Mindful Monday: Be Kind to Yourself

Your brain is amazing! It computes and makes sense of our world every day. It takes in experiences and information to constantly learn and evolve. 

The thing is, if your brain hears something often enough, it starts to file it away as the truth. And there is no one else that talks to your brain more than YOU! So, what exactly are you telling yourself? 

If your brain continues to hear how bad things are, how much you dislike something, how you're never going to be able to do xyz, then guess what? After repeating that inner dialog enough, it becomes your truth. 

How you speak to yourself matters! The words to use matter! YOU MATTER! 

Be kind to yourself. I'll say it again. Be. Kind. To. Yourself. 

While we all have hard days, rough patches, or rainy seasons, don't let that become your truth. On the hard days, I challenge you to reframe and let the light shine in. If you struggle with speaking kindly to yourself, consider posting words of affirmation on your mirror and read them aloud each morning until it becomes your new truth. 

Words are powerful! Be intentional about the words you use. Speak love and light into your life. You deserve it! 

Repeat after me:  

I am enough. 

I deserve great things. 

I am a difference maker. 

Mindful Monday: They're Only Little Once

What an amazingly awesome gift we are given. Parents hand over their most prized possessions, their children, to us each and every day. During the course of the year, our students spend more waking hours with our teachers and staff than their own families. 

While our students are with us, let us not forget they are kids. They are only little once. If we aren't making learning fun and engaging now, then when? If we aren't laughing out loud with them, then we are missing opportunities. 

I absolutely understand we are in the business of educating children, but why can't we have fun while we are at it? I'm not saying that every lesson, every day needs to be over the top. However, I am asking, is there at least a time or two during the course of a week where a lesson could be a little more interactive or turned into a game? At the end of the day, would you want to be a student in your classroom? 

They are only little once, and NOW is the time when we should be embracing the joy. 

Mindful Monday: There Are No Perfect Teachers

The first day of school is an exciting time! 

This time of year is hopeful. It marks the start of a new school year, new students, and endless possibilities. The next nine months can literally be anything you want it to be, but with that said, don't get caught up in what you think it "has" to be. 

The beauty of a new school year is that your students have never been in this grade level before, nor have they ever been in your class. They don't know what you have planned or what it is "supposed" to be like. Our students don't need perfect teachers. They need happy teachers that are going to make them excited to come to school. 

Kobi Yamada has a beautifully written book, Maybe: A story about the endless potential in each of us. He writes, "the world needs your gifts, your talents, and your ideas." And most importantly, he writes, "You already have everything it takes to do big things". This year will be great! But it will surely have it's struggles, too. The goal is not perfection, but simply the willingness to try. The book is an absolute gem! If you haven't read it before, I highly recommend it. 

So, when your lesson doesn't go as planned, or you eat the science experiment before class starts, cut yourself some slack. Your students will love you and think you are amazing regardless! 

Bonus video: Trevor Muir has a 5 min video There are No Perfect Teachers (And Why That's Great News). 

Wishing each and everyone a fantastic first day of school and a year filled with laughter and love! 

Mindful Monday: Teachers Need Other Teachers

Have you watched any news lately? Seen any posts on social media? Heard any statements from politicians? Everyone seems to have an opinion on what teachers need. "New curriculum", "more training", "more frequent observations", so on, and so forth. Opinions from those who have never worked inside a school building are not lacking. However, the thing is, they are all missing the mark. They've never spent a day in our shoes, so how could they possibly know what we need?

17 years in this profession and one truth remains. Teachers need other teachers. 

Please don't misunderstand me. Our partners, our families, and our friends outside of teaching are all necessary. They are an essential part of our support system. However, it's only a fellow educator that will appreciate "teacher tired" at the end of the day. It's only a fellow educator that will understand the sentence, "Don't lick the student standing in front of you," as just another day at work. (Side note, I've actually said those exact words.) It's only a fellow teacher that will understand the power a new pack of stickers has. 

So as this year starts, make sure you have a "no matter what" teacher friend. A teacher friend that lets you raid their candy stash. A teacher friend that doesn't judge you when you share how awry your lesson went. And a teacher friend that reminds you just how amazing you really are. We all need someone there for us "no matter what."

I leave you with this last thought...

The first bell of the school year will be ringing before we know it.  When that bell rings, we will close our doors and in that moment, it becomes just us and our students. It's understandable to feel that all the pressure is on you. However, don't forget that you are not in this alone. No one expects you to do it by yourself. Teachers need other teachers. Lean on one another. Support each other. Find the little things to laugh at. And know that You've Got This!