Happiness and Smiles

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  ~Mother Teresa

This is so true. There are so many moments throughout the day to give someone a smile, an act of kindness, some gesture that you care and that they matter. Isn’t that what kids want more than anything else? And isn’t that what  teachers to do for our children (speaking as a parent here)? I send my kids off to school every morning knowing they will learn some wonderful things, have experiences and have many encounters. I want them to be happy, smile and enjoy their day. As a teacher, I think about what my families want from me. Yes, I have to teach them content and do that. Yes, I teach those critical thinking skills and problem solving. Yes, I am working to prepare them for learning in the 21^st Century. More importantly though I have to evaluate myself; am I making them smile, am I making them feel good about learning, and I am I making them learn how to find happiness I places they least expect it? Am I allowing for a bit of silliness along the way? To show support and appreciation for a job well done, sometimes we make different cheers for each other, air high fives, and even that needed round of applause for a job well done or achieving a milestone.  

Last blog I talked about making mistakes and learning form them and just how important that is. This week it is about not just learning but maintaining a positive attitude and finding happiness. Life can be challenging on any given day and finding joy on ‘hard days; even more so challenging but a life lesson we all need to learn. When I sit on the carpet with a group of kids, do they feel good about what might just happen in our little circle? Are they excited and ready to try something new and be happy with the task of ‘conquering’ the challenge?

Going into any computer lab is always a highlight for kids but actually navigating a system with a foreign computer language can present a challenge. Some times there are tears of frustration but do the students know it is all okay; nothing is permanent with what we do on our blogs and everything can be edited and changed? That takes a great load off their shoulders and the smiles appear while the excitement grows!

Laughter, smiles, cheers and sometimes just plain old appreciation for the effort makes students happy and isn’t that what we all strive for; happiness while learning and growing. I know every child matters and I work to make sure they know that; on good days, on days that they might not do so well on a test, and on days when they just don’t feel like being at school. Can I influence that ‘mood’ and make a positive impact? I certainly hope so as that is what I want for my own children. Funny how being a parent makes those emotional issues so much more meaningful because ‘best practices’ in education are most effective when there is a positive relationship between student and teacher. So as we continue this journey we need to remember that some days there might be frustration at content or task completion, but that is not transferable to the child; they are always loved and I hope they know they are what makes me smile! 

Always Learning

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new. Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)

I am always learning new things and am grateful to the precious little ones who are my little teachers. A few things I learned these last few weeks:

-Everyone deserves a second chance when they are really striving to learn or grow. I don’t always deliver every lesson the way I planned or remember everything I ‘should have’ done. When I am assessing students to know where they are with a concept, it is more important to be able to know where they are and work on building skills and confidence. Eventually they will have to demonstrate their knowledge but if we didn’t make mistakes how would we ever learn what we do not know? A mistake is an opportunity to grow and I need to celebrate that fact; that I am open to learn and grow and model that for my students so they become more comfortable with this process.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.  George Bernard Shaw

-Take time to appreciate the arts. In math and in life art is all around us. We should never be too busy to forget that art is alive! Find examples of concepts in art and allow for opportunities for students to express themselves through various mediums. Drawing angles is wonderful; creating a piece of art with angles inspiring! The funny thing is I had to hold myself back from making my own picture because I was teaching others while they worked. Next time I will make it right along with them! Carl Jung summed it nicely: The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

-A hug to say hello or goodbye brightens a day; whether it is from me or from one of my sweeties as they walk out the door. I should never be too busy to share that one moment of greeting/farewell because I know I sure did appreciate some this week when they were unexpected!  Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

-At the end of the day we all want to be appreciated, acknowledged and happy. But what brings that about many times is stepping out of myself and giving that to someone else. Final quote of the week: You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. Albert Schweitzer

It has been a whirlwind of activity and learning but always in my heart, I have such wonderful students; those in my class, those in the halls, and those in my memories!

A New Year

As I prepare for another year teaching; wiping down bookshelves, going through file cabinets, trying to get the ‘just right’ room arrangement with the furniture provided…  I cannot help but reflect. I think about my first year in Richmond and the deep desire to make a difference in young children’s lives and their families and make sure that remains true; check. Am I ready to be the student as well as the teacher; check. Am I happy being a teacher; check. I remember once at PGES we had this ‘spotlight’ on a teacher every week and had to complete a form. It asked ‘What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?” I remember my response: incomplete.

I have had the privilege of teaching and learning from so many sweet, bright and beautiful children and families. I know teaching is more than the content. I believe it is actually about the child, regardless of age or ability; it is always about each child. I think of those children as I wipe down desks and tables and remember them chewing on pencils, working so hard on tests, and my favorite memory is when we all put our feet up on the desks to read. When I move furniture around I think of times when we played games at centers and will my room welcome laughter? Will those sweet smiles come from my shy students as well as the loud roars of laughter from the more gregarious students? As I throw away old activities I think of the students who used them and wonder where they are now, what do they look like, what are they doing?

I inevitably come back to my last class of students; those I had all day long, everyday and even had for two years for a K-1 loop. That special group that inspired me to go further and do more… they are sopomores this year. I cannot believe all that time has gone by since that class!  I am so grateful to those children and families. They were my strength and hope on a deep level as I had personal struggles; they loved me and supported me and always knew I was a mom first. In that way they allowed me that special feeling of having 21 children, Bella and later Gideon included! I so love each of those children and continue to be so very proud of them as they grow, mature and excel.

This year there is another group that I am thinking about as I am going through all my math material; the group that enters middle school this year. I taught most them in some fashion since kindergarten and know them on many different levels; teacher, coach and even mother. I have seen them grow from little 5 year olds into young adults, watched them build friendships I hope will last a lifetime, and hope that I will keep in touch with them as well as they continue to grow and do remarkable feats. What a group of amazing children!

I know how fortunate I am with every wipe of the dust from those bookshelves, every bulletin board, and with every table I move and then move again, looking for that just right placement. I am so looking forward to this year and yes, another group of kids I will bid farewell to in the spring but until then…. I am ready to make a difference, teach and learn and most importantly, happily love each child!

Man in the Arena

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919), "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910

My son's baseball coach shared this with me during his summer all-stars and I found it to be apropos for beginning a blog as the school year begins. As a teacher, student, parent, etc. basically a human being, how we begin everyday makes a difference. I strive to remember to be present and engaged and step into that 'arena', not walk out when times are difficult but stay in there and learn my lessons; as difficult as some might be. We are role models for our children, students, and even other adults; sometimes unwillingly but if we stop and think about it...what a special gift we have be given. The ups and downs, peaks and valleys, sorrows and joys; all opportunities to share how to live. We all make mistakes and we all have victories; each worthy of sharing with others as each helps form who we are and who we are constantly evolving into. Life is a journey and one I am grateful for everyday.