Thursday, April 12, 2018

The last six can be the best six

Six more weeks. This is the time when people are getting tired. You and your kids have experienced intense learning and growth and that takes hard work from everyone.  Behaviors tend to become more erratic as the year comes to an end.  Students (and adults) are getting anxious and ready for a break.  The temptation as the year comes to a close is to think, "I hope I can just make it through."  I've felt this way and I know others have as well.

But, I'd like to make another suggestion.  Instead of just making it through these last six weeks, how about we do the opposite. How about making the last six weeks the best six weeks?

Here are some ideas:

1)  Focus the fun -   As you create your lessons, intentionally ask questions like, "How can I add some more fun to this?" For example, you could turn a lesson into a game.  You could let kids create something related to what they are learning.  You could let them teach something, possibly using an app like FlipGrid.  The possibilities are endless.  

2) Can the count down - When you count down the days to the end of school, you may be doing the exact opposite of what you want. You could be sending the message to kids (and possibly to yourself) that school is something to be endured until summer break instead of an opportunity to learn to the very end.  We could also be creating a sense of anxiety in some of your kids, especially those to whom school is the one stable factor in their lives.  Instead of counting down the days, think of ways to make each day count. 

3) Love em' with letters - Write a note to every student to give them at the end of the year.  Start now.  Remind them of all the positive things they have done and learned.  Tell them what you appreciate most about them.  Reflect on a fun or funny moment you had with them.  In doing this, you are also reminding yourself of how special your kids are.  When we focus on the good things about people, we start seeing more of those good things in people. 

4) Pursue the positive - As the school year wraps up, there tend to be more challenges than usual.  Calendars are full, time is short, behaviors are often less than desirable.  The interesting thing is, you tend to get more of what you focus on.  If you focus on difficulties, you are going to see more difficulties.  However, if you focus on the positive, you will see more positives. Like how much growth your kids have experienced.  How so many have matured since the beginning of the school year.  How you have improved and grown in your profession.  Focusing on the positive helps you keep a positive attitude and that spreads to your kids. 

5) Leverage the learning -  Squeeze as much learning as you can out of the year.  Although routines will be altered due to activities, it is imperative to stay focused on learning.  Indeed, that is why we are all here.  Do everything you can to use these last days to help your kids continue to grow academically.  Stick to your learning routines and keep the expectations high.  It is not always easy, but I've never met an educator who looked back and said, "I wish I hadn't taught my kids as much as I did."  It will be worth it.    

The last six weeks can be the best six weeks.  We just have to choose to make it so.

What would you add to this list?  I'd love to hear more ideas from you. 

Monday, February 19, 2018

Political involvement

I've never been very politically active.  For whatever reason, politics were not a priority.  Now that I'm older, I see the mistake in that.  Politicians make laws.  They determine how are taxes are used. They decide the direction of our cities, our state, and our country.  By not being politically active outside of voting, I've let others decide my fate and the fate of my state and nation.

This year, all of that changed. My eyes have been opened and I see the potential harm that can come from allowing the wrong people to be in office.  Politicians (I wish I could say statesmen, but they aren't) are elected to serve the people.  All the people. Sadly, many choose to serve their base and leave the rest to fall.  I've let that happen.  I've not let my voice be heard.  By not speaking out and talking to our leaders, I've allowed others (lobbyists, special interest groups, campaign contributors) to get the ears of our leaders and take us places we don't need to be.  It is time to change that.

My voice may be small and quiet, but it is a voice.  When I join with others who have the same voice, we can bring about change.  That is what we are trying to do right now with public education in Texas.  The first hurdle is the Republican Primaries.  If we win this race, change will be much easier to put in place.   If not, we will be running uphill.  But we will keep running.  The future of Texas is on the line and I will not give up.  Not now. Not ever.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Where do they stand? - For Texas Educators

Normally, I don't get very involved in politics.  This year is different.  The public school system in Texas is under attack and I refuse to stand on the sidelines and watch the battle.  I wrote this post for educators to see the stances of those who wish to represent them as Lieutenant Governor of Texas. I was especially disturbed by current Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's responses, or should I say lack of responses.  It seems to be a thumb of the nose to Texas educators saying, "If you want to know where I stand, go look it up yourself.  But don't bother me."

Where do they stand? 

Recently, the Texas PTA sent out a questionnaire to the four candidates for Texas Lieutenant Governor. The questions had to do with education and public schools.

Below are links to the responses from all candidates, both Republican and Democrat. Please read so you can make an informed decision when you go to the polls and vote in the Primaries. Remember, whoever wins the primary for each party will be their candidate for Lieutenant Governor. In Texas, which tends to vote Republican, whoever wins the Republican primary is usually the favorite to win the general election in November.

As public school educators, it is imperative that we choose someone who best represents the interests of public school children, educators, and retirees.

Republican Candidates:



Democratic Candidates:



Remember, early voting begins Tuesday, February 20 and the official Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 6. 

Sunday, February 11, 2018

#BlowingTheWhistle

Last week, Empower Texans sent a letter to a number of Texas educators asking them to be "whistleblowers" against districts that used school resources to encourage people to vote. Empower Texans is a highly conservative group that is also vocally pro school choice/voucher and supports candidates with this same stance. 

Instead of firing back angrily, Texas educators decided to turn the tables instead. They took to Twitter this week to "blow the whistle" on the great things that public educators are doing.

The next step is for Texas educators and public education supporters to get to the polls and vote for pro-education candidates in the primaries, particularly the Republican primaries, in March.  



I’m #blowingthewhistle on my teacher friends who spend extra hours, use their own money, and lose sleep trying to ensure that their students have the best learning environment possible. (@bbcorno)

Hey @EmpowerTexans I’m #blowingthewhistle on our Sped teachers and aides who work with students across every grade level and subject no matter the students disability all in a public school setting with no vouchers needed. (@bagrumbles)

Hey @empowertexans I'm #blowingthewhistle on my daughter's kinder teacher and all the parents who chip in our own money to buy snacks for her class, so everyone can have enough brain power throughout the day to learn to read and no one goes hungry. (@mrsbriggle)

Hey, @EmpowerTexans, I’m #blowingthewhistle on @Roxanne_Will & all the librarians who make sure kids have the books they love to read. #blockvote (@breckq)

@EmpowerTexans #blowingthewhistle on teachers who will stop at nothing to get students with disabilities the services they deserve Bc we want to see them SUCCEED #blockvote #txed #TxLege (@heyitsjay14)


Hey, @EmpowerTexans, I'm #blowingthewhistle on every teacher working late tonight and heading in early tomorrow, staying late, spending their own money on classroom needs and somehow staying relentlessly positive day in and day out... #txed #txlege (@JoelNihlean)

@EmpowerTexans I’m #blowingthewhistle on my colleagues and myself who love our students like our own kids. We do more than just teach, we build relationships. We spend our own $ on supplies and foster a safe environment in our classrooms. (@celintx55)

@EmpowerTexans I am #blowingthewhistle on a teacher who takes her student’s clothes home to wash every Friday afternoon so they will have clean clothes to wear on Monday morning. #ETgohome (@CajunTexan77)

@EmpowerTexans I am #blowingthewhistle on my math team. We all completely turned our classrooms into operating rooms when teaching ‘order of operations.’ The kids had their own surgical masks and caps, simulated operating room sounds...the works! (@CarolJFernandez)

I am #blowingthewhistle on my children's teachers. They are a second mom/ dad to them while they are at school. They love them, push them, and grow them. @EmpowerTexans go slink back to whatever rock you came from (@CounselorCG1)

Hey @EmpoweringTexans I’m #blowingthewhistle on all the dedicated paraprofessionals who serve kids faithfully despite being paid so little. (@breckq)

Public educators in Texas are doing great things, often with very limited materials or funding. If it will benefit a child, Texas public school educators will do it. That's just who we are. Don't ever let the words and actions of those who don't support public education change that.