Teachers don’t work miracles.
Miracles don’t have explanations. The amazing work of teachers can accounted for by their:
Dedication
Creativity
Compassion
Perseverance
Passion &
Energy
The great work of teachers is not miraculous; it’s freakin’ hard work!
Being an effective teacher is not about being nice, having the right personality, having good relationships with students, having a positive attitude, or even loving the kids. It’s about ensuring students learn at high levels. We can’t ever forget that.
It’s about the learning.
Teachers... you are not ultimately responsible for the success of your students. But the research is clear: you ARE a crucial variable. There are times that your initiative, your compassion, and your perseverance, is what gives students the hope and the ability to keep pushing.
Sometimes, teachers don’t need their administrators to inspire them, motivate them, or even lead them.
Sometimes, what teachers need... is for their administrators to listen to them, understand them, and validate their experiences.
Teachers care about their students, and they understand that connecting with students is more important than ever. But they cannot carry the weight of the responsibility for the social and emotional health of all their kids. That’s too much to bear.
#ItTakesAVillage
Stay away from insults and profanity. Exercise restraint and tolerance. It’s not easy to respond to evil with good. But we must try our best. Even when we have the power to take revenge, choose not to. Why? Because the Almighty is gentle & loves gentleness in all matters!
Focus your attention on yourself & look not for fault in others. Focus on how to be better than you used to be & not better than others. Every time you focus your attention outward, every time you choose to compare yourself with others, you will lose sight of who you really are.
Almighty. We ask You to keep us safe as the world adjusts to a new norm. Grant us courage & perseverance to face the days ahead. May faith, hope & love never leave us. Guide our hearts to comfort one aother even as we keep apart. Thank You for Your Light amidst our darkness!
Be less quick to react to abusive people. Don't let them provoke you. That’s exactly what they want. For you to lose control and get angry. Don’t play their game. Keep your calm. Seek the Almighty’s help. Often, they are powerless when you're less reactive.
When working with students, it’s best when we start by focusing on their strengths. It’s good for them AND it’s good for us.
I think this represents a unique opportunity for students to focus on some things that THEY are interested in... things that THEY feel good at.
Teachers deal with so much in the classroom. For the most part, the public doesn’t have a clue. Most folks don’t know what it’s like to deal with the drama, hormones, and anxiety of 25 to 175 other little humans. It’s not easy. But I appreciate them. Their work matters.
Please remember that all those interactions you have with your students outside of the lesson really matter. The smiles… the eye contact…the jokes, the fist bumps…and the silliness…they’re all important. They remind kids that THEY matter. Those moments can mean the world.
Teachers are not simply raising student achievement; they are in the noble process of developing better humans. Education doesn’t just open doors of personal opportunity; hopefully, it allows young people to engage their world in a more tolerant, compassionate & constructive way.
The greatest things you will teach will not be through your lessons, your curriculum, or your assessments.
The greatest things will be taught by your example.
Your kindness.
Your humility.
Your passion.
Your curiosity.
Your love of learning.
Those things teach the lesson.