Learner. Human. Joyologist.
I wish every teacher could feel what that moment felt like to me. I'm reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the book, Wonder, "I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives."
It's book launch day for Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact!
The sun was shining and the vibes were high on Friday after work. I pulled into a local gas station which also serves as a convenience store and ice cream shop. A woman ordered an ice cream and upon making it for her and handing it across the counter, the young lady who scooped the... Continue Reading →
Certainly, there are going to be times when we aren't feeling our best as educators. We are human beings. It's what we do in response to those feelings to get what we need and move forward in healthy ways that matters most. And certainly, there are people who do not embody what we want our profession to be. But take a look around, there is so much good happening in our schools every day, and there are many people who make us feel proud to be educators. Please take a moment to celebrate a teacher for their hustle and heart. They deserve it all and more.
What we look for, we find. It's easy to overcomplicate things in education, but some of the most important moves we make...as I mention in my upcoming book...are quite simple and impactful. The key is quieting the noise, so we can stay close to what matters most. How we feel in the work impact how others feel in the work and all of this impacts how the work actually goes.
What makes small moves impactful: Belief in yourself and what you're doing. Consistency. Reflection. If what you're doing isn't work well for you or others, change it. It's that simple.
As that young man so aptly stated, people want to be a part of something important. So, how can we foster that same sense of interdependence and interconnectedness in school? How might we create more opportunities for people to work hard in areas that amplify their strengths? What would happen if students were inspired to work hard at something they love during the school day?
So, the next time you feel really happy in your work, pay attention. Pay attention to who you are with and how you're going about the work. Somewhere in the middle of all of that is your joy. Your joy is your gift to our profession and now more than ever, we need people walking in their light and their goodness.
When we listen to the educators who are working closest to our students every day and allow their insights to inform planning for professional learning, the plan gets better.
Our students lead us and show us what the world can be.
MEGHAN LAWSON 