I love Valentine's Day and I especially love Valentine's Day in elementary schools. I can remember back when I was in elementary school how important and exciting my teachers made Valentine's Day. The lessons I learned (way back then) are lessons that stick with me still today.
Valentine's Day is about sharing love and remembering the people and the things that you love. Not only do I love Valentine's Day but I LOVE teaching. I feel so blessed to be an educator. I LOVE that I get to teach and learn with students, colleagues, and educators in so many different contexts. It's just exciting to me. Teachers are developed, but I feel in my HEART, that there is just something inside me that makes me LOVE teaching! All of the new educational initiatives and concepts that I learn about each day are exciting as they provide tools, strategies, and new information that only help to develop my pedagogy. There are so many Initiatives today such as: 21st Century Learning, New Literacy’s, The Common Core, Teacher Leadership, Ethical and Social Education, Global Learning, Project Based Learning. Each idea is important and really fills my heart with more ways I can help others learn and grow. Yesterday we had a staff meeting at my school. I led teachers in a reflection activity to help them think of different aspects from the second quarter of school that they could ponder, celebrate, revise, and share. I feel that REFELCTION is so significant in teaching and taking the time to do so is important. I have been reading Learning by Heart by Roland S. Barth in one of my graduate courses. It is a phenomenal resource that encourages teachers to discover themselves and to truly teach from the heart. In the staff activity I integrated some ideas I have learned from reading this book, Valentine's Day, and second quarter reflections/celebration with my staff yesterday. It was my hope that they searched their HEARTS so that they could take some time out and celebrate the positive things that they did in the second nine weeks of school. Looking inside oneself can sometimes bring insight into one's pedagogy. The photographs of hearts shown above are reflections from the heart! Happy Valentine's Day! <3 From the heart we reflected on the following: · One wish for the rest of the year · The best book that you read in 2nd Quarter · Something learned in 2nd Quarter · One change you would have made in 2nd Quarter · One new skill learned in 2nd Quarter · One goal that you have set for Quarter 3 · One thing you most look forward to in Quarter 3 One thing in Quarter 2 that you are most thankful for What can you do with your students this week to teach them the concept of "Random Acts of Kindness"?
Here are a few ideas I found that were posted on Edutopia. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-kindness-the-kind-campaign-lisa-dabbs?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29 Let's look at a few ways we can support teaching kindness:
Walking into school this morning was such an uplifting experience. Ms. B dressed up as an elderly lady welcoming all who came in the school door with a "Happy 100th day of School!" greeting. The students smiled, the parents smiled, and the staff smiled. This is a perfect example of how a school community can be uplifted and bonded through a simple act. Thank you Ms. B! The next thing I knew the three Kindergarten teams and their students were having a "Hundreds Day Parade" around the building dressed in their 100 year old costumes! What another great way to encourage positive vibes in the culture of the school. Thank you Kindergarten Team and Students! Finally, Mrs. K and Mrs. B had exciting messages on their white boards encouraging students to think about the 100th day of school. (Ex. What comes in groups of 100?) Thank you ladies! It feels good to work in an educational community that encourages and brings positive vibes into the school community.
So... now I challenge you....Can you help me to think of and list 100 things you have learned or experienced that have made 2012-2013 a positive school year? I'll start with the list below...PLEASE add to my list by posting a comment or two...or maybe even a group of 10!!!! :) LET'S DO IT!!!!! Here’s my list of positive educational happenings in 2012-2013. It’s just a start… · The common core and its benefits for student learning! · Supporting my colleagues · Working with students · Learning though Professional Development Opportunities · Student work that embellishes the hall ways · Establishing relationships · Fantastic web sites and resources at our finger tips · Reflecting as an educator · Working together as a team to make improvements · Filling buckets! |