Monday, December 31, 2018

Listen- #oneword2019

After seeing so many of my PLN choose and share their #oneword2019 the last few days, I thought that I needed to come up with my own.  After thinking about many words (family, serve, and learn were under careful consideration), I chose "Listen".


I chose "Listen" for a number of reasons.  I realized that I need to listen more to my family, my friends, my colleagues, and my PLN.  I need to listen to what people are saying and not just hear what people are saying.  Coach Bob Knight once said, "Everybody hears, but few listen."  Whether you agree with how Coach Knight coached his teams or players, the wisdom in this quote has stuck with me for a very long time.  And when I think about the other words that were in serious consideration, listen really fits with all of them.

I need to listen more when I'm with my family.  I'm sure that when my wife and daughter read this, they'll laugh and agree wholeheartedly.  They might even say that I'm like Aunt Bethany in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

"What's that sound?  You hear it?  It's a funny squeaky sound."
Aunt Bethany, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Sometimes I ask questions and when the answer is provided, I'm either not listening or not paying attention.  I need to listen more carefully, not just to the words but also to the tone.  The words are important, but it's more important to listen to the tone in how the words are shared.  I'm sure that my wife and daughter will remind me of my #oneword2019 when I fail to really listen.

There is another family that I need to listen to, my school family.  I need to listen more for understanding.  Setting down my phone and closing my Chromebook during conversations has been a focus in 2018, but I need to be better with putting away my technology.  I'm sure that my school family will remind me of my #oneword during 2019.

If I really remember to listen, I'll be better able to serve those I live with, work with, and learn with.  Listening will help me better understand what I need to do to serve others.  I have had the good fortune of learning from so many who served others- my mother and father, my wife, Pastor Wilch (my pastor for 30 years), Mr. Arnold (my high school principal who also served on our church council), and Mark Flynn (the superintendent that hired me as principal and later went on to serve an orphanage in South Sudan).  The list could go on and on, I promise you.  And because of these servant leaders, I do my best to serve others.  But you can't serve others unless you listen to what people say.  If you really listen, you can learn what others need you to do for them.

Finally, if I remember to listen, I will learn from others.  While writing this blog, I did a Google search for quotes involving learning and listening.  This quote by Doug Larson really caught my attention.


I must admit, when I'm in conversations, I'm almost always thinking of a response instead of listening to understand.  When I'm with others, I need to concentrate more on my listening.  I would say that listening doesn't just happen in conversations.  It can also happen when reading a book or reading a post on social media.  I say this because reading what others have written can be like a conversation.  Many times after reading something, I've learned what I need to do next to take my school or leadership to another level.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about my #oneword2019.  I promise to listen.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Disconnect to reconnect

Disconnect.
Unplug.
Put down your phone.
Be in the moment.
Reconnect.
Please make sure to take time for yourself, your family, and your friends.  We have all worked very hard and deserve a break.  I'll see you all again on Wednesday, January 2nd!

Great things I saw this week...
Lots of learning going on (Note the quote from Mary in the Principals' presentation to the board.).
Lots of red and green on Monday.
Our surprise gathering for Colleen.
Great discussion at our BLT meeting.
I got an email from an 8th grade student after sending out a request to all of you to have students check in on me.  The idea was from this blog from my friend Danny Steele.  The email to parents was even better!
Did you see the ugly sweaters on Tuesday?
Thanks to Colleen for covering Homework Club on Tuesday.
The floral arrangement at Steve's funeral.  Thank you!
The learning in classrooms on Thursday.  Keep them engaged and our kids do amazing things!
There are three students who are consistently checking in on me after I shared Danny Steele's blog with you.  The check ins inspired me to write this blog- Perfect Timing.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Saturday, December 22nd-Tuesday, January 1st
No School- Winter Break

Wednesday, January 2nd
Back to school!

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
(from Bored Teachers)

Are We Trapping Kids in the Middle Seat? (from Dave Burgess)

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
T.S. Eliot,
poet
(from George Couros)

“You will always be too much of something for someone: Too BIG, too SOFT, too LOUD, too EDGY. If you round out all your edges, you lose your edge. Apologize for unintentionally hurting someone, profusely, but never apologize for being who you are.”-Danielle Laporte
(from Bored Teachers)

The talent works, the genius creates.
Robert Schumann,
composer


For me there are no answers, only questions, and I am grateful that the questions go on and on.
Pamela Lyndon Travers,
writer

Say Less, Heard More (from George Couros)

mertonint on Instagram
Principals' Presentation to the School Board 12.17.18
Family smore from 12.21.18

Thanks for a great week.  I hope that you have a wonderful, relaxing Winter Break spent with family and friends.
See you next year!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Perfect timing

If you're not an avid reader of Danny Steele's tweets and blogs (@SteeleThoughts and Steele Thoughts), maybe this will encourage you to consider making Danny's thoughts a daily part of your learning and connecting.  Danny's most recent blog, "Will You Check On Me?", was written at a perfect time for me.  It's the last week before Winter Break and, more importantly, my brother in law's funeral is today.  Before you read any more of my blog, please read what Danny wrote.  It's linked above.

So here's my story that happened because I read Danny's blog Sunday morning.  After reading his blog, I sent this email to our staff.

Good morning, Merton family.  If you could do me a favor and read this blog from my friend, Danny Steel, I would appreciate it.  But that's not what I need your help with.  I need your help with the names of a student from your classes who can check in on me this week.
Just put their name on a piece of paper and put it in my mailbox.  Maybe you could pick a student or two to check in on you, too.
See you all tomorrow!

Some of the staff reached out right away, sending me names of students via email or placing the names in my mailbox or on my desk on Monday morning.  Throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday, those students stopped me in the hallway or in the cafeteria or on the playground and asked me how I was doing.  Each interaction was special, but the most special connection was from an 8th grader who sent me this email.

Hey, Mr. Posick,
I hope you had a good rest of your day today.  Mrs. Frei told me about what happened and I am sorry for your loss.  Just wanted to drop in and see how you are doing.

What a great surprise!  And as luck would have it, this young man was the first student I ran into on Tuesday morning.  We shared a quick conversation and a fist bump, something I won't soon forget.  But that's not all.  Tuesday night I received this email from the same student.

Hello Mr. Posick,
How are you?  I hope you had an amazing rest of your day.  By the way, I really liked the Christmas sweater you had on today.  Just wanted to drop in and see how you are doing.

Just so you understand how nice this young man is, here is a picture of me wearing the Christmas sweater.
(I'm the one on the left, and yes, that's a Lego bowtie!)

On Tuesday morning, I decided to send the young man's parents this email.

Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. "E____".  I just wanted to reach out to tell you something awesome that "J_____" did for me yesterday.  But there is a back story I must share first.
I sent out an email to staff asking for a favor.  The idea came from this blog post, "Will You Check On Me?" from my friend Danny Steele, a principal in Alabama.  Ms. Frei shared a story with the class about the recent passing of my brother in law from brain cancer.  Jacob said he would check on me, and it shouldn't surprise you that Jacob had been checking up on Ms. Frei during her battle with cancer these last few months.  So that's the back story.  Here is the email that Jacob sent me yesterday, and it came at just the right time.
(I included the email to the parents so that they could read it.)
I responded and I am looking forward to connecting with him in person later today.
I hope that this brings a little light to your day.
Happy Tuesday!

The power of a blog post, social media, and the kindness of an 8th grade student are amazing.
It was perfect timing.
Thanks, Danny!

Friday, December 14, 2018

Impact

You make an impact every day.  The thing is, the impact can be good or bad, and sometimes we don't know until much later.  Heidi shared something with me Tuesday morning that to me wasn't a big deal, but to Cameron, her son, it was.  This year I'm outside for student pickup in our parking lot nearly every day, playing music out of my JammyPack, stopping traffic (either because of my bright yellow jacket or my elf hat, you decide), waving, smiling, and wishing everyone a great afternoon.  Cameron stopped by yesterday and as he walked across the parking lot, I greeted him, took off my glove, and shook his hand.  No big deal, right?  Well, Heidi spoke to me Tuesday morning and told me how impressed Cameron was that I took off my glove to shake his hand.  And Heidi thanked me for that.  It's just a little thing that made an impact on a great young man.  Sometimes the things that we take for granted and do without thinking are the things that can have the greatest impact.

Great things I saw this week...
Our custodial staff getting everything ready for our holiday concerts.
Stress relieving activities in health.
Kids really engaged in read alouds.
Students sharing their math test scores, with smiles!
Listening to students discussing political cartoons in Social Studies.
Students talking through examples in math, struggling and supporting one another.
Ask Brian K. about Wisconsin Math Hoops. The kids are so excited!
Students nervously preparing for their concerts.
The band and choir concerts were amazing!
The sing along at the assembly on Wednesday.
The PTO decorating the teachers' lounge
7th and 8th grade basketball tryouts
The excitement of the students trying out for Mary Poppins Jr.
3 on 3 lunchtime basketball tournament

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, December 17th
Holiday Spirit Week- Merry Red and Green Day
BLT meeting 4:15
School board meeting 7:00

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)
PTO brunch and wrap
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday Hat Day

Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week- Flannel and Fuzzy Socks Day

Friday, December 21st
Holiday Spirit Week- Polar Express Pajama Day
Raffle! (You'll get a ticket every day that you participate in our dress up days!)

Saturday, December 22nd-Tuesday, January 1st
No School- Winter Break

Wednesday, January 2nd
Back to school!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Tomorrow is the most important thing. ... It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.
John Wayne,
actor

Arrogance Leads to Irrelevance (from George Couros)

The sea and wind can at the same time convey my neighbor's vessel and my own.
Jean-Baptiste Say,
economist

Growth Mindset: Learning Like A Skater (and failing like one too)
(from AJ Juliani)


Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit (from Matt Miller and Dave Burgess. A great chance for professional development on your own time.)

(from @woodard_julie)

Have you ever wanted to connect your classroom with another classroom?  Check out empatico.org for some opportunities. (suggestion given me during #satchat this weekend)


Are You in Your Own Way? (from Tom Murray)


The Importance of Seeing Amazing Everyday (from Brian Seguin)

All rules for study are summed up in this one: Learn only in order to create.
Friedrich Schelling,
philosopher

Things That Teacher Say (video from Bored Teachers)

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 12.14.18

Don't forget about spirit week!  Here are the dress up days!
Have a great weekend!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of yourself.  Take care of each other- John Gunnell

Friday, December 7, 2018

The grass is always greener, or is it?

I've been reflecting upon my life as an educator recently, having spent more than half of my life in education.  I've been an educator nearly 32 years, 29 of those as a middle school educator.  Some would say that is quite an accomplishment.  Others would say that's a bit crazy.  An accomplishment because I've been an educator for so long and crazy because I've been in middle school that long.  I wouldn't change my middle school educator life for anything.
I had the privilege of attending and presenting at SLATE this week.  Check out the hashtag, #slateinwi, from the 3 days of learning.  I got the chance to speak with a lot of people, and even had a 5 minute conversation with George Couros all by myself!  He even remembered my name, but I was wearing a name badge so maybe he's just a really good reader.  Anyway, the conversations I had brought this quote to mind.  It's another quote that Jen found for me.


I listened to stories from people, mostly from Wisconsin, about their schools and the people with whom they work.  I heard some great things, and some not so great things, about their schools and colleagues.  So I sat back and smiled, realizing the great opportunity that I have in Merton to serve as your principal.  I'm not saying that it's all rainbows and unicorns, but we are fortunate to work together for our students every day.  I am honored, humbled, and proud to work with and for you every day.

Great things I saw this week...
Basketball tourney during lunch.
Lots of reading and writing.
Lexi doing a great job student teaching in Spanish.
I got back from SLATE, and the learning I saw was amazing!
The support of Barb, Michael, Dave, Holly, and Dan covering lunch duties, and Holly and Jeannette taking over Homework Club while I was gone.
The chance to connect with a student to tell him how proud I was of him after I read a great email Joanne sent to his family.
Smiles on the faces of students and staff when they returned from The Christmas Carol.
The smiles brought about by my incredible vest.
(In case you missed, or need a picture for blackmail, here it is!)

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, December 10th- Friday, December 14th
NJHS Penny Wars

Tuesday, December 11th
Dress up for the Holiday Concerts
Holiday Concerts (Band-5:30, Choir-7:00)

Wednesday, December 12th
WIN Wednesday

Thursday, December 13th
Lunch on Jay and Jen

Friday, December 14th
Packers gear (It's Bears week!)

Monday, December 17th
Holiday Spirit Week- Merry Red and Green Day

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)
PTO brunch and wrap
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday Hat Day

Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week- Flannel and Fuzzy Socks Day

Friday, December 21st
Holiday Spirit Week- Polar Express Pajama Day
Raffle! (You'll get a ticket every day that you participate in our dress up days!)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Focus on the Now (from Annie Pankowski, Wisconsin Womens' Hockey player)


Reclaiming our Calling; the new book from Brad Gustafson (from George Couros. Make sure to check out the "Big 3" table below from the book.)


Check out this website shared with me at SLATE (Academy of Achievement). It just might spark something in one of our kids.

EdCampElmbrook is March 2nd.  You can register here.

Doing Our Best with the Knowledge We Have (from George Couros)

Ike Ant (from Jeff Kubiak)

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 12.7.18

Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself- John Gunnell