Mindful Monday: It's Okay to Pass the Baton

At the start of a new school year, administration often tells staff something along the lines of, "Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself. There’s a lot that has to happen before now and May." And while they are not wrong - there is a lot that has to happen between now and May, I no longer think of a school year as a marathon. Instead, I think a school year should be looked at as a relay race.

Marathons are long. No one can run it for you. All 138,435 feet have to be run by you, and you alone. And let's face it- not everyone who starts a marathon finishes it, despite their best intentions. 

Teaching should never feel isolating. It's not all on you to get your class to the finish line. We can’t do it by ourselves. Therefore, we must start thinking of teaching as a relay. It's something we do together where we each play a part. We each have a time to shine and a time when we can pass the baton. We have to lean on each other. At the end of the day, we are better together.

So before we start with what's sure to be another great year at 'The Creek', here are a few thoughts from Todd Nesloney’s recent blog. He writes, "The way we begin shapes the story we write." So let's write a memorable story. There’s no need to start with rules and procedures on day one. There will be time for that. Capitalize on the excitement this first week of school holds. Consider doing something unexpected. Teach them a new game, get hands on with an experiment, or start a read aloud. Get. Them. Hooked. Whatever it is, get them just as excited to come back the 2nd week of school. Here is a one minute video from Thomas Murray that I shared several years ago that speaks to capitalizing on this excitement.  

I leave you with this final thought, as you envision what this year holds for you and your students, know that it’s not about creating perfect moments, being the perfect teacher, nor having the perfect results.

Wishing you all a year filled with heart, filled with passion, and filled with purpose! 

Mindful Monday: Finding the Joy

I’ve never known anyone to call teaching easy. Is it fun? Absolutely! Is it unpredictable? Almost always. Is it ever changing? You can count on it. But easy? Anything, but! 

So if teaching isn't easy, then it must be hard. And if it's hard, then chances are it's tiring and even daunting at times. I don't say all this to get you down. Instead, I say this to remind each of you that despite the hard times, we must chose to focus on the light. It’s absolutely imperative that we find joy in the journey.

We must find joy in the everyday moments. Find joy in the small things. We can't just wait for the big moments to come along. And we certainly can't wait till the end of the year to celebrate our accomplishments. We must acknowledge and celebrate the daily wins! 

Soak it in when your students' faces light up when they realize that they get to have you as their teacher this year.

Celebrate when you are able to finish your cup of coffee before it's completely cold. 

Find the joy when you're teaching your favorite subject.   

Wishing each of you a school year filled with lots of joy found along the way. 

Mindful Monday: Starfish

 This is it. The last week of school. And I would image you find yourself with a multitude of feelings. 

• Thrilled you can count the number of days left on one hand. 
• Happy summer is around the corner. 
• Elated you can soon turn off your alarm.
• Exhausted because, well, you've been going nonstop since August. 
• Sad to see some of your favorite faces move on. 

Maybe you have an entirely different range of emotions you are trying to process. 

• Perhaps you find yourself questioning your impact this year.
• Maybe you feel that this year was less than your best. 
• Maybe you feel disappointed that your students are not ending the year where you had hoped. 

First and foremost, I would say you are in good company if you are feeling anything remotely similar. And secondly, I would say stop questioning yourself! 

While I often speak to the fact the teachers are amazing (because you are), that does not mean perfection is expected. While yes, we hope you are connecting with all of your students, the reality is some connections are deeper than others. And finally, success is not defined by 100% of your class mastering all content. 

Bottom line is this, as you finish out this school year, know these facts to be true: 

1. You are an EXTRAordinary human! 
2. You have absolutely made a difference this year! 
3. There is a student in your room right now that will remember you forever not for the content you taught but for how you made them feel. 

This is the last installment of my 2024-2025 Mindful Monday weekly messages. And as always, I absolutely appreciate you allowing me into your inbox each week. It means a lot to hear how much my weekly messages mean to so many of you. It is always my goal to speak from my heart so that you know how AMAZING you really are and that you are never alone in this journey. 

This summer take care of you. Do what you need to recharge, rejuvenate and renew yourself. 

Until August...

Mindful Monday: Mom, I mean...

I love teaching! I mean, I really love this. I can't imagine doing anything else. 

But don't misunderstand me. What we do is insanely hard. And by this time of the year, the kind of tired we are can be felt deep down in our bones. It's no wonder why, though. We pour everything into this job. Teachers provide everything from academic support, to a listening ear, to snacks, to school supplies, and everything in between to help our students thrive. It's no ​surprise that we get called "Mom" from time to time. 

The way you care for your students. The way you show up for them. The way you cheer them on and push them to be the best version of themselves. No matter which way you look at it, it all adds up the same...You Are Amazing! 

So next time one of your students calls you Mom, know that they, too, see you and are thankful for ALL you do! 

Mindful Monday: Looking Back

The end of another school year is around the corner. Endings often spark reflection, and let’s face it, we can be our own worst enemies when to comes to critiquing ourselves. We often look back and paint pictures grayer than they actually occurred, or we fixate on the negative. 

I say, not this year. 

So as you begin to reflect on how the school year was for you and your students, I would challenge you to do it from a different frame of mind, perhaps using a different lens. 

Consider asking your students, and/or your team these questions to get their perspective: 

1. What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?
2. What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?
3. What was the most challenging part of this year for you?
4. What is your favorite part of the day in our class? Why?
5. What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

While I would be the first to encourage you to not dwell on the past, simply for the fact we can't do anything about it, I would say that we do not intuitively learn from our experiences. We only learn from reflecting on our experiences.  

As this year winds down, take a moment to look back and see just how far you and your students have come! It is nothing short of amazing the work you do each and every day!!! And well, some days we are quite literally changing the future for the better and other days we are simply answering the same question 22 times. 😂

Mindful Monday: Life's Nudges

The last month of school is plenty challenging without life getting in the way. And yet, life seems to be funny that way - throwing you curveballs when your plate feels plenty full. 

Here's my noticing, I am a fairly determined person, some may even call me stubborn. It would seem as though I need a curveball to the back of my head on occasion to help me see what isn't working for me or perhaps to alert me to something I would have never previously considered. While the initial hit stings, the "nudge" is usually for the better. (You gotta love hindsight!)

So, next time a curveball is sent your way, acknowledge the sting, be upset, mourn what is no longer. Then, reframe and realize that you are not in fact in control and maybe, just maybe, this "nudge" is a new window opening to amazing things that lie ahead for you.

Mindful Monday: Legacy

Not sure if you have ever given it much thought, I know I hadn't, but did you know there are three different kinds of legacies we leave behind? The first two types of legacy are the more obvious ones: your biological legacy-if you have children, and the legacy of your possessions-the physical things you leave behind. However, research shows that the most impactful legacy you can leave is the legacy of your values-the lasting impression you leave on those around you. 

The gravity of last week's question, "What kind of a person do you want to be?" was not lost on me. This is probably the most important question we can ask because it impacts the very essence of our being, and it is directly tied to our leagay. 

Our legacy is being created right here and now. It is not based on a single grand event nor is it hinging on us making a breakthrough discovery. Our name doesn't have to be Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, or Nelson Mandela to create a lasting impact. Our legacy is something we're creating every day, in the ways that we show up for others.  Our legacy is the culmination of who we decide to be every day. Our legacy is the accumulation of each and every act of kindness we show. 

How people remember you will be your greatest legacy. And guess what? The legacy each and everyone of you are leaving behind is unmatched! Thank you for choosing to be someone that cares, for making the daily choice to show up for our students, for choosing to give second chances and for choosing to see the good.