Happy "boring" summer?

Recently, due to the ubiquitous use of technology and its distracting nature, scientists are debating the importance of boredom. Some neuroscientists, including Susan Greenfield, argue that so-called boredom provides time for students, all of us really, to figure out who we are and what we believe. That seems pretty important, doesn't it? Teachers especially need some of this personal down time. Therefore, we hope you and yours enjoy a little bored time this summer. We think cartoonist Grant Snider would agree.

A happy summer to all!

Write to be Right?

We teachers may not realize it but for students, their school writing is typically scrutinized. Summative writing tasks are more high-stakes, focused on learning to write. So students tend to write to be right.

Yet creating product is only one purpose for writing. Students also need time to write to explore, to think, to test and try ideas. Writing to learn is valuable too because it helps students activate their own thinking, generate their own ideas, and reflect on their own learning. Not only does it provide much-needed time to practice writing without heavy scrutiny, the generated content can be used for other writing purposes and for small and whole group discussions. So where might low-stakes writing fit into your lessons, and how might it improve student engagement toward writing?

How to Find your Voice

As Grand Snider's most excellent cartoon reveals, finding your voice requires many attempts, some successful, some not so much. Like the cartoon suggests, we educators find our voices in the voices of others: great thinkers, administrators, colleagues, favourite authors, scientists, engineers, mathematicians, our own favourite teachers and so on, but we must always remember that it is by listening to our students that we will find many of the answers we're seeking to empower ourselves.

Child's Play?

Many of us heard this when we were children: "Well, you certainly have a good imagination!" Such a great compliment! But imagination is definitely not so-called child's play. It's a strength we teachers can empower in any and every student at any age. Why? Science says it literally builds the brain. Watch the video for the latest research and consider using visualization techniques in your classes to enhance that brain-building. Plus, it's just fun.

Think Left & Think Right

Dr. Seuss taught many of us as children to "think left and think right, think low and think high, oh the things you can think, if you only try."

Teaching students to think means teaching them to self-assess. This requires a clearly defined process that can be repeated to mastery. No matter the grade, the process is essentially the same. This Arts example provides some great direction regarding that process.

For more information and resources, click here.

Eat the frog?

It may be a cliché, but it's true: we teachers all have lots on our plates. Especially in September! In fact, there's so much on our plates, it's hard to know what to eat first, isn't it? 

So how do we manage it all? According to University of Alberta educated author Brian Tracy, start with the frog on your plate; it may not look appetizing but instead of avoiding it, just go ahead and eat it. Check out the video to learn how this strategy might help simplify your busy, busy life. 

What IS confidence?

Who doesn't need a confidence boost every now and again? Sometimes risks lack the expected rewards. Sometimes we can't help but compare ourselves to others seemingly more successful. Sometimes we experience a string of failures. No one can be confident all the time. But we teachers are very skilled at solving problems. Like this short video suggests, to boost our confidence we should start with this question: what exactly is confidence?

Nice?

photo source

"Just be nice."

How many times have we heard this? How many times have we used this word to encourage peace among others? And yet, the word is so vague. It's also a missed opportunity. 

In her Grande Prairie Ted Talk, Christine Ayling describes the Virtues Project and the profound effect it has had on her career and her life and most importantly, on the people she counsels and supports through trauma and struggle. Ayling recommends eliminating the word nice from your vocabulary. Why? When we eliminate the word "nice," suddenly we use more specific, more apt words. These better words describe the qualities we see in others, qualities we want to foster and develop and affirm: virtues.

Instead of describing someone or something as nice, why not seize the teachable moment and offer some insight to our students and colleagues, some feedback that can truly impact their greatest strengths, their virtues. Why not identify, recognize and affirm

• gentleness?
• discernment?
• tolerance?
• cheerfulness?
• humility?
• respect?
• honour?
• courage?
• cooperation?
• endurance?
• patience?
• confidence?
• tact?
• mercy?
• optimism?
• faith?
• perceptiveness?
• flexibility?
• empathy?
• truthfulness?
• wonder?

Indeed, why not? Have a nice virtuous day friends.

5 Ways to Tweak your PLC's

an action priority matrix in action

Opportunities to work with our colleagues in Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) or other types of leadership teams can really impact our teaching practices. In many cases these opportunities are some of the most positive and productive work we experience as teachers. Yet there are ways to make them more effective and productive. We coaches listed 5 ways to tweak your PLC's. 

1. Use a clearing protocol at the beginning of the meeting so participants can clear their minds and focus on the task at hand. Consider making this part of your norms. 
2. Phrase your agenda items as questions—that way, when the question is answered, everyone knows to move on to the next item.
3. Avoid debating the value of ideas until after you have finished brainstorming for a set amount of time.
4. Use an action priority matrix to prioritize next steps.
5. Schedule maker time. See our last post for details. 

Time to think?

Renowned speaker Zig Ziglar said, "lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem; we all have 24 hour days." We've all heard people say, I don't even have time to think! Yet it's true--we all get the same 24 hours. Perhaps that thinking time is what's truly missing?

What if we stopped managing time and made time? Be makers people, be makers.

Here's to wishing you some much needed think-time!