Category: Climate

Follow the Orange Sprinkled Road…

A few days ago, after what can be described as a “not so typical day at school,” I was in my office laughing and talking with a few team members. We were digesting the day, not dwelling on the events that had happened, and certainly not complaining. We were rebooting and preparing ourselves for tomorrow, the day that followed the “not so typical day.” After a few laughs, we realized that the “woes of the day” were a fleeting memory in our past. When you are committed to following the Orange Sprinkled Road, you know how to skip!

As a school family, we have recently completed a 21-Day Orange Challenge. The students, teachers, staff, and I have collected every orange sprinkle that came our way! As a school family, we collected 2, 910 orange sprinkles! I am certain that there are some sprinkles that lingered in the air, but 2,910 orange sprinkles represent a lot of HAPPINESS! The written messages are so heartwarming that I read them for pure pleasure. The kids wrote about their peers helping them understand difficult assignments, their teachers noticing new gym shoes, peers lending school supplies, and my morning visits to their classrooms. The younger kids drew pictures of their sprinkles of happiness. There are drawings of kids sharing toys with peers, dreaming of superheroes, reading books, and spending time with their families! Each time I read a happy note, I received an “awe” feeling. It was truly rejuvenating! Throughout the day, I continued to share what the kids had written or drawn.

We know the story of Dorothy and the yellow bricked road; now take a journey on the Orange Sprinkled Road! Look for sprinkles of happiness each day! Savor moments that make you smile and laugh! Enjoy times with family and friends.  DO something that makes you happy because YOU deserve to be HAPPY! Research indicates that happy people have less stress than people who live on Negative Boulevard.  Research further indicates that happy people are more determined, creative, and goal-oriented than those who reside on Negative Boulevard. I am following the Orange Sprinkled Road to Positive Drive. I hope you are my neighbor.

Sprinkles!!!

The Orange Challenge

Most likely, you’ve heard the saying, “Happiness is an inside job!” Well now, I truly understand that HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE JOB! That as living beings, we can funnel our “happy thoughts.” I am sure that you know someone who is ALWAYS happy, no matter what is happening in the world around THAT person, he or she is always HAPPY! Your special person may be a spouse, close friend, sibling, or child. My happy person gets up every morning singing and constantly reminds me that my cup is half-filled as opposed to half-empty. He reminds me that something is always “happening” and will continue to happen; just keep moving! Count your blessings! I once asked him, “Why are you always so happy?” His responses, “I think about things that make me happy. I choose to be around people that are positive. I do things that make me happy. I avoid negativity because it brings me down. I stay humble.” At that time, I had no idea that I was living with a walking, breathing scientific specimen! That his remedies for being happy were grounded in research on positive psychology.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to attend the Happiness Advantage workshop. Before attending, I was required to read a parable about a community of frogs. The frogs, like people, possessed varying skillsets and personalities. The main character, Spark, was not a typical frog; he was orange, humble, and kind. Throughout the parable, he utilized his skills to motivate and to help others. He never questioned why he was orange and once he befriended someone, his new friend would also become orange. Before the parable ends, there’s lots of orange frogs living blissfully in Utopia! Needless the say, I enjoyed the workshop and have been sprinkling orange daily! If you ever can attend the workshop, I recommend it 100%! I must be honest, while I loved the message received during the workshop, I really didn’t understand the power of positive psychology until reading The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. I’ve purchased the book for my leadership team with the hope that they too, will become accustomed to looking for sprinkles of orange. In a quick, easy read, the author reveals the 7 principles of happiness and the numerous benefits of being HAPPY! The simplest principle is merely to look for opportunities of happiness. In short, if you want to be happy, you must train your brain to focus on positive things! So, my school family and I are currently on a safari to find sprinkles of orange! We are amid a 21-Day Happiness Challenge!

Before embarking on the citrus safari, each class was given an orange bin in which to collect their sprinkles of orange. To commend their efforts, I’ve purchased a slew of orange prizes that I am sure the kids will love. In just a few weeks, several classrooms will have orange accents to brighten their homes away from home. In the classrooms where the challenge has been embraced as a motivator of success, creativity, and positive mindset, an educator’s dream team, the kids are overjoyed to share their happy thoughts. Each morning, when I visit classrooms, the kids are saying, ” Look, we got more!” Many of the classes have collected more than 200 sprinkles. I am happy to see the kids excited and thrilled that many teachers have embraced the 21-Day Happiness Challenge! More importantly, I am confident that those who have learned to funnel happiness are on the road to success! With each sprinkle of orange, we are closer to a blue ribbon! While orange may not be your favorite color, I am sure that being happy will brighten your day and lessen your load.  In a world where you can be anything, BE HAPPY! Orange sprinkles to you and yours!

Experience is a Great Teacher!

They say experience is a great teacher, so I am sharing my experience with the hope of inspiring a GREAT TEACHER. It has been some years since I have been “assigned” as a classroom teacher, but my memories are clear and dear. Those of us who find teaching to be a passion instead of a job will have many stories to share. Some stories will be memorable because we have made authentic connections with kids. Other stories will be celebrations because we beat the odds when others predicted failure. My folklore is a memorable celebration.

Imagine, it’s mid-August and you stumble upon an opportunity to interview for a teaching position. Envision that you attend an interview and when you return home, there’s a message on the answering machine indicating that you sealed the deal! Well, that’s my story! Being the young, naive, enthusiastic teacher that I was, I had no concept of who may sit in the chairs of that 5th grade classroom that was waiting for adoption. I had no notion of the seemingly worthy advice that I would receive from those who had experienced the wrath of those notorious 10-year old’s! If you haven’t figured it out yet…it was THAT CLASS! Yes, THAT CLASS! You know the class, the class that everyone talks about BEFORE the first day of school! The class that every experienced teacher thinks he or she could manage, if ONLY given the opportunity! Rest assured, when the opportunity presented itself, there was no experienced teacher waiting to adopt this class. As a matter fact, as my hiring status spread throughout the school like a wildfire, the “birth mom” meandered to my classroom to introduced herself. Birth mom was an experienced teacher who was nesting in third grade. She was quick to share why she had decided to put her darlings up for adoption. In what was supposed to be a “welcome to the building greeting”, “birth mom” spent most of the time talking about the “bad boys” and detailing every negative event that had occurred during the previous school year. The “welcome to the building greeting” concluded with her offering advice, that even a naive enthusiastic teacher, knew not to follow.

The first 2 weeks of school were calm. By week 3, the honeymoon was over! The boys, 4 to be exact, had established their positions and were ready for war. I won’t detail the events that occurred. I will say that there were numerous parent calls, daily conferences with the social worker, several visits from the principal, and even some crisis management from the police. Every evening, I left thinking of a new strategic plan. I was moving desks like a genie and giving stickers like they were candy! I was so strict, that I felt like I was in a straitjacket! I was constantly receiving advice from experienced teachers who literally gawked at my class as we walked through the halls. I was focusing so much attention on managing those 4 boys that I hadn’t gotten to know the other twenty-five kids. At the end of an exhausting week, my mother-in-law asked if I was going back. I responded “yes” but knew that I couldn’t continue to battle with the “Magnificent 4!”

The following Monday, I was resolved to make the classroom a welcoming environment for ALL my kids. I changed their desks arrangement to collaborative groups instead of rows. We had a class meeting and established classroom expectations. The kids told me about their interest, and we were off to a new start. I divided the “Magnificent 4” and considered each as an “Awesome 1.” I wrote positive notes to the kids praising their accomplishments and gave personal invitations to lunchtime ice-cream socials. Day by day, the classroom climate changed but the captain of the “Magnificent 4” was still at war with me. One day, when students were lining up, he decided that it was time for the final duel! Believe it or not, it was 1 of the “Magnificent 4” who told the captain that he was making a bad choice. I remember the student saying, “I don’t think she’s going to play with you.” The captain and I had a brief staring contest until he lowered his eyes. I am not certain why the student intervened, but I do know that when an experienced teacher was tongue bashing the student for doing what I had asked him to do, I had been quick to intercede. By November, the captain was removed from the classroom and placed in an alternative placement. The “Magnificent 4” no longer existed, there were only “Awesome 1s!”

This is my memorable celebration! I have seen 2 of the “Magnificent 4”; they are young men with great accomplishments! I’ve even run into a few students who weren’t part of the “Magnificent 4”, they still remember me and the fun we had that year.

Lessons learned and shared:

  • Every kid deserves a fresh start.
  • Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!
  • Don’t listen to old war stories.
  • Every kid needs a champion.
  • Write YOUR OWN STORY!

Don’t Forget about Karen!

Believe it or not, I’ve been up since 4:00 a.m. and I am still on summer vacation! I’ve checked my work email, browsed on Amazon.com, done some leisurely reading, and now, I am writing a blog! No, I haven’t had coffee! As a matter of fact, I haven’t had a cup of coffee the entire summer. A Mocha Frappe here and there doesn’t count! I am occupying myself until the sun officially peeks through the clouds so that I can complete my brisk 4-mile walk. Yes, I am still in hot pursuit of my sunshine!

One task on my summer to do list, was to re-pot or transplant my plants. Note, the verb “was”; my plants have been re-potted and are ready for their return to school. I re-pot them every so often, transplanting allows their roots to spread, thus allowing the plants to grow tall and strong. My plants have names: Karen, Derrick, Susan, and the new guy, Frederick. Karen, Derrick, and Susan occupy a cozy window in my office where they soak up the sun and office vibes. Frederick is a succulent; he sits on an accent table opposite my desk. Frederick had a growth spurt during the summer, he now looks like a miniature tree! Now he is tall and slender; not quite as handsome as short stocky Frederick. I also have an orchid and a Chinese bamboo plant; one I received from a parent, the other from a student. The orchid’s name is Violet, her petals are a deep purple. The Chinese bamboo plant is named Mr. Wisdom, his planter is a wise owl. All my plants really thrive at school and that’s a wonderful thing. All living entities should thrive at school!

While transplanting plants are in the plants best interest, one of my darlings didn’t like her rehabbed home. After her re-potting, Karen was sad and droopy for a few days. As a matter of fact, I thought she was a goner! She was wimpy and limp for 2 days! On the third day, she started to perk up and I knew she was adjusting to her bed of special formulated soil. I didn’t need to investigate the justification for Karen’s limp leaves; I had read several articles that focused on her ailment while completing research for my dissertation. Karen was simply going through the transitional period of adapting to a new change. For Derrick and Susan, the change had been an easy adjustment. Karen, on the other hand, had struggled. Maybe she enjoyed the comfort of compact soil. Maybe she failed to realize that her leaves were curling and turning yellow. Obviously, she hadn’t realized that her demise was near if she wasn’t re-potted. She needed me to take the time to re-pot her.  She needed me to stand vigilant while her roots adjusted to the new soil.

As an educational leader, I am constantly looking for the precise formula that will ensure that my kids are receiving the best instruction possible. Instructional practices are often redefined because the needs of kids are constantly changing. Change is easy for some and harder for others. As my team of committed teachers moves forward, I will have to remind myself that some of my teachers will be like Derrick and Susan, and some will be like Karen. It’s all part of the process!

Where’s the Net?

Ed and I recently returned from his family reunion, an event that was on the brinks of being cancelled. Our 4-day getaway to the Gulf was shorten to 3 days and a portion of our family mingling-time was spent monitoring the unpredictable path of Hurricane Barry. Our plane had safely landed in New Orleans on Thursday but our return flight on Monday was skeptical. Weather forecasts portrayed Barry as being horrific; his massive force likened to Hurricane Katrina! On every weather channel, viewers saw a weather reporter either pointing to a colorful map or standing in boot high water battling with the wind. After a day of experiencing Mother Nature’s rage, we opted to leave the Gulf a day earlier than originally planned.

Confident that our path home had been secured, we hopped in a rental car and headed to Kessler Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi for the family reunion festivities! We spent several hours laughing with relatives we hadn’t seen in years, partaking of scrumptious meals, listening to music, and playing games. On the last day of the festivities, Tony, President of the Wash/Jones Family Reunion Committee, called for a family meeting. The objective was to select a host and a hosting city for the next family reunion. As one might expect, securing a volunteer for the monumental task required some persuading. Generally, people are hesitant to journey into the dark unknown.

While enticing someone to grasp the family reunion torch, Tony spoke of family traditions and the importance of being connected to family and friends. He simplified the process of hosting a family reunion by detailing his organizational skills and giving accolades to those who had helped to plan this year’s celebration. As he continued to lure a future host, he spoke of psychological security. He mentioned that he ensures psychological security at work when collaborating with his leadership team. He emphasized that there is no right or wrong way to plan a family reunion. He stated that the greatest task would be getting started and added, “once you get started, others will pitch in.” He mentioned that several family members had hidden talents and those skills would be an asset to the future host. As he continued to talk, a brave soul assumed the torch for the 2020-21 Wash/Jones Family Reunion. While listening, I reflected on the impact of psychological security in the school environment. I wondered if some teachers were resistant to implementing new strategies and thinking outside of the box because psychological security had not been established. My second thought… How could I advance psychological security in my school?

Psychological security ensures that individuals feel emotionally safe when venturing into the unknown. Psychological security in the workplace is like a safety net to a trapeze artist. The net assures that if the acrobat falls, he or she will recover, grip the horizontal bar, and swing again! It is a welcomed layer of protection! With his mere words, Tony had ensured psychological security.  A brave soul had seized the family reunion torch. As a school leader, I must inspire confidence in my teachers. I want them to be innovative and passionate about teaching. I want them to venture into the dark unknown!

Oh No…Not My 10Se!

Here’s the disclaimer: ” I am not a loon, but I do find teachable moments in the oddest of circumstances!” Today’s blog is inspired by a personal mishap that could have turned into a major pitfall if I hadn’t weighted my options before reacting. The incident isn’t fatal.  As is with most unplanned occurrences, first impacts may appear devastating.

As the title indicates, I have a new cellphone. Mind you, I am not a cellphone stalker waiting for the latest trending cellphone to hit the market. In fact, this is the first time that I have purchased a cellphone that is currently featured in a major marketing campaign. I typically keep my cellphones until they retire themselves! Such is the case that caused my recent purchase. While visiting the store of my cellphone service provider, I was amazed with the upgrades to these handheld minicomputers. I was equally flabbergasted by their prices! As timing would have it, my provider was marketing a BOGO deal. I left with 2 cellphones, 1 wireless charging dock, 1 black phone case, 1 glittery phone case, and 2 screen protectors. I was pleased with my purchase and received several compliments stemming from the upgrade.

Now, let’s fast forward, 3 weeks after the purchase. I was driving with my cellphone lying in my lap. Unexpectedly, my S10e, in its glittery case, slid off my lap and landed between the driver’s seat and console. The minicomputer was retrieved; all functions worked as expected. My rapid heart palpitations started the next evening at exactly 5:50 p.m.  I noticed 2 major fault lines on the screen of my prized acquisition! Of course, I did the usual. I held the phone to the light and imagined that I was seeing a glare. Next, I wiped the screen with the softest cloth and slowly ran my finger over the fault lines. Reality quickly settled, the unmentionable had happened, my S10e had suffered a severe injury! My reaction was to quickly solve the problem. I searched the internet to find someone qualified to perform surgery on my S10e! I was dismayed when my first called ended with, “Sorry, we are not fixing that phone yet!”  I continued to hound the internet until I found a cellphone repair guru who promised to replace the screen for $199.00.  At 10:00 a.m. the following morning, I was at the guru’s shop. I had digested that I would have to forgo a couple pairs of new sandals in lieu of repairing my cellphone. I was so thrilled to find someone who could repair my S10e that seeing a sign that read, ” Cash Only! Sorry, our internet is down.”, didn’t faze me. I handed my cellphone over to the only person who could perform the delicate surgery. I quickly described the incident that caused the fatal injury and asked if the screen could be replaced. After a few sighs and grunts, the cellphone surgeon said, “You don’t need a screen. You need a new screen protector.” I asked him to remove the screen protector. He was correct! My cellphone screen was in perfect condition! I was thrilled! My first response was, “Thank you!” My second response was, “This is a good day!” He smiled and recommended that I purchase a new screen protector.

So, here’s the epiphany! Sometimes as educators, we think and feel that things are downhill. We lean more towards the negative than the positive, and we spend too much time contemplating things beyond our control. Then suddenly a strong gust of wind propels us to the top of the mountain. While standing on the mountain’s peak, we proclaim, “Today is a Great Day!” As educators, we must build relationships with our kids, celebrate our successes, and always give 100 % of ourselves.

With the opportunity to impact the lives of children; Every Day is a Great Day!

YOU are a Marigold!!

Today is the first weekend that my kids have been officially out of school. When I say “kids”, I am referring to my McCord kids. My son is well beyond elementary school age. I’ve reflected on the school year and personally, I believe that it went well. There are, of course, some things that need tweaking, but overall, awesome things happened! I associate well with having more positives than negatives. So, I am going to rephrase the previous statement…The school year was AWESOME!

I had the opportunity to meet and work with some amazing people. Their smiles, calm demeanor, and laughter made the school year pass quickly. Their objectivity and willingness to try new things ensured that our kids advanced academically. Their support and commitment guaranteed that our kids had many memorable experiences throughout the school year. Our PFC fulfilled its commitments, even when the going was rough. It’s quite a task to be a mom, work a full-time job, and then organize gala events for 300 or more. My kids, our Masterpieces, were my delight! I enjoyed getting to know the kids, working with them during Academic Block, and planning events that made them feel special. There’s nothing negative that I will take to heart about a single kid. Some make you laugh when they enter the room and some are more challenging than others, but they are just kids! They are “unique little people” who are developing cognitively, physically, and emotionally. Some kids need more guidance, and some need more attention. After all, if they were perfect, knew everything, and made good decisions all the time, they wouldn’t need us. I met wonderful parents and grandparents that were delighted to see their kids and grandchildren happy and enjoying school. I was grateful to have their support and delighted to see their smiles at our Masterpiece Ceremonies.

This is a “thank you” to the Marigolds that made this an AWESOME year for our MASTERPIECES! Enjoy the summer, you DESERVE IT!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

I know that most of my committed followers are most likely asleep, but I know for sure that there’s one who is wide-eyed and waiting for the next post. I have affectionately named her my “Blog Stalker.” My “Blog Stalker” is my personal cheerleader. When I say “go” she has already “gone.” Sometimes, she tells me things that I don’t want to hear. Sometimes, I tell her things that she doesn’t want to hear. When the words have ceased, we give each other a half smile and say, “You’re Right!” We are both Aries, which make us a dueling pair! This blog isn’t specifically about her, but her ghost is lurking around. This blog is specifically written about our school’s secretary and instructional aide; let’s call them Ms. L and Ms. J. I am telling “their” story because they deserve “orange frogs!”

The quote, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!” was coined by John C. Maxwell. The complete quote includes, “You Need a Team to make the Dream Work!” I know that teamwork happens every day in education, there is absolutely no way that we could survive without it. I also know that we sometimes forget to give “orange frogs” to those who make the dream work.

Today was an awesome day at McCord School! Yes, I am using our school’s name. I am wearing my “role model hat” because I have consistently said to my teachers, “Tell your Own Story!” Back to the blog at hand; that’s a blog for a different day!  Today was an awesome day because we had a special event planned for our kids. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as we had planned. As I made my morning rounds, shared comments indicated that I was not the only disappointed person in the school! A whimsical comment shared by a teacher got my wheels turning; PLAN B was hatched. As Maxwell proclaimed, “You Need a Team to Make the Dream Work!” Well, Ms. L and Ms. J Made  the Dream Work! In less than an hour we had a school-wide activity planned! In 2 hours, we had games, prizes, and balloons! After lunch, our kids were playing hockey in the corridors! I saw a few teachers swinging hockey sticks. I got in on the fun too! It was a great afternoon; our kids were happy!

Hooves Up to Ms. L and Ms. J! Thanks for Making the Dream Work!

My Bouquet of Flowers

I like flowers, all kinds. I like flowers because they come in vibrant colors and add pop to any decor. I like to arrange them so that they look perfect, balanced, and complimentary. Each spring, I line the path of my walkway with an array of deep purple petunias. I accent two large Grecian urns perched at the entrance to my home with a brilliant hue of purple flowers. Some flowers are lavender, some are violet, and some have a tinge of pink. I add greenery that hangs beyond the lips of the urns and spikes in the middle, to add height. I care for my planters daily, ensuring that they are watered and removing frail foliage. When the newly planted flowers are comfortable in their soil beds, I give them a sampling of phosphorous and potassium to ensure that their soil beds are nourishing to maximize blooming. On extremely hot days, I often move the planters to avoid beams from the west sun. As I enter my driveway, I catch a glimpse of the urns.   I smile, they accent my home perfectly.

I have a stunning bouquet of flowers at school. My kids, teachers, and staff form a radiant bouquet of happiness and success; they accent our school perfectly!

My kids are typical kids; they love to talk and play. They are unique individuals filled with wonder and curiosity.  Their blunt comments fill our hearts with laughter.  I still hear the jubilant voice of an animated kindergartner who exclaimed, “You’re old!” while his teacher read a story about a dying tree.     My kids have distinct ways of letting us know that we are special too! Their pre-adolescent drawings, sentimental writings, and personal stories indicate that we have positively impacted their lives.  There’s nothing like receiving a note proclaiming, “You’re the Best!” written in a child’s handwriting. Whether you are a “green or red apple,” you are sure to smile!  

My teachers are confident, talented, risk-takers. They have different personalities; some of them sing for no reason at all, some of them make silly jokes, and some of them tell stories of the past while encouraging others to embrace the future. They have varying levels of experience and different skillsets, but they share the love of teaching!  They are “doers!”  They embrace change as the means to moving our kids forward! They are “explorers!”  They are expanding their skillsets so that our kids are receiving enriching instruction.

My staff is efficient, thorough, and awesome. They set the tone for the day and close the day with a smile! They are “polishers”; they make everything shine!  They are the delicate “baby’s breath” that accents our assortment of vibrant flowers.  They ensure that our bouquet is ready for display.  They distinguish us from the $19.99 bouquet and ensure that we are the $219.99 arrangement of orange roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas, lilies, and baby’s breath!

My school is my Grecian urn away from home! I am responsible for providing the guidance and support that will make my flowers blossom.  It is a tedious job, but I got IT!

Words Speak Volumes

We’ve all heard the cliché “words speak volumes.” I’d like to extend the cliché a few notches by adding “they can inflate or deflate, choose your words wisely.” There are trillions of words floating around in the limitless universe. The impact of a few words differs depending on how they are linked together and the tone by which they are presented. Words, spoken or written, can deliver powerful punches! They can make a person feel like an overblown balloon or a flat tire! Picture the kid who receives a “B” on a math test after studying every day for 2-weeks and the teacher says, “If you had studied a little harder, you could have gotten an A.”  Imagine the teacher who has spent endless hours planning engaging lessons and is hearing, “the mark hasn’t been met.” Envision the supportive colleague who has listened to “whoa” and provided guidance suddenly being confronted with, “nobody likes you.” Digest receiving constructive criticism and hearing the conversation close with, “I don’t think you can do that.”  

In our bustling world of “move forward”, “meet the mark”, “surpass the mark”, and “don’t be last”, it is sometimes forgotten that words can deliver “knockout punches.” If the goal is to “move forward”, “meet the mark”, “surpass the mark”, and “don’t be last”, words must be chosen meticulously. It is an arduous task to find the perfect words that convey, “I know you are committed.”;  “I know that you have worked hard.”;  “I value what you have done.”; and “I know that you’ve been a supportive colleague.”when there is a “BUT” that follows. When there are difficult conversations that must be communicated, before sharing, stand in the other person’s shoes. There are very few people who would proudly wear a heavy weight belt that says “Unmotivated”, “Loser”, “Unlikeable”, or “Who Cares.”  Recognizing commitment and dedication softens the impact of a heavy blow and leaves the other person standing.

In the previous weeks, I’ve delivered a few upper cuts but no knockout punches.  When speaking to my team, I’ve chosen my words carefully because I know that they are committed.  I know that they have worked hard.  I know that they want our kids to be SUCCESSFUL! I’ve contemplated numerous hours; it is time for us to move in a different direction. Knowing my awesome team, I am confident that they will embrace the challenge, and be SUCCESSFUL.

My team and I are in the Heavy Weight Championship of Education! There’s a Blue Ribbon calling OUR NAME!

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)

20
20
Visit Us
Follow Me
Tweet