Mission Possible- Making Teaching Your Happy Place

If I had to narrow down to one thing that has made the biggest impact on me being positive about the teaching profession and has inspired me to continue to strive to reach my students, it would be this...
I am secure in my teaching vision and how to measure its fulfillment.

It wasn't always like this. I hit rock bottom about four years ago when I felt like a failure because not all my students were scoring satisfactorily on the required standards. Of course, there were other factors contributing to my being disenfranchised with the profession, but in large part my defeated feelings were due to my negative interpretation. My students weren't achieving their predetermined goals for every concept, and I took that personally. I was ready to give up on teaching and began exploring other career options. In the midst of my deep soul searching, I made an important discovery that turned everything around.

The main reason I was jaded and in a constant state of angst about education was because I had unwittingly let my personal vision and calling be overshadowed by numbers. The number of a test score. The percentage of students not grasping a developmentally inappropriate concept. Quite by accident, I had lost sight of why I chose to be a teacher and succumbed to the pressure and stress of winning a numbers and data game.

Now, no one told me to exchange my mission for data. I LET myself become a victim, blaming my dissatisfaction on curriculum, Common Core, the poor home environment of my students, etc., etc. Honestly, there is virtually no end to the "problems" a teacher can point out in education. But the reality was I was operating from a negative mindset and a framework of deficiency rather than a positive mindset with a belief of abundance and opportunities.

The first step for me in re-igniting my passion for teaching was reclaiming and enlarging my personal vision as an educator. After nineteen years of instructing at various grade levels in different states at both private and public schools, my teaching story is unique in its own right and has evolved. As I learn more about myself, my strengths, the needs of my students in the world in which we live, it just makes sense that my vision will reflect that evolution. But what remains the same is my core belief that I am investing in kids and their families by the relationships I build with them.

The following steps were vital in transforming my mindset and breathing new life and excitement into my teaching. I share them with you now in hopes that if you feel on the edge of burnout or disenfranchised with education, you will be moved to receive a fresh perspective and renewed purpose in your calling.

1. Write down your teaching vision as a personal mission statement. Really give it thought and dig deep. Freely and fully explore what you hope people would understand about your heart for kids and why you think teaching is the way to reach them.

2. Establish your own standards for how you will measure your success. If your teaching vision is not primarily concerned with your students achieving a certain test score, then it doesn't make sense that you measure your fulfillment based on that score either!
My own teaching mission statement is shared in the example photo below:

The way I measure the fulfillment of my vision is all about being so immersed in the sharing of my passion and in the caring of my kids, that I can't help but observe the evidence of fulfillment in the daily interactions I have with students and their families.


Here are just a few ways I measure the fulfillment of my vision:
*When a student asks me 'why' questions during a science experiment and later repeats the experiment at home with his mom, I know I've cultivated discovery.
*Escorting my kids downtown to meet the mayor during a community caroling trip and hearing them exclaim, "This is my first time to see City Hall!" lets me know I have created an impactful experience.
*Giving my students freedom to build a new 'invention' in the Makerspace frequently results with me being amazed at the creativity and problem-solving taking place on their level. That gets celebrated!
*When we reflect on their achievements in the framework of tracking PROGRESS in their individual learning folders, I see beaming faces full of pride and radiating confidence based on their accomplishments. So rewarding.
*Communicating with parents on my class Facebook page has been vital in strengthening connections with parents. My efforts are constantly validated by their comments and expressions of appreciation because they are always 'in the know' via pictures and posts about what their children are doing at school and given opportunities to participate in class activities.
*I strive to set the example of embracing a positive mindset, so I'm ecstatic when I hear a student who used to say, "I can't do it" with frustration each time a new skill was introduced, say, "I guess I just need more practice- right, Mrs. E?" with an attitude of perseverance instead!


Each day holds some sort of success when you figure out how to measure in terms of your vision. Teaching IS my happy place. That is where I'm making a difference. That is where my mission is made possible.

Do I still have rough days? Sometimes. Do I wish some things in education were radically different? Of course! This isn't a perfect world. BUT, a bad day does not mean I've failed. I am no longer a victim giving over control of my mindset to a national testing culture. I evaluate my performance as a teacher against my core values of what my kids deserve.
What's your vision? How do you measure success? If you can't immediately answer these questions and are feeling discouraged about teaching, then exploring these answers would be a GREAT place to start. To this end, I am sharing a simple mission statement outline that might be helpful to you. Nothing fancy, but the thoughts you contemplate and the positive focus of your efforts could very well change your life!  It's free and available for downloading here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjt-e9Paj7p6xyIqbPsbRMeY5YpYuJ1g_WtXDVKsmpc/edit?usp=sharing
Basically, it comes down to this- you create the joy in your classroom. I'm always uplifted by hearing the ways that other teachers stay inspired...how they remind themselves that while they instruct in standards, they TEACH STUDENTS. How will you stay positive and inspired? Your students will feed off of your abundance that recognizes the goodness and opportunities afforded to you as a teacher. Choose now to carry out your mission daily and make teaching your happy place.

Create Some Breakthroughs - 2017 Edition

Sometimes trying new things freaks me out. It can be a new GOOD thing, but because it's something I've never done before, there's a 'fear of the unknown' element involved. But I've decided that fear of the unknown doesn't get to have the final say in forging ahead in my calling. And it doesn't have to have the last word in your calling either.

I know I am supposed to be an encourager to my students. But the longer I teach, the more I realize, my fellow teachers also need encouragement. I want to help those that have lost the joy they once had in teaching to find it again and embrace renewal. It's been my dream to consult with teachers and collaborate with them on how to develop a positive mindset for about a year now. A positive mindset is one that overcomes having a victim mentality that can slowly infiltrate our head space and takes over our spirit unaware, and instead embraces growth and passion for each person's vision for teaching.

After some reaching out and taking a step of faith to make this concept a reality, the opportunity to equip others with a positive mindset has presented itself on a larger scale than I'm used to, and now,  less than two weeks away, I find myself tempted to doubt. The questioning thoughts start to creep in. It's like someone is whispering in my ear, "You are sooooo NOT the perfect teacher. Why would anyone listen to what you have to say?"

I read an interesting quote that has breathed a huge amount of affirmation into my spirit to press onward in this new venture of reconciling imperfection with fulfilling my calling:

"If you wait until you’re “perfect” before you share your stories, ideas, talents, and gifts with the world, no one will ever hear from you."(Marc Chernoff)

How freeing! I may not be perfect, but has God given me a story to share to encourage others? Yes! So I silence the doubt by remembering this: it's just my job to share and it's up to God to do the rest. How others receive the message is on them. But my story will never be received by anyone if I allow the safety of the old and familiar to overshadow the new and unknown.

You see, "The draw of comfort is the biggest dream killer. In the end, you can be comfortable or courageous, but not both at once." (Marc Chernoff)

This is just the sort of tough love I have to show myself if I want to fulfill my dream of being an encourager to teachers on the edge of burnout. It's going to take courage to learn new presentation techniques, to persevere through my nervousness about public speaking in front of peers, and to be honest about my own negative thinking and bad attitudes that have crippled my spirit and limited my effectiveness in the past. I have to be brave in baring my weakness to show where true strength begins. And so I have made the decision to be courageous over comfortable because courage allows me to make a difference. Comfort does not.

As we approach 2017, I'm willing to bet many of you that are reading this are craving a breakthrough in some area of your life. Something new and better awaits on the other side! Another great piece of advice from Marc Chernoff, "If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.  If you want something you’ve never had, then you’ve got to do something you’ve never done.  The bottom line is that you’ll never leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be." Personally, I'd rather be living in the calling for which I was created, than be left stagnant and unfulfilled because I let fear be greater than my courage. 

The year 2017 is a chance for you to  try something new so you CAN be where you've decided you WANT to be and where God has CALLED you to be. My prayer is that you would open up your heart and mind to take risks, believing that the joy you experience as a result of acting on your calling and the growth of the kingdom will be worth the price of your courage.

You've got this, my friend. God is for you. He would like nothing better than to use your imperfect stories, ideas, talents, and gifts to bring Him glory this year. Adapt, execute, and enjoy....for "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV

Making Christmas Count- Creating Holiday Learning Experiences

Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year in my world. Anticipating the season is a huge part of the wonder and appreciation.  So I make Christmas really count! In teaching, you get the most bang for your buck when you connect new concepts to something meaningful for your students. It doesn't get any easier than connecting Christmas with kids. I take full advantage of this anticipation to help my students learn about celebrating in our culture, the value of giving over receiving, literacy and math in creating holiday projects, and how to measure and budget our time in preparation for our party. (It's never too early to teach students how to plan!)

Introducing... my take on a school holiday version of the Advent calendar called the Christmas Countdown! I got the idea of using a shoe organizer to hold holiday symbols from Pinterest. I was looking for an easy way to teach passage of time and numerical concepts, expand their understanding of seasonal symbols, and connect our learning activities to our Christmas celebration at school and this totally fit the bill.
Here are the fun and easy steps:
1) I printed off some festive looking number cards and attached them to the pockets of a cheap shoe organizer I bought at Wal-Mart. I made sure to count out how many days until our Christmas party so that we are able to open one pocket for each day leading up until then.  It is a countdown of sorts and another way to teach passage of time, which can be a difficult concept for young kiddos.
2) I found some cool mini-Christmas vocabulary picture cards (great literacy connection), cut them apart, put two or three cards with related ideas in each pocket, and stuffed it with tissue paper so that we can "unwrap" each day's symbol(s). This serves as our focus for learning and will be tied to our projects and activities throughout the month. After the symbol is viewed and discussed, I tape the pictures to the outside of the pocket for the students to continue to enjoy and to help us review.

Found on Teachers Pay
Teachers- Clever Classroom

3) Whenever possible, I made sure to include some sort of hands-on activity or sensory experience that the students could be involved in to make the symbol come to life and become a meaningful part of anticipating our celebration with our families later in the month.
For example, on the day we unwrapped the 'bell'  and 'caroling' card, all the students were given jingle bells to accompany our Christmas songs as we practiced singing.  Then I was able to explain how we were going to be sharing our holiday joy with the community when we go Christmas caroling around town. It's a FABULOUS THING to be able to guide four and five year olds in how to be good citizens that show appreciation for others in a holiday service project! One of our stops will be City Hall and most of my students have never been there before. They had no idea what the purpose of such a place was, so this provides a wonderful opportunity to build background knowledge of city government. We also discuss the  characteristics of a good performer and how to dress for the part. There's almost no end to all of the ways an experience like this helps to educate well-rounded students! Our songs will be shared again with our families in a short program in the classroom as part of our Christmas party.

I'm flooded with excitement and fulfillment to be able to share my favorite holiday as the foundation for some awesome learning experiences for my students. Creativity and Christmas just kind of go hand-in-hand in my book. Whether you are a teacher celebrating with your students, or interested in helping your own little ones expand their horizons of the season, I highly recommend using a Christmas countdown or Advent calendar. Make Christmas count! Just look for a great idea to ADAPT, commit to EXECUTE your plan  as part of your daily routine, and ENJOY the good cheer shared with others in your celebration!

Life With Margins

Ever tried to read a book or article with no margins on the page?  It's overwhelming and confusing.  I'm guessing you've not put a lot of thought into margins. Sure, we take them for granted. But when they're missing, things are a mess.  Those spaces around the edges of the page that are free of text serve an important purpose in making it all readable and organized.


Ever tried to live your life with no margins?  If you're like me (and the rest of the general population in America in 2016), then the answer is probably "yes".  I recently read this extremely impacting excerpt from the book Margin by Dr. Richard Swenson:


"The conditions of modern-day living devour margin...Marginless is being thirty minutes late to the doctor's office because you were twenty minutes late out of the hairdresser's because you were ten minutes late dropping the children off at school because the car ran out of gas two blocks from the gas station-and you forgot your purse.
Margin, on the other hand, is having breath left at the top of the staircase, money left at the end of the month, and sanity left at the end of adolescence.
Marginless is the baby crying and the phone ringing at the same time; margin is Grandma taking the baby for the afternoon.
Marginless is being asked to carry a load five pounds heavier than you can lift; margin is a friend to carry half the burden
Marginless is not having time to finish the book you're reading on stress; margin is having the time to read it twice."


Does this not hit a little too close to home?!  Maybe not every single specific, but the concept of overextension is one we can all identify with. Now, I have tried for a long time to eradicate using the word "busy" as a describing word for my life. I feel like it carries a bad connotation of just doing to be doing. When someone would ask, "How are you?" and my answer was "Really busy!", I discovered I was subconsciously thinking "I'm important because I'm so busy" . Uh-oh. Not good. I'm happy to say that my M.O. for understanding self-worth has changed. I am emphatic about making sure the things that fill my life are meaningful and purposeful in and of themselves, but....


BUT. Leaving room for margins?  That's taking it to the next level.   I have discovered that although I think all of the things in my life have meaning and purpose, I can still find myself in an unhealthy place, dysfunctional, or stressed out, by not allowing room for margins. It would seem simple enough to leave space to absorb the crisis moments, or the unplanned setbacks, or miscalculations of time needed to complete tasks or travel to and fro- but it's not easy.  Society has programmed us to seek significance in our lives by being booked solid. And yet, we know all of those unexpected difficulties are going to arise!  It's life. But while I'm bustling about between work, school, the boys' sports, church events, and family obligations, I end up being perpetually in a hurry with a packed schedule of overlapping appointments and activities. However meaningful and purposeful my intentions were, the jam-packed schedule and frantic nature of getting all of the people to all of the places because it's all so important is suddenly draining my energy and depleting my relationships. In my experience, overloaded and overwhelmed quickly translate to spiritually overdrawn.  It's pretty hard for the soul to find joy when you're drained and depleted.


Enter another quote that has rocked my world. This gem comes from The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith. "Holiness is essentially wholeness- a life that works. Sin is dysfunction or sickness. The number one spiritual sickness of our day is "hurry sickness". We are constantly in a hurry because we have overloaded our schedule. When we lack margin in our lives we become tired and lonely and joyless, which seems to invite temptation. We need margin. Margin restores balance and restores our soul, thus increasing our capacity for joy. Joy is a bulwark against temptation. Margin and holiness are related to one another in very deep ways."


Wow- that just lays it all out there. The reason why we need margins. I see the truth of this so clearly, and that truth is setting me free. I don't have it all figured out, but as I pray and intentionally change my mindset about the precious resource of time and what is truly best for me and my family, I sense God speaking to me about adjustments that need to be made.  Smith also writes, "Remember, God never called anyone to marginlessness. When we lack margin, it is our own doing and is a sure sign we have stepped outside the kingdom. So be honest and be ruthless with your schedule.  Your spiritual, relational, and physical health depend on it."

Being honest with my kids about what is feasible to do in a given day with the commitments that have been made, getting their input on how to make it happen, and/or deciding how to prioritize and how to say "no" are all steps that are being taken in this process. And make no mistake about it- it is still a process!  But it has been very rewarding to begin seeing an appreciation for wholeness over constant pressure to hurry so we can participate in every activity just because it's "a good opportunity" taking root in our family. Nights with no places to go to are an essential part of our lives. Meals together on the weekends to stay connected to one another are a necessity. Going to visit the grandparents for no reason other than quality bonding time instead of racing to the ball field or gym for extra practice is highly valued. Going to bed when there is still work to be done is a virtue... I know my limits...and sleep-deprivation helps nothing! I'll take the capacity to enjoy the best over just trying to squeeze in the good every time.

Can You Feel the Love?

I love learning. I love books. I love kids. So it won't surprise you how much
I LOVE SCHOOL!
And I don't have to look far to see other teachers that share that love. They exist in the very building I teach in every day. The evidence of this love is seen clearly when you notice the lengths they go to in creating an environment that reflects their beliefs and philosophy of education as well as the hopes they have related to their students.
Every year we as teachers have the incredible privilege to impact the lives of kids and their families. Why not make the most of our opportunity to have an inviting classroom that rises up to meet all who enter? Why not do everything in our power to ensure that our students AND their families have a sense of our purpose and intention to make this a successful and enriching year in their educational experience?  It not only seems like a great idea in theory, but it works in reality! Here are just a few examples courtesy of some fellow elementary teachers that have embraced the idea of branding their classroom. They have developed an identity that communicates their values as educators and a climate in which they feel their students can do their best learning. Check it out!

Kindergarten- Mrs. Jones

Second Grade- Mrs. Grant

Third Grade- Mrs. Wrye

Third Grade- Mrs. Kliethermes

One thing that amazes me is how many different ways these educators are able to leverage their resources and creativity for the benefit of their students. It's a double blessing for me. Not only am I able to interact, brainstorm ideas, and problem solve with these inventive colleagues, but, as their students, my own children have been the beneficiaries of their heartfelt desire to provide a quality, meaningful, and memorable year of learning against the backdrop of positive vibes of potential. Can you feel the love? I most definitely can! It is deeply fulfilling to ADAPT your classroom to reflect your values, take some risks to EXECUTE your creativity and ENJOY the rapport you build with your students in the unique setting made just for them.

How Donald and Hillary Are Helping Me Raise My Kids

It's hard to look at this year's presidential candidates and not have some sort of adverse reaction, isn't it? Something just doesn't feel right. This reaction is certainly not for lack of information. I've heard the large list of qualifications touted by those that support each candidate on their respective sides and the arguments against them from the opposition so much I feel like I could quote them in my sleep. On the flip side, I've heard disillusioned men and women talk about how they are so disenfranchised that they have decided not to vote at all this year. It's time to talk politics without being political.  This post is not designed to try to convince you to vote for one candidate over another. Nor is it designed to persuade you to 'just vote' no matter how odious you feel the choices are. Rather, I'm hoping you'll find that national elections that appear to be darned-if-you-do and danged-if-you-don't scenarios, actually afford real teachable moments in parenting our kids. We just have to be open to seeing the opportunity right in front of us.


Let me say this from the start... I personally don't view either the Republican or Democratic nominee as a role model for my kids. (Can I get an 'amen'?!) But can we learn from the history of their lives? Absolutely! When I talk to my boys (ages 16, 12, 10, 8) about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I am honest about the areas of their character that I find are severely lacking. Areas in which I hope that when my sons are grown, they can demonstrate strength rather than weakness. Lest you think that sounds judgemental, let me preface this by saying no one is perfect. We've all done things, said things, or made decisions that we wish we could take back. No one is outside the realm of being forgiven and redeemed. We've all fallen short so we can just stop comparing our wrongs to other people's wrongs and justify ourselves by thinking we're "not that bad". Sin is sin. Trying to make ourselves look better by putting others down accomplishes nothing.


So, where's the teachable moment? It's that moment where we take time to address the issue of how the habits we practice in our daily interactions with others develop a pattern by which the people in our lives- past, present, and future-  determine our trustworthiness.


While driving my kids to school and listening to the radio dj talk about a recent presidential debate, it seemed like the right time to remind them about how all of our decisions have consequences- good or bad. The candidates before us have experienced the reality that each action they have taken, even in privacy, has a corresponding consequence displayed on a platform for all to see. Every single one. When we choose to go against what is morally right and stop listening to our conscience, there's going to be fallout. While we may ask forgiveness when we insult or harm someone, the pain of those words cuts deep and the harm we've inflicted carries emotional scars. When we treat people as objects for our own selfish reasons, we are responsible for their damaged spirits.  And when we mislead, deceive, or lie to someone to cover up our costly mistakes or wrong-doings, and all of it comes to light, we end up alienating people even if we were trying to protect them! Their hurt may be so great, that even if they forgive us, our relationship can suffer irreparable damage. By weaving a web of deceit we destroy the bonds of trust and threads of hope we desire that others would place in us.


Instead of grumbling over our morally and ethically lackluster choices in the presidential race, what if we leaned in on this opportunity to show our kids how very important and powerful their own words are? What if we encouraged them to think long and hard on how to best communicate in a way that builds others up and learn the skill of controlling their tongues? What if we took the daily temptation our kids face to 'look out for number one' as a lesson in how to treat others as equally valuable creations of God rather than using them as the means to our own selfish end? We could leverage this election year as an example of why integrity is an essential virtue if they hope to have strong and lasting relationships throughout their lives, rather than having their motives constantly questioned because of past dishonesty and disrespect. We should strive to instill in them the importance of being a person of moral character so that they don't have to tie themselves in knots over trying to figure out how to appease different groups of people by telling half-truths and lies. We all want to raise happy, well-adjusted kids that make the world a better place, right? If my boys could somehow grasp the concept that their ultimate happiness and self-worth is not in the riches they might gain or in the political power they might exercise, but in the joy of fulfilling their God-given potential to show His love to others and their identity in Jesus Christ, then I have succeeded in my achieving my highest priority as a parent!

Rather than viewing this election cycle as a dismal lose-lose proposition, I view it as an opportunity to guide my family in pursuing character traits that lead to personal peace and satisfaction.  It provides a great example of how much better it would be to have others witness the habit of using our resources and sphere of influence as a force of good rather than leaving a trail of broken relationships, insincerity, disrespect, and doubt in our wake. I'm going to seize the chance I have right now to show how positive choices that come from a spirit of humility CAN and DO make the world a better place. Don't lose heart, my fellow parents! This is our time to prove it to our kids that we really believe it when we say our faith is in God and not in a man or woman. Be released from worry about how this election will turn out. We are in charge of our own personal choices that determine whether we live a life of joy that positively impacts others,  or a life in which we are constantly having to make excuses for our selfish nature and catastrophies of misplaced trust. I hope and pray that we take advantage of all the teachable moments, even when they come about in the most unexpected ways. With God, nothing (not even a Trump vs. Clinton election) is wasted.

Creating Classroom Climate Part 2- Set the Stage with an Open House

Class list is updated- check.
Classroom is decorated- check.
Now it's time to welcome the students and their families with open arms at open house!  This will just be a short little post, but the key things I want to incorporate to set the stage for the year include:


*Providing information about my classroom and expectations so parents feel connected right away
*Introducing students to their new environment and meeting with them to reduce first day anxiety
*Organizing school supplies and registration paperwork




When those things are accomplished, everyone feels more comfortable and ready to embrace the new experience of the upcoming school year.  Here are just a few photos of some ways that I choose to welcome families and utilize branding in a successful open house:

Everyone wants to know where they're going at Open House.
Our school has hanging ceiling signs that are so helpful to
visitors.  I always add a personal touch by my door with my
own sign to welcome them.

Each student gets a cookie from the bakery at their table seat,
because you know, the way to a kid's heart... LOL! I also attach
a little poem that reinforces my brand for my classroom.
There is an information book for each family with my card
listing the different ways they can contact me, if needed.

Folder covers have been personalized using my fabulous downloaded
and editable stationary package from Schoolgirl Style and instructions
printed for all of the paperwork to be completed that night for registration.

Each student sits at a table with a bug mascot marking their
supply bin and name tag just like the other students at their table
 so they know which group they will be in for small group work
on the first day.

Honestly, we know that open house time can be nerve-racking for teachers. I am an introverted person by nature so it takes a great deal of energy and focus for me to be at my best this night. But I look at it this way... FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING. So I go all out. Spend money on the treats.  Painstakingly organize the bins with pictures for new school supplies. Go out of my way to make small talk with perfect strangers. Spell out the expectations and inform about things that make my class unique. I've learned that when I go the extra mile at the beginning of the year to make students and their families feel welcome and informed, there is a greater chance that the rest of the year will go more smoothly than it would if I didn't.  The fact of the matter is people fear the unknown. A new teacher and/or grade in school represent many "unknowns" for students and their families (especially when beginning preschool). So I do as much as I can at this time to take away the fear of the unknown. Fear is the opposite of trust.  Trust has to be in place for this teacher-student-parent connection to work. I will reap great benefits of anything I can do on my part to increase the trust of my students and their families from the get-go. And believe me- families are very appreciative of this.  We are all on the same team...helping kids!!!


I encourage you to set the stage and make it special! I find it very rewarding to ADAPT my classroom to accommodate new students, EXECUTE a welcoming open house, and  ENJOY the relationships that form as a result of putting in the extra effort to connect with my classroom families. May 2016-2017 be a great school year for all of us!