In my last post, I wrote briefly about how there is beauty in the ordinary things around us.  Today I want to take it a step further and see what list I can come up with in terms of the ordinary things around us (in the classroom and beyond) that can prove to be inspiring.  I invite you to add to this list in the comments!

Be inspiring by being kind.

When we witness random acts of kindness, that can inspire kindness in ourselves.  Can you think of that commercial (I think it’s for a bank) where one person does something nice, another person sees it and creates a chain reaction of kind acts?  That’s kind of what I mean.  We can be that first “something nice.”  What’s more, we can have a conversation with out students about what it means to “pay it forward.”  When we do something kind for another, you never know what affect it may have on yet another person who witnesses the act.

Set boundaries and stick to them.

This is pretty ordinary – or is it?  Kids love boundaries.  They need rules.  At the end of the year, they also need a reminder.  That’s what my fourth grade colleagues and I did this past Friday.  We sat our 100+ students down and discussed the importance of following the rules of the school, listening to teachers, and finishing off the school year with a good attitude.

The students saw that we meant business and left the meeting very thoughtful.  Now, the tests come.  Some students have already started to waver or have just made simple mistakes, but we are sticking to our plan to make sure our students finish their year strong.

Walking from the cafe to our classrooms after lunch, it is imperative that we remain silent in our open concept school.  To show we are sticking to our plan, we have taken students out of the line when they are talking to make sure they understand the importance of and reasoning behind the school rule.  This is not to be mean or to be controlling, but to show the students that certain rules, even the bland ordinary ones, are there for a reason and we all need to oblige.

As for the follow through, it’s so easy NOT to follow through: to turn away or ignore a minor infraction, to brush it off as no big deal.  But that can lead to bigger problems down the line.  So, we have made the promise to one another (we teachers, that is) to be diligent in following through on misbehavior.

Smile!!!

It always amazes me how a simple smile can brighten a day.  I’ve even heard that if you are in a bad mood and make yourself smile, your mood will change for the better.  One Sunday Morning on the CBS TV show, there was a segment on Yoko Ono’s project Smilesfilm where out of her own loss of her husband, John Lennon, she realized the power of a smile.  (Read her story here.)

Similarly we can spread happiness or simply make ourselves feel better by smiling or sharing a smile with our students and colleagues (not to mention family and friends.)  So, smile at someone today!

Greet Your Students (and Colleagues)

Making a point of greeting your students as they walk into the room can seem like a very ordinary thing.  Yet, many teachers don’t do it.  Myself included, we get bogged down by last minute preparation or email checking and the assumption that the students know just what to do when they enter the room.  But wouldn’t it be nice if we all made a point to greet each one of our students every day (with a smile)?  Calling them by name and making them feel welcomed and noticed.

Chat with a Student

Students love to know their teachers are listening to them.  While some students may shy away from a one-on-one talk, others may thrive on it.  Don’t underestimate the power you have to make a difference in a child’s life by having a short conversation with a student.  It may be just what they need.  And having a conversation with them for no apparent reason (not because they are in trouble or did something amazing) is even more special.

Compliment their outfit and ask them about it.  Ask them what their plans are for the week end and then listen to their answer.  Tell them a story about when you played baseball as a kid.  These are the little ordinary things that can make a difference.

What makes these things ordinary?

These are a few examples of things we take for granted, yet come across every day: a chance to chat, smile, do something kind and yet, they may go unrecognized or, worse seen as not as important anymore.  But these small, ordinary things are far very important because they help us to build relationships.

What makes these things inspiring?

Plain and simple, they show you care.  When you take the time to do something from this list, you are showing students that you want to take the time to be a positive person in their life.  When that happens, trust is formed and the students will in turn learn so much from you!

So, now it’s your turn!  What other ordinary, yet inspiring things can you add to the list?

~EMP

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Grace lost a tooth!

My plan was to write a post this month having to do with staying positive in the classroom and I might still do that. But as I was watching the finale of The Office last night, the last words spoken by Pam Halpert really stayed with me.

There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things.  Isn’t that the point?”

Watching the review of Pam’s character’s journey along with all the others, through the last nine years made me think of how time flies.  We don’t realize how far we really do come in just a few years until you sit and reflect.

When that show started I was at a different school, teaching music to middle schoolers in a different state.  I was newly married and was just starting to find myself professionally.  And when I think of where I am now, I can see that the journey is only continuing.  It’s certainly not done.

But the point here is that as we go through this journey, we need to remember the ordinary things, not just define our existence by the huge highlights in our lives.

So, what ordinary things do you see beauty in?

• Children’s smiles.
• Laughter across the room.
• The colors in the garden.
• Seeing my friends each day.
• A text from my husband.

That’s my list of beautifully ordinary things.  What’s yours?

~EMP

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This Wednesday, May 15th is our first “Be Inspiring” day.  It is a day carefully placed in May for our celebration of teachers.  The concept is for teachers to plan something purposeful and inspiring for their students on or around May 15th.  It’s a chance for you to try something new or go out of your comfort zone for the sake of inspiring your students.  To join other educators who have pledged to Be Inspiring (and to see what they plan to do) go to our Be Inspiring page!

In preparation for this day, we have spent some time chatting it up on Twitter.  Earlier this month, I co-moderated two of my favorite chats: #ntchat and #4thchat leading a discussion on what it means to Be Inspiring and how to go about doing it.  You can see the archives for these chats here: #ntchat  #4thchat

Both chats were uplifting and encouraging, dare I say, inspiring all in and of themselves.  Let’s face it, anyone who has spent any amount of time sharing and interacting with the wonderful educator PLN that Twitter has to offer is bound to be inspired by the vast range of colleagues you will find.  We all love what we do and we get a sense of collaborative power when we share that with others.

So what came out of those chats and the ongoing conversations about #BInspiring day?  I went in thinking it would be a huge share fest, a smack-down of great ideas of what you can do with your students and there were some great ideas shared.  For example, working on “Genius Hour” or “Passion Projects” where students work on something they are passionate about and later present to the class.  Maybe having a Studio Day is a way to inspire your students to do something creative.  But the ideas of activities wasn’t the focus of either chat.  It was more about the overall feel of an inspiring classroom.

Lead by Example to Be Inspiring

Many teachers noted that to be inspiring, we need to lead the way.  Whether it be by modeling and encouraging random acts of kindness or noticing the the good things others do for other people and the environment.  A couple teachers chimed in with ideas to research inspiring role models or to recognize inspiring people (parents, teachers, book characters, others) in children’s lives.  Someone pointed out that students need to see that their teacher is inspired by the work and world around them.

Dig Deep, Question and Challenge Your Students

Another big theme from teachers about what it means to be inspiring was to get students to dig deep into something, question and challenge themselves – really make them think.  We want our students to be life-long learners, to constantly wonder about the world around them; to take risks and make mistakes.  It’s taking content and going further than the syllabus or teacher’s edition of a text.  When you can be inspiring, you are motivating students not only to learn, but to WANT to learn!

An Inspired Frame of Mind

Being inspiring goes much deeper than the curriculum we must teach, it is a frame of mind.  We never give up on students, we foster creativity and passion learning.  We strive to motivate and encourage students (and our peers!).  We validate students and their ideas and show that we believe in them.

I know I haven’t quoted anyone yet from these chats, but I must do one here.  To sum it all up, I go back to the motto here at The Inspired Classroom: “Get Inspired, Be Inspiring!”  One teacher on Twitter definitely got that feeling about what it means to be an inspiring teacher:

Chatting with other educators who are positive and energizing is inspiring all in itself.  You can get a feel for that energy if you visit the archived chats or go on Twitter yourself.  Hopefully, you have that type of support system right in your own school. But remember, whether you are part of a clan or feel like an island, what you do every day matters greatly in the lives of your students.

So go – Be Inspiring today!

~EMP

Want to pledge to Be Inspiring?  Go to our Be Inspiring page!

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Whether you are a mom-teacher or dad-teacher, becoming a parent, changes you and your perspective on everything, especially your job as an educator.  Here’s how becoming a mom changed me.

1.  I look at my students differently.  When they enter my room, I see my students not just as my students, but as someone’s kids.  They are someone’s whole world and they are special.  And when I stop myself and remember this idea, I also think about my own kids.  I think of my own kids walking into their classrooms and hope that their teachers are thinking the same things about them.

2.  I look at parents differently.  When I first became a parent, I remember getting the biggest slap in the face – a dose of reality and shame for thinking I had parenting all figured out before I had any kids of my own.  I promised to never judge another parent again.  Ok, well, I’m not perfect.  I slip here and there, but there has been a drastic change in how I view and understand parents.  If they need to take their kids out of school for what they consider an important event, let them.  If a parent writes a note stating they didn’t get to homework because of this, that or the other thing, so be it.  Parents need to be part of the team and maybe if we remember to treat them that way, our students will find more success.

3.  I never assume I know it all.  All families struggle with their own set of issues.  You just never know what a student is dealing with when they get home.  And I’m not just talking about the real heavy-duty stuff that you find out from the guidance counselor.  I’m talking about the day to day struggles such as a sick family member or little to no food at home or the smaller things like a disrupted morning schedule.  There are many things going on in our students’ minds and lives.  We need to be caring enough to understand that.

4.  I assign less busy work for homework and try to make things more purposeful.  I’ve been struggling with the idea of homework a lot over my 14 years of teaching, but not nearly as much as when I became a mom of school-aged children.  The time I have at home with my own kids is so precious and I know it it the same for all families.  We are busy and rushed.  And I’m just starting to see how much time is taken up by sports, music lessons, basic playtime and other appointments as my children are scratching the surface of after school activities.  I’m not a fan of busy work anyway, but I’ve been trying even harder over the last few years to make homework more purposeful and manageable for my students and their families.  I think I’ve come to the conclusion that homework is a necessity to some degree (that will be another post), but we need to be realistic in how much and what type.  Kids need time with their families, parents need time with their kids.

5.  Home/School communication is key.  It was the mantra of our field hockey team in high school, “Communication is the Key to Success.”  Not only do I try to keep in close communication with my class as a whole, but individually as well.  Again, I’m not perfect, but I try.  If I sense an issue, I want to be in contact with a parent.  I return phone calls and emails promptly and hope that my children’s teachers would do the same.  Like I said before, parents and teachers need to act like a team to ensure students’ success.

I guess this list can be boiled down to one word: Compassion.  I’ve become a much more compassionate teacher since becoming a mom.  Sure, I have my days…  But the truth is, I do reflect a lot on how I treat the people in my job and at worst, I try real hard to see things from all perspectives and do the right thing out of love.  That’s what this job is really all about!

Now, go and enjoy your day with your students and enjoy your time with your families.  And to all the moms out there – Happy Mothers’ Day!

~EMP

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Teachers outside working on lyrics for our song at the Teacher Art Retreat 2012.

When you become a teacher, you NEVER leave school.  I don’t just mean you go to school every day, I also mean you never stop having to take classes.  Teachers are life-long learners in the most pure sense of the phrase.  We are constantly learning new methods, strategies, and activities.  We constantly research, question and collaborate.  Teachers may teach, but we are also expert learners!

And with so many options, opportunities and avenues of gaining this new knowledge, there are a great many choices to make when it comes to professional development.

Of course, we have the typical PD that our districts provide.  These include district or school-wide initiatives and in-house training.  However the really great PD comes into play when YOU take charge of your own PD!

This is the case for me this past week.  I worked diligently to get the Drumming for Your Life organization out in California to come across the country to Amesbury, Massachusetts and train 9 of our teachers in their Reading and Rhythm program.  For the past 6 school days, we have been given a day-long training as well as individualized follow-up in the classroom.  This is something that the two elementary school principals and other administration supported, but it was an absolute grass roots movement from the teachers.  We wanted the program here and worked hard to get it!

That is an extreme example, though.  We as individual and small groups of teachers can also take charge of our own professional development.

Teacher Differentiation

In as sense, taking charge of our own PD is like differentiating for own needs.

What do you need?  A refresher in something?  A little help in spelling instruction?  An inspiring course in arts integration?  A new approach to reading comprehension?  A whole masters’ degree?

Once you figure out what you want out of your PD, then you can go after it by seeing what’s available to you in your area or online.  Other times, you may see PD advertised that may spark your interest.  If that’s the case, you need to jump on it!

Types of PD

I get a lot of mail that gives many PD options from one day workshops to week-long seminars.  They all have their place, you just need to know what to expect so you can find the right fit.

The one day workshops seem to be the best for quick and easy idea implementation.  You get a full day to look at a topic with a group of other teachers and can, in many cases implement the ideas immediately starting the next day in school.  These are usually led by another teacher or former teacher so they understand where you are coming from.  I’ve taught these in arts integration and the connections between music and literacy, filling them with activities to try and ideas to bring back to the classroom.  I’ve also taken many workshops in areas from test prep to reading instruction.

#edcamps and unconferences are great for networking and quick idea getting.  These workshop days also get you pumped to collaborate and try new things, not to mention give you a sense of pride to be a teacher.  At an unconference, such as an #edcamp, the schedule is made that morning by the teachers in attendance.  These teachers have something they want to share whether it be a new type of cloud computing they have tried in the classroom or an organizational system that works.  Again, because it comes from teachers, it is practical and relevant.  Instead of focusing on one topic all day, you choose which 1-2 hour sessions you want to attend.

Conferences can be anywhere from 1-7 days long.  They involve key note speakers and short workshop sessions.  They are usually focused around one centralized theme and are planned well in advance.  There are national conferences put on by such organizations as the Arts Education Partnership which foucses on arts advocacy and arts and learning, the National Associate for Music Educators build just for music teachers and supporters and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) where people come from all over the world to learn about and share the latest and greatest in educational technology.  These conferences are energizing and can be massively attended.  There is often so much information that is given, it can be overwhelming.  You often need your evenings to go through your notes and fun give aways, so plan time for that!

Online learning  is now an option and is becoming quite a popular choice for busy professionals.  Online courses are easy to sign up for and the work load is up to you to complete with a few check ins with your instructor.  Grad credit is often an option, but you can sometimes take a course for less money and no credit – you do what you need to do for your teaching situation.  In the very near future (this summer), The Inspired Classroom will be offering the first online course for credit or PDPs in music integration.  Be on the look-out for that!

Another great online opportunity, especially for educators interested in arts integration is the Connectivity Conference given through Education Closet.  I will be presenting there for a session on Music and the Common Core!  There are many other great presenters as well who will give insights to this year’s theme: The hART of the Core.  Be sure to check it out and sign up to join the over 150 teachers who have already done so.  And…  get some PD from your beach chair!

And then there is the RETREAT.  This is The Inspired Classroom’s baby: professional development custom made with the creative teacher in mind.  A time that is hands-on, art-based and teacher-centered.  The summer Teacher Art Retreat is a face-to-face three day retreat where teachers learn a variety of art forms by doing them. This year, we have book making, screenwriting, songwriting, visual art and poetry along with movement, drumming and getting to know other great educators.  This summer marks our third year of retreats and we already have some excited teachers joining us!  For more information, check out our TAR13 page.  (Remember, this week, now until May 13, 2013, you can get 20% off the regular retreat rate.)

Excite your PD!

Don’t just rely on the things your district plans for you.  If you have professional days to take, take them and go do something that will excite you to do more for your own teaching.  After all, you have to Get Inspired in order to Be Inspiring to your students.

Check out what is available through your local universities or online and take the plunge to travel to a great conference or retreat.  Go with some friends or even alone – you will meet many great people when you arrive.  One of my most exhilarating conference experiences what driving 7 hours to an #edcamp with my sister-in-law.  Another time, I flew into Philly from Boston to attend the ISTE conference and stay at a hotel for three nights.  It was a great get away that feed the mind.

So, take charge of your own learning (just like we want our students to do) and see what possibilities are out there for you!

~EMP

For more information about the summer Teacher Art Retreat including hotel information, check out our TAR13 page.

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I’ll keep this short, very sweet and to the point.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Month!  

There are always fun surprises at the Teacher Art Retreat!

(We celebrate you all month this month.)

For this week only, we are taking 20% off the regular Teacher Art Retreat registration.  (From now until May 13, 2013)

Want more information about the Teacher Art Retreat?  Go to the TAR13 page and find out about the professional development we’ve designed for creative teachers.

Want to register now at this great rate?  Only $168.00 for three days of arts-centered, hands-on, teacher-centered PD!

Click the button or find out more by visiting our Teacher Art Retreat ’13 page.  Register here online or send a check to The Inspired Classroom, PO Box 303, Hampton Falls, NH 03844.

Oh, and have I mentioned you can now earn graduate credit for attending the retreat?

Enjoy and we hope to see you then.

~EMP

(Told you I’d keep it short. )

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