Excerpt taken from The Eye On Education Blog
The Poetry of Annette Breaux - An Ounce of Inspiration
The Eye On Education BlogThe Poetry of Annette Breaux - An Ounce of Inspiration Annette Breaux's poetry elicits knowing nods and smiles from teachers, while delivering everyday wisdom. Read below for a poem and strategy about the secret of motivation and inspiration.
An Ounce of Inspiration
Give me an ounce of inspiration
Leading, of course, to motivation
Which will spark my imagination
Thus you’ll see my perspiration
As I feel my mind’s vibration
Spurring on my new creation
Concentration for the duration
Whew! I did it! Pure elation!
(from Seven Simple Secrets)
How to Make Your Excitement Their Excitement. It is often said that we remember two groups of teachers—the really good ones, and, of course, the really bad ones! Please take a moment to reflect on the best teacher you ever had. You’ll probably be amazed at how much you can recall about that classroom. You may be able to remember some of the students, what the room looked like, one or more exciting activities or events that occurred, and possibly even some of the daily routines. But even if you are not able to recall any of that, you will surely be able to recall how you felt in that classroom. And more than anything, you remember the teacher—the teacher who brought joy and happiness and success into your life, the same teacher you still carry in your heart.
Now we’ll suffer along with you as you reflect on the worst teacher you ever had. Can’t you still feel it? The way you and other students were treated? The way you felt in the presence of that teacher? The awful tone that the teacher brought to class each day? The dreaded sound of that teacher’s voice? Okay, sorry about that. We didn’t mean to raise your blood pressure, but we wanted to make a point.
All of us had classes that we loved and those we dreaded. And that love or dread factor was determined by one person—the teacher! It is not surprising that in the classrooms of the very best teachers, the excitement is contagious. As one effective teacher put it: “As a teacher, my mood sets the weather in the classroom each day. My tone establishes the tone for the entire class. If I look out at my students and see an uninspired group, my next glance is in the mirror. Though it’s not always easy, I know that in order to motivate and inspire my students, I have to be motivated and inspired first. So, on those days when I’m not feeling so motivated and enthusiastic, I just pretend to be. My students don’t know the difference!”
On a daily basis, we meet and greet our fellow teachers and other coworkers at school. And every time a coworker asks how we’re doing, we have a choice. If we smile and say, “Great! How are you?” then that sets a positive tone. If we respond by saying, “Do you really want to know?” that sets a completely different tone. The fact remains that as teachers, as human beings, we all have personal issues—some good and some not. So here’s a secret: Less effective teachers bring their personal problems and resulting moods into their classrooms. Effective teachers do not! Every day, both effective and ineffective teachers make decisions on how they will approach the day. The effective teachers see the glass as half full, the less effective teachers see the glass as half empty, and the worst of the bunch see it as just another dirty glass to wash!
Bottom line? It’s up to you. You choose your attitude every day in the classroom. Students then take their cues from you. You create the weather.
The following video is taken from www.barbarablackburnonline.com please take a couple of minutes to view it.
Excellence In Education, Barbara Blackburn
The Poetry of Annette Breaux - An Ounce of Inspiration
The Eye On Education BlogThe Poetry of Annette Breaux - An Ounce of Inspiration Annette Breaux's poetry elicits knowing nods and smiles from teachers, while delivering everyday wisdom. Read below for a poem and strategy about the secret of motivation and inspiration.
An Ounce of Inspiration
Give me an ounce of inspiration
Leading, of course, to motivation
Which will spark my imagination
Thus you’ll see my perspiration
As I feel my mind’s vibration
Spurring on my new creation
Concentration for the duration
Whew! I did it! Pure elation!
(from Seven Simple Secrets)
How to Make Your Excitement Their Excitement. It is often said that we remember two groups of teachers—the really good ones, and, of course, the really bad ones! Please take a moment to reflect on the best teacher you ever had. You’ll probably be amazed at how much you can recall about that classroom. You may be able to remember some of the students, what the room looked like, one or more exciting activities or events that occurred, and possibly even some of the daily routines. But even if you are not able to recall any of that, you will surely be able to recall how you felt in that classroom. And more than anything, you remember the teacher—the teacher who brought joy and happiness and success into your life, the same teacher you still carry in your heart.
Now we’ll suffer along with you as you reflect on the worst teacher you ever had. Can’t you still feel it? The way you and other students were treated? The way you felt in the presence of that teacher? The awful tone that the teacher brought to class each day? The dreaded sound of that teacher’s voice? Okay, sorry about that. We didn’t mean to raise your blood pressure, but we wanted to make a point.
All of us had classes that we loved and those we dreaded. And that love or dread factor was determined by one person—the teacher! It is not surprising that in the classrooms of the very best teachers, the excitement is contagious. As one effective teacher put it: “As a teacher, my mood sets the weather in the classroom each day. My tone establishes the tone for the entire class. If I look out at my students and see an uninspired group, my next glance is in the mirror. Though it’s not always easy, I know that in order to motivate and inspire my students, I have to be motivated and inspired first. So, on those days when I’m not feeling so motivated and enthusiastic, I just pretend to be. My students don’t know the difference!”
On a daily basis, we meet and greet our fellow teachers and other coworkers at school. And every time a coworker asks how we’re doing, we have a choice. If we smile and say, “Great! How are you?” then that sets a positive tone. If we respond by saying, “Do you really want to know?” that sets a completely different tone. The fact remains that as teachers, as human beings, we all have personal issues—some good and some not. So here’s a secret: Less effective teachers bring their personal problems and resulting moods into their classrooms. Effective teachers do not! Every day, both effective and ineffective teachers make decisions on how they will approach the day. The effective teachers see the glass as half full, the less effective teachers see the glass as half empty, and the worst of the bunch see it as just another dirty glass to wash!
Bottom line? It’s up to you. You choose your attitude every day in the classroom. Students then take their cues from you. You create the weather.
The following video is taken from www.barbarablackburnonline.com please take a couple of minutes to view it.
Excellence In Education, Barbara Blackburn
Based on the text 101 "Answers" for New Teachers and Their Mentors and what you have read and watched above please respond to the following questions:
- How do you help students feel more successful in your class?
- How do you add value to learning for your students?
- How do you demonstrate high expectations for your students?