Category: Kids

What’s New?

So, I must admit, it has been a while since I last blogged.  Not that I don’t enjoy blogging,  but somehow, I  just haven’t made the time.  My friends keep saying, “You haven’t blogged in a long time. When are you going to blog?”  My response has simply been “I know”…with no follow-up in the blogging arena.  So, this morning, after numerous months of not blogging, I decided to  visit my blog site and get my mojo working.   What I discovered really isn’t an unearthing surprise.  There were just enough flashing red dots to remind me that the world continues to rotate, whether you are driving the vehicle or riding in the passenger’s seat. The key to surviving the ride is to properly wear your seat belt and to know where you are headed.

To my surprise, I remembered my login and password, and had no problem navigating the site.  What captured my attention were the 16 flashing red updates.  As any “derelict” blogger would do…I clicked away.  There was information about giving my page a facelift, how to attract more readers, checking for links that were broken, and a reminder to declutter and toss outdated information.  After scanning a few articles, I’ve surmised that a facelift to the site won’t be so bad.  After all, I am constantly adding to my wardrobe.  I wouldn’t dare be caught wearing a pair of bellbottoms from the ’70s but give me a pair of retro bellbottoms and I am a fashionista!  There were no outdated numbers or broken links but even a novice would  know that these pesky annoyances would hinder the publication of a well-written blog.  As for decluttering,  I am contemplating some possibilities.  After all, the earth rotates once every  twenty-three hours, fifty-six minutes, and 4.09053 seconds; change constantly happens and is often needed.  Recognizing the need for change and following the right map will get you to your destination!  Don’t forget to buckle up, you want to survive the ride!

#Orange Sprinkles

Crazy title, right! If you know me, you recognize it! I have coined “#Orange Sprinkles” as a response to those special moments when happiness zooms in and takes my breath away, when something brings an unexpected smile to my heart! It is my ultimate, “You MADE My Day!” With so much happening these days, sometimes it is easy to overlook the “orange sprinkles” that filter into our daily routines! Orange sprinkles are like fairy dust, but they truly exist! I am sure that you have experienced a sprinkling or two and you did not realize it. I have received a few during the past week, let me share.

On Saturday, while grocery shopping, I meandered to the fresh produce area only to have an ongoing battle with a cellophane bag.  I am speaking of those clear plastic bags on the cardboard roll near the bananas, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  The ones that you must look at closely to know which end opens.  After spending an undue amount of time scuffling with a bag, a gentleman near me handed me an opened bag.  I am not sure if he thought I had poor fine motors skills or simply did not know how to open the bag, but he certainly made me smile.  Today, I decided to go to the hairdresser after a year’s hiatus as a  result of the Covid pandemic.  I must admit, I was a little leery, my hairdresser had texted me 6 months prior to say the shop was open for business.  My 8:00 a.m. appointment proved to be the highlight of my day!  The shop’s owner and stylists welcomed me with cheery expressions and shared their concern about my absence. The owner said, “We just wanted to know if you were okay.” 

My list of “orange sprinkles” could continue but I am sure you get the point; orange sprinkles happen when you least expect them.   They make you smile and say “AWE!”  Keep your eyes open for the orange sprinkles coming your way!  Something wonderful happens every day!

#Orange Sprinkles!

There’s a Lesson to Be Learned

I’ve been away from my school for an entire week, but I haven’t seen my kids for 2 weeks. It has been twenty thousand one hundred sixty minutes since I last laid eyes on my school kids. It seems a bit strange that 1 week of an unplanned school closing has left me dismal. Yes, I am totally engulfed in the pandemic that is sweeping the nation, but I am also trapped in a web of concern for my kids. I am like a melancholic puppy who can’t find her fuzzy toy. I’ve even resulted to asking Alexa to play the favorite songs of my kindergartners. I am totally fixated on all the things my kids are missing. I am wondering how they are impacted by the closing, if their families are well. I am concerned about the fractured school year and how my kids will return to learning as “usual” when the pandemic has subsided. I am wondering what questions the kids may have. I know that there are many. I received an email from one of my kids, she typed, “I miss you, Dr. Walker-Hood.” The email made my day! My district, like others, has implemented a plan to stay in touch with our kids and to ensure that their minds are being stimulated. My team and I are communicating with families via a web-based program, telephone calls, and emails. It’s ironic, when school was in session, there was always someone longing to be home,  sometimes a kid and sometimes an adult. Now that we are restricted to stay at home, we are longing to be at school. The kids miss their teachers and the teachers miss their kids!

As always, there’s a lesson to be learned in everything that happens. It’s up to the individual to learn the lesson. Yes, this pandemic is unprecedented; it’s sweeping the nation like a wildfire but there is a lesson to be learned! The lesson, in its simplest form is to learn to appreciate people. Appreciate your family, friends, neighbors, those you work with, those you see at stores, and those whose names you don’t know. Stop thinking you are better than others. Stop thinking you know everything. Stop judging people.  Stop complaining.  We ALL are Masterpieces, unique individuals with special gifts and talents! This pandemic doesn’t discriminate. Let us show compassion, empathy, patience, and appreciation…TODAY, TOMORROW, and ALWAYS!

I hope that all is well with my kids and their families.  I hope my team and their families are well, safe, and secure.  Soon, I hope to see them ALL! I know this devastating pandemic is only a moment in time.  I hope we understand and digest its lesson. I miss my Masterpieces!

Look for the Silver Lining…

During one of the earlier classes of my master’s program, the superintendent teaching the course told us “eager to be administrators” that principals do EVERYTHING!  He commented,  “You jump in where you are needed, some days you may have to push a garbage can during lunch.”  His comment was true, as a principal, I am always jumping into SOMETHING!

For most of the school year, my dedicated teaching-assistant principal and I, have been crossing guards. We have inherited these positions due to unforeseen circumstances. I’ve done everything within my power to secure qualified individuals to fill these positions.  The longevity of committed crossing guards has been short termed. Since I had experienced a similar situation last year, I decided to be proactive by hiring 3 crossing guards.  All individuals completed crossing guard training.   All individuals began their tours of duty and ALL individuals decided the corners were not for them! I know a part-time job that offers 2 hours of pay, lots of rain, frigid temperatures, and blustery winds might run anyone away.  I am grateful that my dedicated teaching-assistant principal has battled the elements each day! To be honest, I have a low tolerance for cold but being the crossing guard offered the opportunity to buy a new puffer, with no guilt attached!  My teaching-assistant principal and I pick up our red octagon signs and head to our designated corners, 2 times per day. While stopping amid things to run to the corner adds an extra bump in my schedule, it also adds a little happiness to my day.

While standing on the corner, I’ve gotten to know more of my parents, grandparents, and kids. Their faces are familiar; I can make connections among siblings.  My parents greet me with a smile or nod as I meander to the center of the cross-section. Sometimes, I remind them about upcoming school events and important dates. If I am running a few minutes behind schedule,  there’s a mom that will tell drivers not to park in the crosswalks. I’ve seen her talking with drivers; I always tell her “thank you.” It surely takes a village to keep our kids safe. I have had parents wait until I have finished crossing the kids to ask questions. They have prefaced their questions with,” I know where to find you.” I’ve sensed that it made them feel better, knowing that I am accessible. I’ve received many waves from cars. I’ve had a grandma say, “I like to see a principal that will do anything.” I had a dad who greeted me by saying, “Good morning Dr. Walker-Hood. How are you?” I responded, “Good morning. How are you?” He replied, “Fantastic, since I saw you!” I couldn’t help but laugh. I also have my kids that cross at the corner. There’s a kindergartner that always says, “Dr. Walker-Hood, I like your shoes. I saw you in my room.” There’s the little one that I greet on the other side of the street so she can share what she did the previous night. There’s the second grader that I keep reminding that he can’t run full speed from his house and anticipate drivers to know he is coming; he must stop running before crossing the street.  My sixth-grade girls, smile and laugh when they cross, sometimes  they tell me that they understand the math lesson that we completed during Academic Block. As the kids cross, they say “Bye Dr. Walker-Hood, see you tomorrow. Thank you.” I say, “YOU TOO!” and they smile.

My 40-minutes on the corner are well spent! Yes, it’s cold and I am layered up, but I am also warmed by the sentiments of my kids and parents. They brighten my day! There’s a silver lining in every cloud, sometimes you just need to look!

Pause…Reflect…Just DO It !

Life is filled with circumstances, conditions, and situations that will cause you to rethink your original plan, make a mental adjustment, and reacquaint yourself with your inner being.  I am purposefully avoiding the word “obstacles!” There are also those situations that will simply cause you to jump in and get busy! I refer to those situations as “Just DO It” moments! The “Just DO It” moments are things you must do, regardless of how much you talk about them! They are items on YOUR TO-DO LIST, and you are committed to  checking them off! I have had many in my lifetime.

I think my most devastating “Just DO It” moment, may have been when I was on vacation and had received an email from my dissertation chair.  Imagine being on vacation and receiving  a “CHANGE this, ADD that”, dissertation REVISION email! My reaction to that email almost ruined my vacation! My first reaction was to complain to my husband. Our plans for lunch were delayed by my repeated rants,” I am not changing it! I am not! I am not changing a THING!” Then I reverted to how many pages I had already written and how many graphs I already had created! Lastly, I proclaimed myself finished! I sat on the side of the bed and started new rants, “I give up! This is stupid! I have a life!” My husband in his ever so calm voice, simply said, “really.” He then told me to get dress so we could go to lunch because HE WAS HUNGRY. He refused to be a part of my ranting. He knew, I wasn’t finished. He knew I wasn’t quitting. He knew I was having a moment. He knew, that after reflection, I would just DO It!

I moped around and sulked for a few minutes before  putting on my favorite “Just Do It” t-shirt.  I am sure you have one, it is a  mental must have!  Yes, I made the revision. Yes, I have a pompadour. No, I didn’t quit! Yes, WE had lunch!

In our roles as educators and guardians of the children, we are often faced with “Just DO It” moments. Some require us to stretch ourselves, to give a little more, to do more, and to make personal reflections. After all, we have a SPECIAL CALLING! The kids that come before us are the leaders of tomorrow; what we DO or DON’T DO, will impact their futures. I have always felt that the children entrusted in my care should receive the same care that I would like my child to receive.  I know that being an educator can be arduous. I understand that exceptional educators stretch themselves because they love kids and they love what they do. I realize teaching oftentimes means making sacrifices. I understand that preparing lessons can be time consuming. I know there is ALWAYS something on the To-Do List that never ends! I understand that sometimes, all educators need to reflect and regroup. I also know that EXCEPTIONAL educators will continue to do an AWESOME job, no matter what!

While you are reflecting, don’t overlook the REWARDS of being an educator, they are immeasurable!

Hooves Up to the educators who “Just DO It!” 

My Special Gift…

If you have read a previous blog, you are aware that I am in hot pursuit of my “twitter crown.” I have committed myself to tweeting about the fabulous happenings at my school! I know that my school is filled with Masterpieces waiting to be discovered! I truly believe that everyone has a special gift! If you are one of my followers, you may remember a tweet about a book given to me by a dear friend.  My friend personally delivered the book on New Year’s Eve.  As she handed me the gift, she shared her delight in receiving the book just in time to start the new year!  The book is filled with positive motivations, one for each day of the year. I have been steadfast in reading the motivations. Throughout the week, I toss the book into my work bag.  On Fridays, the book returns home. I often share anecdotes from the book with members of my team. This blog highlights an insightful tidbit gleaned from a short story found in the book. I simply love the story. I wish my creative brain had written it. Nope, I didn’t. The credit belongs to Cyndie Spiegel; the book is entitled A Year of Positive Thinking.

In the book, there is a story about 2 women who speak to a guard of a gated community. The ladies approach the guard at different times but ask the same question, “What kind of people live in there?”  “There” referring to the gated community. In both instances the guard responded with a question, “What kind of people live out there, where you come from?” The ladies had different responses. The first lady didn’t shed a positive light on her neighbors; she recited a list of negative attributes! The second lady had nothing but great things to say about her neighbors; her list of adjectives included kind and loving. To both ladies the guard simply responded, “You will find that here.”

My rendition of the story is not exactly as written in the book. If you want the exact version, buy or borrow the book. I am sure you understand the just of the story, “You will always get what you expect!”

When I have the mindset that something great is going to happen, it does! When I focus on negativity, it consumes my positive energy! Negative conversations and thoughts are exhausting!  Negativity simply zaps my positive vibe and limits my growth!  When I see my kids at school, I see possibilities of greatness! I see their potential. I see what they can become! I know that they are Masterpieces waiting to be discovered!

The Zorro Circle

It is 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning; my hubby is downstairs exercising.  I am upstairs typing a blog. It sounds a little wacky! No, I don’t live in a dysfunctional household. We both fell asleep while the television was watching us; now neither of us can fall asleep. I went to bed with the intent of starting my day at a normal hour but that’s not happening today! Lying in bed has resulted in me mentally creating an elaborate schedule of “must do’s” for the day. My mind is spinning with ideas  and one of my favorite rules prevailed, “If you lie in bed for 30 minutes and can’t fall asleep, get up and DO SOMETHING!” I put a load of clothes in the washer and started a blog! A “Must Do” and a “Me Do!”

I’ve been deliberating over setting some goals for myself. After all, it’s the beginning of a new year! I narrowed my goal setting to the circles that consume my world: home, work, and ME! I know my plan will work well because it’s grounded in research. I am setting my personal goals based on information gleaned from my favorite orange book, The Happiness Advantage! Yes, I am still hooked on “happiness” and orange is one of my favorite colors!

In the book, the author wrote about the  Zorro Circle, named after the swashbuckling movie character “Zorro.”  The author elaborates on Zorro’s transformation from a binge-filled alcoholic to a masterful swordsman. He accredits Zorro’s conversion to his  astute mentor and to Zorro’s ability to successfully navigate within manageable circles.  Zorro’s first task was to become confident and skillful within a narrowly defined circle.   After mastering the smallest circle, Zorro’s mentor widens the circle, thus prompting Zorro to perfect his craft even more.  As the tale continues, Zorro becomes well known for his skills as a swordsman and dedicates himself to helping those in need. While the act of helping those in need resonates to many; the symbolism of the circles may sometimes be overlooked. By initially limiting the size of Zorro’s circle and gradually expanding its size, Zorro’s mentor had ensured that Zorro would accomplish his goal!

When I set my goals for this marvelous new year, I’m keeping the  Zorro Circle in mind. My goals will be challenging but obtainable! I am going to keep my circles large enough so I must stretch and small enough so that I can advance to a larger circle!

As you set goals for the new year, whether they are goals for home, work, or self,  ensure that they are reasonable and obtainable!

Less stress, more happiness!

Orange Sprinkles!

Work It Out!

I know, I haven’t been a great blog mom! I accept responsibility for not communicating with my keyboard and failing to consistently blog. I am going to refrain from the follow-up “but statement” and commit myself to doing better. After all, accepting the need to improve, is half of the battle of doing better! Today is the day after, the day after Christmas. It is amazing how time flies when you have deadlines to meet and commitments that can’t be neglected. I am on winter break which offers the opportunity for me to complete some “at home tasks” that have been overlooked. Hence my attention has focused on Jasmine, a lofty peace lily that needs some tender loving care. With my end goal in mind, moving Jasmine into a new condominium with moisture control fertilizing soil, I set out to my neighborhood “You Fix It” store.

Being the shopper that I am, it is almost impossible for me to go to any store with 2 items on my list and leave with 2 items in my bag. Today was no exception! Upon entering the store, I was bombarded with gigantic signs that read 50% OFF ALL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! With just a few short steps, I spotted several “must haves.” On display was a beautiful Santa sled and reindeer. The alluring white painted figures, embellished with gold trim and red accent bows with silver bells, called my name! Also, on display was a complimentary angel that stood 6 feet tall! After walking pass these “must haves” a few times and a quick text message to ensure that my purchases would be welcomed at home, I loaded my cart. I bought the angel that was on display and purchased a boxed sled and reindeer. After wrestling with the angel, who occupied the entire back seat and half of the front seat of my SUV, I headed home. Overzealous with my new purchases, I was determined to have them displayed on my front lawn before night fall, after all, it was Christmas Eve! Within twenty minutes, the angel was regally greeting passersby; assembling the sled and reindeer was a bit more taxing.

I’ve previously heard the sobs of friends who have been tormented by huge items that came in small boxes! The tales of taking one hundred pieces from neatly packed 2 ft. by 2 ft. boxes meandered through my mind. Now, I was the main character in a tale that I had written! I now understood, the benefit of downloading an “I CAN DO THAT” app! After relying on the written instructions for the first hour, I resorted to pure common sense. As an educator with a few degrees, surely, I could assemble a sled and reindeer! As I mapped my final plan of attack, “Mr. Fix Everything” pulled into the driveway. As he exited his truck, he laughed, shook his head, and said, “Work it out!” I tried to explain my dilemma, but he kept repeating the same phrase, “Work it Out!” Realizing that he was not coming to my rescue, I continued the task at hand. Within fifteen minutes, the sled and reindeer were assembled. I was proud of my accomplishment but the phrase “work it out” continued to haunt me.

I began to think about kids who are faced with the challenges of learning new concepts, reading material that is incomprehensible, and completing projects that are overwhelming. How do they find success? Is there an internal voice that continuously says, “Work it out?” Are there family members, teachers, and friends who step-in to provide missing links? to support? to encourage? What has resonated from my self-inflicted tale of torment is that we, as family members, educators, and friends, must support kids in their quest to LEARN! We must provide opportunities of STRUGGLE, so kids will GROW! We must provide ENCOURAGEMENT, so kids will ENDURE! We must provide PRAISE, so kids will EXCEL!  We are preparing kids to be the LEADERS of TOMORROW!

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!

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