Most all teachers are now on summer break, and it’s natural to want to just let down your hair and relax. And I don’t blame you. That is exactly what you should do. And while you are floating in the pool with a margarita in hand, let your mind wander back to this past school year and do a little reflecting. Here are my tips for effectively digesting the school year.
Summer Reading for Wholehearted Teachers
Ahh summer. It’s a time for us teachers to rejuvenate, reflect, take time off, and just relax!! And it’s almost here!! I know a lot of you are in the last few weeks of your school year, teaching from home in this COVID-19 global pandemic era. Which is why I wanted to send on this little suggested summer reading list now before you peace out for summer.Teaching with Authenticity
A wholehearted teacher knows who she is. She acknowledges her flaws and her strengths. She is kind to herself and uses failures as a sign that she needs to adjust her practice – not that she herself is a failure. She seeks out opportunities for growth, and believes she can make a difference in all of her student’s lives. She understands her power, and embraces it. She doesn’t bring her own areas of inauthenticity or insecurity into work nor does she try to get unmet needs met by her peers, leaders, or students.
This picture represents the ideal – what I call…teaching with authenticity. [Read more…]
Manage Back to School Anxiety
You are on the downward slope of summer and each day you are thinking more and more of the school year ahead. You see school supplies in stores. You are starting to surf Pinterest again for classroom ideas. And you may also be feeling a mix of emotions: excitement, hope, dread, resentment, fear, and insecurity to name a few. You are not alone!! Here are some of the tips I give my teacher clients…
[Read more…]Cultivating a Grateful Heart as a Teacher
There is only one thing that can absolutely stop negativity, stress, overwhelm, insecurity, fear and disconnection dead in their tracks – gratitude. Gratitude is one of the most powerful mindset choices we can make in our day-to-day lives.
That’s why cultivating a grateful heart as a teacher is one of the foundational habits of wholehearted teaching. [Read more…]
Encouraging the Hearts of Students
As teachers, we create the climate in our classrooms. If we are negative, our students will react. If we are positive, our students will react. Students react to the energy we bring and the climate we set. Through our actions as their teacher – the leader of the classroom, we set the tone for learning, encouragement, and mutual respect…or something else.
The day to day pattern of the climate we set becomes the culture of our classroom. We know that the classroom culture can help kids thrive, or tear them down. There is tremendous power in this – and tremendous responsibility. [Read more…]
Can Teachers Really Have Hobbies? +Bonus Recipe
Hobbies seem to be elusive as a teacher. We even joke about our hobby being teaching! So I’m going to answer this question: Can teachers really have hobbies?
While it may be true that having hobbies as a teacher is more difficult than for people with 9-5 jobs, I do believe it is possible to have hobbies as a teacher. Furthermore, I think it’s SUPER important that as teachers we express ourselves through hobbies.
Happy Teachers Create Happy Classrooms
Today I woke up to the greatest gift – a New York Times article about how happy teachers create happy classrooms if we want to give students a chance to understand where true happiness comes from in life! Mind. Blown. I have been thinking, praying, and dreaming about this idea for the past two+ years as I’ve made this coaching practice for teachers a reality. And now it’s validated in the New York freaking Times!!! [Read more…]
The Endless Pursuit of Perfect
Many of us teachers struggle with perfectionism. Turns out – it’s more pervasive than we could ever imagine! Every. single. person. deals with perfectionism on some level. None of us are immune to it. Instead of thinking about perfectionism as “you have it” or “you don’t” – try thinking about it on a continuum. [Read more…]
Trusting your Instinct as a Teacher
Do you ever find yourself writing and rewriting and re-rewriting an email to a colleague, parent, or your principal? Do you question yourself, doubt yourself, or feel unsure? Whether it is an instructional decision, a difficult conversation, or our own feelings – why is it so difficult for us to trust our instincts? [Read more…]