As I put my final touches on this week's blog, I realize that I have spent too little time with my family during the summer months. It always seems that I have a reason for doing work (whatever that means) when I know that I could put away my phone or Chromebook or iPad when those I love are awake. I just haven't done that enough. So, here's my plan starting this weekend. When it's family time, I will be disconnected from my electronics. I know that I'll need reminders, probably every 10 minutes to start, but now is the time to start a new habit. Some research says it takes days to form a habit. Others say it takes weeks. Regardless of the time frame, I can't create a habit until it's started. So I challenge all of you to either create or further develop your "family habit". They'll thank you and you'll thank yourself.
Calendar
Monday, August 3rd- PTO meeting at 8:45
Tuesday, August 4th- CPI training 9:00-3:00
Wednesday, August 5th- New staff day!
Thursday, August 6th- CPI training 9:00-3:00 (cancelled)
Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."- Walt Disney, cartoonist, film producer, and business magnate
"Self-trust is the first secret of success."- Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, lecturer, and poet
"There is no passion to be found playing small -- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."- Nelson Mandela, political activist and president of South Africa
"In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principles contain it or stand against it."- Jane Smiley, novelist
Three ways of getting student feedback to improve your teaching (from Edutopia)
Danny MacAskill's imaginate (A great video of creativity within a passion- from Swing by Swing)
6 ways to teach growth mindset from day one of school (from @Angela_Watson)
"I've always tried to go a step past wherever people expected me to end up."- Beverly Sills, opera singer
I'm Seventeen (TedTalk by 17 year old Kate Simonds shared by @gcouros)
"I owe my success to having listened respectfully and rather bashfully to the very best advice...and then going away and doing the exact opposite."- G.K. Chesterton, writer
Key and Peele comedy sketch of TeachingCenter (funny, sad, and true sketch about teacher compensation)
"Everyone sits in the prison of his own ideas; he must burst it open."- Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist
Musings on Leadership, Change, and #EdTech (blog by Eric Sheninger- @E_Sheninger)
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president
Goals and passions
As I shared this poster quote, it reminded me of an email I got from Jen back in January. Although we tell our students, and each other, to follow their passions, Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs, responded to a fan's question about following their passion. Please check out this link for the entire response. If you don't have time to read the entire response, at least read his final paragraph.
"That's why I would never advise anyone to 'follow their passion' until I understand who they are, what they want, and why they want it. Even then, I'd be cautious. Passion is too important to be without, but too fickle to be guided by. Which is why I'm more inclinded to say, 'Don't Follow Your Passion, But Always Bring it With You."
I share this with you as we are only a month away from returning to school. We'll have hundreds of students joining us, ready to share and pursue their passions and goals. In my opinion, we don't spend enough time finding out what our students are passionate about. For crying out loud, sometimes we don't even know our own passions. Take the time to learn about the passions of those you come into contact with so that you can know them better. Don't squash their passions, or your own passions, but, as Mike Rowe said, bring your passions with you.Have a great weekend!
Jay
Great reminders, Jay - thanks for posting!
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