletes, coaching basketball, helping teachers and helping parents. I NEED to continue going after this idea that I have with this website. I've wasted too much time and way too many people have not gotten the help that I could have offered them.
Part of what I want other teachers to think about is this. No matter what awful things are happening in education (the politics, the pay-cuts, the negativity we receive from the media and society, the benefit changes, etc.) I ask you this - what can you do to have all this stuff that's going on make you a better teacher and more importantly, a better person? I have decided that I refuse to let all of these things change me to become worse. I know these times have re-ignited the passion that I have for helping kids. These times have helped me to clearly define myself and what I do: I help kids! In doing this re-evaluation of what I do and who I am, it's also helped me to look at my dreams and goals (something I try and teach my students every year to go after. I need to follow my own advice). New avenues of my career in education are coming into clear visions now - all thanks to what's been going on in education the last few years. What is it in you that you want to get better at? What dreams and goals do you have that tie into your current job in education or is it a totally new career direction that you want to go after? Whatever it is, I'd like to help if I can. So, get in touch with me if you want and let's start talking a little bit as to what these changes in education can do for you.
December 29, 2013
As 2014 is about to begin, it causes me to think about making some changes. These changes not only in my classroom, but a bigger part of me wants to make some changes in my life too. I think many teachers think about the same things. This past year of 2013, I found myself pushing myself out of my comfort zone in teaching by learning some new ways of teaching hybrid classes (some face-to-face teaching / some online teaching). After 24 years in education, and all of the recent changes in education - this was a real positive step for me. I have decided that I needed a jolt into my career, a kind of shot in the arm so to speak. I was (still a little bit) thinking about getting into administration, maybe getting back into coaching basketball in the next year, something different to re-energize me in this wonderful career of education. This new avenue of hybrid classes, might just be the avenue for that in the next few years - I don't know. But I do know this - I need to change and get better.
Part of this re-energizing process for me is this website. The areas that I'm passionate about are all right here: teaching, helping students & student athletes, coaching basketball, helping teachers and helping parents. I NEED to continue going after this idea that I have with this website. I've wasted too much time and way too many people have not gotten the help that I could have offered them.
Part of what I want other teachers to think about is this. No matter what awful things are happening in education (the politics, the pay-cuts, the negativity we receive from the media and society, the benefit changes, etc.) I ask you this - what can you do to have all this stuff that's going on make you a better teacher and more importantly, a better person? I have decided that I refuse to let all of these things change me to become worse. I know these times have re-ignited the passion that I have for helping kids. These times have helped me to clearly define myself and what I do: I help kids! In doing this re-evaluation of what I do and who I am, it's also helped me to look at my dreams and goals (something I try and teach my students every year to go after. I need to follow my own advice). New avenues of my career in education are coming into clear visions now - all thanks to what's been going on in education the last few years. What is it in you that you want to get better at? What dreams and goals do you have that tie into your current job in education or is it a totally new career direction that you want to go after? Whatever it is, I'd like to help if I can. So, get in touch with me if you want and let's start talking a little bit as to what these changes in education can do for you.
Pyramid of Success from Coach John Wooden - A Model for a classroom!
August 26, 2013
Practical Map for Success!
This image is one of the most powerful ones that I have ever come across in my life. I remember getting introduced to Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success late in high school and in college. So many great items here for all of us to study and learn from.
Here's what I'd like to do. I want to produce some short video lessons, articles, blog posts, etc., on each part of this pyramid. If you take and study one of the 25 principles from the pyramid every day, once a week or even a few times a month; you should start to see some things changing - even if it's just the way you look at things or the way you think.
With the start of a new school year and with all the things going on in education, you owe it to yourself to start trying to do things better. I'm beginning to think that if you are not happy in what you are doing, people know it and see it everyday. Maybe it's time to move onto something else that brings more joy and passion into your life? I've become aware of things that I need to change, both in and out of my classroom. Focussing on some of these principles from Coach Wooden will make a difference for me. I hope this will help you too. As always, drop me a thought or two. Would love to get in a discussion on how we can help each other have an even better school year this year.
This image is one of the most powerful ones that I have ever come across in my life. I remember getting introduced to Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success late in high school and in college. So many great items here for all of us to study and learn from.
Here's what I'd like to do. I want to produce some short video lessons, articles, blog posts, etc., on each part of this pyramid. If you take and study one of the 25 principles from the pyramid every day, once a week or even a few times a month; you should start to see some things changing - even if it's just the way you look at things or the way you think.
With the start of a new school year and with all the things going on in education, you owe it to yourself to start trying to do things better. I'm beginning to think that if you are not happy in what you are doing, people know it and see it everyday. Maybe it's time to move onto something else that brings more joy and passion into your life? I've become aware of things that I need to change, both in and out of my classroom. Focussing on some of these principles from Coach Wooden will make a difference for me. I hope this will help you too. As always, drop me a thought or two. Would love to get in a discussion on how we can help each other have an even better school year this year.
Summer is a great time to get some reading done.
Looks like a great article to check out. I know I need to get more reading in this summer. Good things can come from getting some reading in. Check out my Book List here on the home page. Do you realize how few people really take the time to read, learn more and grow? You could easily pass most of the population in getting knowledge that can help you improve and open up doors that most will never, ever see.
This is not only a great example that we can set for our students, but also for our fellow educators and anyone else that is connected to us. It is so difficult to stay focused through all the rough times that education is going through, but reading can help for sure. It gets us to think about new things, new ways of handling the crud that is going on around us. It also helps to open our minds to maybe different things we can do for ourselves, our students, our families, etc.
Great article to take a look at too:
http://www.themillionairesecrets.net/how-spending-60-minutes-a-day-can-make-you-successful-in-life/
This is not only a great example that we can set for our students, but also for our fellow educators and anyone else that is connected to us. It is so difficult to stay focused through all the rough times that education is going through, but reading can help for sure. It gets us to think about new things, new ways of handling the crud that is going on around us. It also helps to open our minds to maybe different things we can do for ourselves, our students, our families, etc.
Great article to take a look at too:
http://www.themillionairesecrets.net/how-spending-60-minutes-a-day-can-make-you-successful-in-life/
Summer - yes, time to relax and re-energize - it's also a time to get better too!
"Sharpen your interest in two major subjects: life and people. You will only gather information from a source if you are interested in it." -- Jim Rohn
These are 2 areas that are a must for you to spend some time on this summer getting better at. Not only will it help you, but more importantly I know it can help your students too. Pick up anything you can from Jim Rohn, John Maxwell, Napoleon Hill, or any of the authors on my book list on my home page. Don't wait until after your next school year starts, getting better in these two key areas is something you need to spend the summer doing. In fact, I promise things will go differently for you come next school year when you start being a "student" about life and about people. The lessons that you will be able to help your students with, no matter what area you teach in, will be simply magical!
Please understand what a huge advantage you hold on others just because you are a teacher. We all know what special skills you have that many other people don't have. So many of my coworkers that have been blessed to be able to retire - they all have so many options to do other things because they can get along with people. When we study things about life and people, the classroom is one of the best places to look at for stories, inspirations, lessons, examples, etc. Teachers touch so many lives at a young age, so that from that moment on, we can affect their futures and those of whoever they come into contact with. Think about that and realize you have to look at getting better in these two areas, for yourself and your family but also mainly for your students. Look here on my site for some help coming soon. Questions or comments get in touch with me in the contact section on my home page. I am always looking for examples, stories, lessons, etc., from other teachers so I can share them with others.
These are 2 areas that are a must for you to spend some time on this summer getting better at. Not only will it help you, but more importantly I know it can help your students too. Pick up anything you can from Jim Rohn, John Maxwell, Napoleon Hill, or any of the authors on my book list on my home page. Don't wait until after your next school year starts, getting better in these two key areas is something you need to spend the summer doing. In fact, I promise things will go differently for you come next school year when you start being a "student" about life and about people. The lessons that you will be able to help your students with, no matter what area you teach in, will be simply magical!
Please understand what a huge advantage you hold on others just because you are a teacher. We all know what special skills you have that many other people don't have. So many of my coworkers that have been blessed to be able to retire - they all have so many options to do other things because they can get along with people. When we study things about life and people, the classroom is one of the best places to look at for stories, inspirations, lessons, examples, etc. Teachers touch so many lives at a young age, so that from that moment on, we can affect their futures and those of whoever they come into contact with. Think about that and realize you have to look at getting better in these two areas, for yourself and your family but also mainly for your students. Look here on my site for some help coming soon. Questions or comments get in touch with me in the contact section on my home page. I am always looking for examples, stories, lessons, etc., from other teachers so I can share them with others.
Learn from your failures - it's a great lesson for your students too.
One of the best lessons that teachers can give to their students are those lessons that the teacher learns from what's going on in their class and / or lessons from their students too.
If teachers take the approach of getting their students to learn from failures that happen to a student in class, it also sends the student a very important life lesson too. I think overall in education, it's one thing that we all need to work on more, since it's one of the keys to success in life.
I know I have a couple of items that I need to work on and I shouldn't wait until the next school year to do them. This will be a lesson that I use with all my classes once we come back from our spring break next week. What can probably help each other with some idea exchanging and / or sharing some results of what works or didn't work in our classes. Let me know - see the contact info part of my home page. Here's to a great rest of the 2012-2013 school year!
If teachers take the approach of getting their students to learn from failures that happen to a student in class, it also sends the student a very important life lesson too. I think overall in education, it's one thing that we all need to work on more, since it's one of the keys to success in life.
I know I have a couple of items that I need to work on and I shouldn't wait until the next school year to do them. This will be a lesson that I use with all my classes once we come back from our spring break next week. What can probably help each other with some idea exchanging and / or sharing some results of what works or didn't work in our classes. Let me know - see the contact info part of my home page. Here's to a great rest of the 2012-2013 school year!
School is in session..... are you working on your homework?
Eventhough it's summertime and the last thing that most teachers want to hear about is homework,especially homework for them. But it's always a good idea to work on this homework now. (besides, you are not like most teachers - you are better than most of them.) Now with the changes that education is going through, it's a great idea to change with those changes. Notice how I said you don't have to like the changes, but you can work within these new opportunities to become a better teacher. Stay tuned for more info and discussion attempted here.
Your homework assignment is to ask yourself these questions: How can I get better at being a teacher? Are things going for me the way I want
them to go? What are things that are holding me back from doing the things I want to do and accomplish in this great profession? There will be a few more items here soon to get you thinking......
Your homework assignment is to ask yourself these questions: How can I get better at being a teacher? Are things going for me the way I want
them to go? What are things that are holding me back from doing the things I want to do and accomplish in this great profession? There will be a few more items here soon to get you thinking......
