Teacher thought of the day!

Without out a doubt, if I want my kids to boogie, do the Macarena, put effort into reading, or take any kind of risk, I must be willing to do the same thing. They are expecting me to set the example IN ALL THINGS. Go ahead, get down like a child and boogie, play, sweat, learn. This will make you credible and more trusted by your students. It will give them permission to follow suit. I know, sometimes it feels childish. Do it anyway. You will both be rewarded.

Teacher thought of the day!

Make your students ESSENTIAL. Today’s thought goes right back to day 11 when I suggested that you take the time to NOTICE each child. Notice them for something they do well. Once you have found a strength in each child, put that strength to use. Make their strength (them) ESSENTIAL. Create a job or task centered on their strength. Make their valuable skills and strengths the pieces that make your classroom work. Your students strengths will become ESSENTIAL to the success of the class. What a great way to build self-confidence and to let each child know they MATTER!!!!!

Teacher thought of the day!

Your class deserves your best. No matter what you might be personally dealing with, make it a point to pick your class up from recess, lunch, library, P.E, music, or wherever else they may be with a SMILE! They cannot help but smile back, and it sets the tone for comfort and acceptance. Who couldn’t use a smile? After all, they are contagious. Kids ask me the cutest questions all the time and one of my favorite question came one day when I picked my class up from recess. A sweet-faced little boy said, “Mrs. Bolken, why do you always smile at us?” What a delightful thought to have them ponder. Don’t forget to smile. Remember what your mom said? “If you keep making that face, it will stick that way.” GOOD!

Teacher thought of the day!

It is imperative to know you matter. Kids need to know their existence in your class (your life) matters. Some kids are extremely artistic, out-of-the-box thinkers, mathematicians, or fabulous readers. Others have strengths in their kindness, being neat, or remembering… Each child has SOMETHING they are very skilled at. Take the time to FIND that something, and NOTICE THEM for their strengths. Let them know: THEY MATTER.

Teacher thought of the day!

Even in your greatest attempt to keep you classroom or lesson plans organized, things may not go as planned. Things are going to be forgotten. Many projects will be a flop. Kids will not respond the way you anticipated. The weather will be stormy for that outdoor, walking field trip. Your markers will dry up… It isn’t the end of the world. The best-laid plans are often abandon. Try to take things in stride. At the end of each day, look around you. Do you have smiling, happy children! Did you loose anyone? (Hopefully you answered “No” on that question). Don’t get to caught-up in the little details. DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. You will walk away at the end of the day a happier person if you can let some of those details go.

Teacher thought of the day!

The pressures of teaching are definitely on us, but we need to find a way to keep it all in BALANCE. This one is not the easiest for me… I’m sure many of you know… J However, I do know the importance of finding that middle ground. In the blink of an eye…(literally), your young children will be grown, and the demands of teaching will still be there day after day. Take the time to make room for ALL of the important things in life. This is one of my personal challenges.