● Make “me” time, throughout the day.
● Find a balance between delivering content and helping your students become better people (which includes you!)
● Periodically check your Intent, check your Focus.
● Help students to think beyond the here and now. Teach your students to think of a future beyond the horizon
ME TIME
Transition times. Take 10-30 seconds. Breathe in gratitude; breathe out appreciation. Take those moments before or during activity transitions to be thankful for: your shoes (or some other cute clothing item), discreetly pop a couple of M&M (or other small treat) into your mouth. A few seconds, throughout the day, to give self appreciation goes a long way!
BALANCE
Incorporating the science of teaching with the art of teaching is a balancing act. You need to deliver content to the students, but you to nurture an environment that invites learning. Sometimes lessons may not move as quickly as you want, but be mindful: if you’re leading the herd, you’re a shepard; if you’re pushing the herd, you’re the butcher.
YOUR INTENT
The logistics of teaching may ocassionaly squeeze out the joy of teaching. The routines and demands of life, away from your class, can drain your energy and enthusiasm. But, you became a teacher for a reason. In that periodic ME time you take through the day, also take that moment to re-center, re-focus, stoke the flame of passion to lead young people. To teach is among the most noble of vocations.
REACH FOR THE FUTURE
Besides teaching facts, information, and skills, the ability to help students imagine a world beyond that which is currently known is a worthy activity. It doesn’t have to be an entire lesson. If there’s a story with a plane, or train, or automobile take a moment to ask the students to imagine a different way to travel in the future. When it’s time to plug their iPads to charge, ask the students another way to charge iPads, or what students will use in the future instead of iPads.
I’ve got more!
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