Thursday, March 20, 2008

Time Out!


“People need love, especially when they don’t deserve it.” Harold Hulbert

I have had to remind myself of this repeatedly this week as I have been faced with one challenge after another. Seriously! We are all so tired and our well deserved break is just a few more days away. Next week please help me keep students busy and out of trouble by limiting down time. If they are busy with meaningful work there will be no time for mischief. You will probably need to reiterate rules daily, particularly for the dining room, arrival and dismissal, resource and recess.

Approach your work with colleagues by thinking TEAM. Everybody makes mistakes, gets overloaded or simply needs a helping hand from time to time. Instead of focusing narrowly on your own personal space and plan take a moment to watch what is going on with the rest of the group. Differences can add depth, create strength and even bring balance. It is important that we sideline our own perspectives sometimes and put ourselves in another's place. True sportsmanship is about showing extreme grace. Being gracious means forgiving a teammate who fouled up, sharing the spotlight, and finding your sense of humor in those times of extreme pressure. Next week promote harmony - the team can't come close to reaching its true potential without you!

Only four more days…

Believing is just the beginning...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am so glad to be getting back to some balance in the classroom! Something about idle hands and minds...Part of our back to business approach may require some adults to balance on one foot with their eyes closed. Don't ask! Besides, you probably will not last more than 20 seconds.

As for teamwork, if your expectations include always finding the perfect way to speak to your peers, or expecting them to find the perfect way to speak to you, please be prepared to be disappointed, a bunch. Beautiful thing about us humans, we make some seriously silly mistakes, and every one is an opportunity to grow. Two paths will diverge in a yellow wood...

Peace,

T-Cubed