Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

<p> When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s580/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1373800607505.2463" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s500/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" width="500"></a></div> <p>There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. There are tasks, standards, and objectives that must be met. However, it is easy to be so busy as a human doing and forget that you're teaching human beings.</p> <p>This is why I like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">Classroom Habitudes</a> so much. (Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">the book</a> by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/angelamaiers" target="_self" title="">Angela Maiers</a>) It gives us a "to be" list before you hit the to do list. Students need to know what we want them to BE as we reach to do the things that they need to do. They need to see the purpose behind the plan.</p> <h2>Make a list of the things you want your students "to be"</h2> <p>Even more so, we, as teachers, need to be intentional about what we want to help our students be. Thankful. Passionate. Curious. Ethical. Perseverant. Creative... and the list goes on.</p> <p>Intentionally think about your soft goals because these give you a canvas upon which you will paint your class activities. They should influence the posters you select, the projects you design, and the lessons you plan. You can teach math in a way that harnesses the power of passion. You can weave lessons in that will allow students to show thankfulness to others. You can have projects that foster curiosity.</p> <h3>Purposefully determine what these "to be's" are. Know them. Use the language. Discuss them.</h3> <p>These are things you can do, but important things <strong>never</strong> do themselves. They start with you.</p> <p>I think it is best to look at these soft goals in the summer. Take some time and write down the important things you want to help students be. </p> <h3>Activity to get you started</h3> <p>Try this activity. </p> <p>1. At the top of a page write... "this year, I want my students to be more..." then, answer the question. This will help you get started on your soft goals.</p> <p>2. Brainstorm the books, music, projects, movies, and creative ways you can redesign the lessons you have to incorporate these to be's. Write these things next to each of the items you wrote in step 1.</p> <h3 style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">TIP: State your "to be" in the positive</h3> <p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">When you pick them be careful to state your "to be" in the positive. Instead of "don't bully" select "speak up when injustice happens." We inadvertently remove the negative - so when you say "don't bully" - you're really hearing "bully." (This is why most of us teachers are taught to say "be quiet" instead of "don't talk." "Don't talk" will typically have the opposite influence of what we desire.)</p> <h3>Do this now.</h3> <p>School is right around the corner. Educators, we have a huge responsibility to educate a generation. If we forget the human beings in our classrooms we will one day have those humans be so busy doing that they might just forget about being kind, respectful, helpful, and understanding towards our generation. Things have a way of going around. You will reap the results of the soft goals you set now as will society, so choose well.</p> <h2>Schools can set soft goals for their year.</h2> <p>You can also be assured, that schools who are intentional about the "to be's" they select will reap the benefits of emphasizing those to be's. Principals can do the activity above. This is part of having vision and when it starts with the principal and superintendent - it becomes unstoppable. You are casting vision for what you want to be. Just prepare to work hard to be that yourself. If you say you want everyone to be something and you glaringly don't try to be that yourself. (For example, if you emphasize work ethic but find a way to leave early every day, you'll cause a morale problem.)</p> <h3>Please share</h3> <p>What are the "to be's" you want to emphasize this year? I am using Angela's Classroom Habitudes book for mine and adding "Integrity" as one of the to-be's. </p> <p>What are yours? Please feel free to share them or the links in the comments. Do you create "soft goals?" Why or why not?</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

innovation Inspiration Teaching Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals. There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. Ther...

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Why teachers should help lead a thankful revolution

<p> I've been thinking about the 19 firefighters in Arizona who died unexpectedly with the sudden turn of a fire. I've also been thinking of the teachers who gave their lives protecting children from gunmen and tornadoes this year. I've even been thinking about the janitors who quietly do their jobs in our school - do you know that if they scrimped on their job when no one was looking - we could literally have outbreaks of disease among our precious children?</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ifl0L-wVt-A/SIJWqDLl0MI/AAAAAAAAELQ/_dLw2hAOm9A/s1600/Fireman.JPG" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="752" id="blogsy-1373625649065.7375" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ifl0L-wVt-A/SIJWqDLl0MI/AAAAAAAAELQ/_dLw2hAOm9A/s500/Fireman.JPG" width="500"></a></div> <h2>How can we help promote gratitude and active thankfulness among this generation?</h2> <p>I just wonder what we as teachers can do to help promote a grateful generation. How can we help kids know the importance of saying "thank you" to and to be glad for what they have?</p> <p>This is something I want to be more of what I do this year at school.</p> <p>Sure, I've got standards to meet and a curriculum to accomplish, but it is kind of like this.</p> <p>If I focus on making sure my children keep their room clean while forgetting my relationship with my children - they might have a perfectly clean room but have no kind of relationship with me. We have tasks and relationships to balance. The relationship is vitally important. There's a human side to every task. When we forget the humans, their task becomes almost irrelevant. (Ahem, overtesting...)</p> <h2>Thankfulness as a habit</h2> <p>If teachers aren't thanked, perhaps it is because we don't help kids see and thank others. I'm not proposing we do this so that suddenly people can acknowledge that we are a noble calling (as they should, by the way). </p> <p>I am proposing that we help our children tell others that they matter and thank them for their work because it is something we must do. When we acknowledge the sacrifices of others, we are more sensitive to notice it everywhere we see it.</p> <h2>A self centered generation will be an unhappy one</h2> <p>The unhappiest people I know think only of their own happiness. An unhappy generation will be a self centered one. Kids are self centered by nature -it is pretty much how we are born. As I've matured and begun to see the value in helping others with my own life, I've grown in joy and fulfillment.</p> <p>Because one day tragedy will strike every community - it does. And communities that can live with the peace of mind that they've thanked the heroes among them will rest much easier on this. </p> <h1>Please share your ideas and links</h1> <p>How can we thank our law enforcement, EMTs, and all of those people who serve us every day? I'm looking for all kinds of ideas beyond having them come and sit at an assembly and taking food (I think they like the second one the most, from what I've heard.) What can we do to really shower and show gratitude to the heroes among us?</p> <p> If you've done something special, please write about it on your own blog and put the link in the comments below so that those of us gathering ideas can learn from you! Thank you.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration students Teaching Why teachers should help lead a thankful revolution

I've been thinking about the 19 firefighters in Arizona who died unexpectedly with the sudden turn of a fire. I've also been thinki...

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Going to the upper road: when life says "move on"

<blockquote><p><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LVHrGjOA7EU/SSFyDaNy0cI/AAAAAAAAAh8/vIzx3fkUf4I/s1600/9908_11_7638_a3.jpg" target="_blank" style="text-align: left; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="335" id="blogsy-1372767131801.9924" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LVHrGjOA7EU/SSFyDaNy0cI/AAAAAAAAAh8/vIzx3fkUf4I/s500/9908_11_7638_a3.jpg" width="500"></a></p><p> I’m going by the upper road, for that</p><p><span style="text-align: center; ">still holds the sun,</span></p><p>I’m climbing through night’s pastures where</p><p>the starry rivers run:</p><p>If you should think to seek me in my</p><p>old dark abode,</p><p>You’ll find this writing on the door,</p><p>“He’s on the Upper Road.”</p><p>Streams in the Desert - July 2</p></blockquote> <p>There are times we must move on. We've lived in a place that served a purpose. We've gotten comfortable there. We've had good times there. Yet, there are new travels ahead with a new purpose and new mission.</p> <p>As we've been talking on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/coolcatteacher" target="_blank" title="">Facebook page</a> about whether we miss our students, I'm struck by the comments of those teachers in transition between schools. Leaving a school must have heartache in it. Every teacher I know who is a great teacher loves their kids and many colleagues at any school - no matter how tough.</p> <p>My Mom still shows me the platter presented to her when she left her first school. My sister still misses some of her colleagues and talks fondly of her first class at Gwinett County schools near Atlanta. It is part of who we are. Our treasures are not dollars in the bank, but faces that come to mind and the stories that enrich our lives full of meaning. Good teachers are rich. We aren't biding our time, we are building it. When we retire, great teachers have castles of legacy built upon the stories and richness of lives forever changed.</p> <p>Today, I have lunch with Casey - she's in college and was one of the two students that Thomas Friedman mentioned when he wrote about the Flat Classroom projects in his version 3 of the World is Flat. She is doing great in college and I'm excited to hear her stories. She couldn't stay in her old abode (high school) but had to move on to the upper road (college) and then will move beyond. Like my son who just finished his first college test yesterday in Psychology. The upper road calls.</p> <p>I'm writing this because many of us educators have transition. We may have to give up coaching a sport and move to another. We may have to give up a club to do another. We may no longer be teaching a subject we love and have to move to one we're not so crazy about. If we're parents, we might even have to let our own child move to their upper road without the baggage of an overly sad parent hanging over their heads. (sniff)</p> <p>I never want to be the kind of teacher (or parent) who lives in the old, dank abodes of time past - wishing for how it used to be. It used to be hard and it will continue to be hard because that is the profession we have. The profession we have is tough. I pray daily to be like Moses' burning bush to be on fire without burning out (something only God can do, honestly, because teaching is sooooo hard.)</p> <p>So, teacher, as you face transition - let's move to the upper road with purpose. Let's remember the past abode with joy, but as our bodies move forward, let our hearts and souls move forward too. <strong>Let's be fully present in the present</strong> - learning from the past but not living there. Let it go and go on.</p> <p>The upper road calls. I'm packing my bags. Will you?</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration parenting Teaching Going to the upper road: when life says "move on"

I’m going by the upper road, for that still holds the sun, I’m climbing through night’s pastures where the starry rivers run: If you should...

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Let him fly

<p> It took the little boy behind me in seat 15A to realize how totally not ready I am for this.</p> <blockquote><p>"Daddy, I'm so not scared. I'm never afraid of anything, no not nothing," the tyke says as we taxi down the runway.</p></blockquote> <p>Just last week, I said,</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiSvxntc7a_dlubqsmQKWsOCLUxLHbG1hwfrsoMM7X2YsMyZrdkGUnBP8190P6Z6SY2y2hGQcwSsHcAUv7bFCQgiOELtekOzFbz8Q-ek0uYYU_BYiXZQAbIglKKNCPzn9Nl3OSSbJ7V4W/s320/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525205%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="188" id="blogsy-1371729872369.3467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiSvxntc7a_dlubqsmQKWsOCLUxLHbG1hwfrsoMM7X2YsMyZrdkGUnBP8190P6Z6SY2y2hGQcwSsHcAUv7bFCQgiOELtekOzFbz8Q-ek0uYYU_BYiXZQAbIglKKNCPzn9Nl3OSSbJ7V4W/s320/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525205%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son is #98 in this picture. He had a great senior year. Now, I have to let him fly.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p> </p> <blockquote><p>"Yes, Kip, I'm ready. I know it is time for our son to go to college. This is a good thing, we're ready. We'll adjust and he'll still come home sometimes. Sure, it is time. I'm OK and this is a good thing."</p></blockquote> <p>Right.</p> <p>I'm flying back from Dubuque, Iowa where I was presenting to 750 wonderful educators. Even there, I gave assuring words of how ready I am to move my son into his dorm at Georgia Tech today. </p> <blockquote><p>"It is time," I said confidently, believing it.</p></blockquote> <p>As we taxied and took off, the little boys tenor changed. </p> <blockquote><p>"Yeeeeeeeeeeh," he said at first, excited to be airborne.</p></blockquote> <p>But then, just as cars became the size of postage stamps, he changed his tune.</p> <blockquote><p>"I am scared for this, this one moment, Daddy." He peeped in a quiet voice.</p></blockquote> <p>He said these words and my eyes misted. I'm scared too. </p> <blockquote><p>"I am scared for this, this one moment, Daddy," I prayed.</p></blockquote> <p>I turned to the window and wiped the tears as they flowed. I realized that I'm not so ready.</p> <p>My life has centered around our oldest son for over 18 years. I quit work when he was a year old. I was pregnant with his sister. I was a stay at home Mom / entrepreneur till he was in 2nd grade.</p> <p>I wanted to live my life with no regrets. The moment I saw his sweet face and blue eyes - this boy wasn't born crying. He was born living and looking into my soul from day one. I saw his eyes and fell in love. He eventually cried - when he realized he was cold and probably hungry. He's always been hungry.</p> <p>My days have been centered upon making sure he is fed (along with my other 2) and in being the best Mom I could be. </p> <p>I really just wanted to be a Mom. More than anything else. Just a Mom. A Mom who'd give up anything for her babies. No price was too much. High paying job - Poof - who cares - my babies need me at home. We want you to teach - poof - I'm a teacher - all to be closer to my babies.</p> <p>Like the postage stamp cars, I now feel myself ascending - going further away from this tyke become a man. His brown mopped head ascended far beyond mine several years back - he's a whole head taller than me - at 6'6" he is taller than most.</p> <p>Yet, as I looked out my window hiding my tears from strangers, I didn't see tall linebacker- I saw my little boy in the red onesie with the sailboat on the front. We used to play this game - I made lesson plans for my kids to cover all areas--</p> <p>The science game was called "Sink or Float." I gathered up a lot of items and had a bucket of water. He would put the item in the water and see if it would sink or float. He did it to everything in the whole house.</p> <p>Now, he's the one going in the water. The waters of college. Will he sink or float? </p> <p>He doesn't have on the red sailboat onesie any more. He has on his favorite grey GT hat - the one that makes his hair look just right when he takes it off. He has on his jeans, hung a little low for me, but they cover everything. His yellow GT shirt with Buzz, the mascot, on the front. He's dressed the part, that is for sure.</p> <p>I remember him running around and his sister on my hip. All those years. It was yesterday. Last night I was up with his colicky sister. I remember being in church and able to count on two hands the hours I'd slept since last Sunday. I swear that was last night? Somehow it was 17 years a go. How does that happen?</p> <p>When he was two, I desperately read books to help me figure out how to help him sleep. I also remember the "wise" girl with one child - younger than my son- who gave me all this advice about how to help my son sleep. She had one - I had two. Her child slept. Mine didn't. She thought it was something she did - sad, clueless girl. My son is 18 - he still doesn't sleep. I smile and laugh realizing that I might have known more than I thought even though I would have done anything to sleep - even listen to an over-proud Mom who cluelessly thought she had anything to do with the fact her child slept.</p> <p>Yet now, I hurtle towards Atlanta Georgia ready to get a taxi to go downtown. It is time to move him in. It is, quite honestly, time to let go.</p> <blockquote><p>"I am scared for this, this one moment, Daddy," I whisper again as my jaw and back of my throat feel the strain of suppressed crying. </p></blockquote> <p>Yet, my son is not scared. He's picking up his bucket and he's jumping in. He's more ready than me, I'm not. I'm still just a Mama. It is all I really want to be. A Mama with one less at home but room in my heart for friends and a new family that one day I'll meet who will bear his name.</p> <p>I will fly on knowing I gave all I had to this young man. And what he needs most now from me is my belief, support, encouragement, and love. He needs me to let him go. He needs me to let him fly.</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration parenting Let him fly

It took the little boy behind me in seat 15A to realize how totally not ready I am for this. "Daddy, I'm so not scared. I'm n...

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The Key to Staying Positive in Your Classroom: Throw Away Your Depends

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdiQZyXtRBUSeY9UY3ZDxMLZHBFK289Z70OxQZW3duHujsYXR0UmmTno1d0Mr0-qnTrL7SQXJtkV7MdGIn46cgT3GZCKPQ0MbmYWvAcsM1ovbRvAHWXVSyYEQdaNNu1aKEnRdc7Gi9wN1/s426/iStock_000005803734XSmall.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="282" id="blogsy-1371651394829.6223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdiQZyXtRBUSeY9UY3ZDxMLZHBFK289Z70OxQZW3duHujsYXR0UmmTno1d0Mr0-qnTrL7SQXJtkV7MdGIn46cgT3GZCKPQ0MbmYWvAcsM1ovbRvAHWXVSyYEQdaNNu1aKEnRdc7Gi9wN1/s426/iStock_000005803734XSmall.jpg" width="426"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does my attitude depend on others? Be careful - there are always reasons for having a bad one.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p> As I sit here in the Fort Wayne, Indiana airport at 12:30 pm after my 6 am flight was delayed, I'm still not sure if I'm on the flight to Detroit. The agents are hiding in the back because so many people are upset, they refuse to deal with it one person at a time. I'm not going to let this turn me into a cranky person. My joy doesn't depend upon whether they do their job. It can't or I'm an easy target of the natural happenings of life.</p> <h1>Does your attitude depend?</h1> <p>If you are in education and your attitude depends upon whether things are right in the front office - you'll be lucky to be happy half of the time. </p> <p>If your attitude depends upon whether your school has a sorry teacher or two - you'll never be happy. Every school I know has a few sorry teachers, sad to say.<br></p> <p>Your attitude cannot depend! It cannot.</p> <p>It cannot depend upon whether it rains or snows. You have no control over that!</p> <p>It cannot depend upon whether you feel good or not. You have no control over that either!</p> <p>It cannot depend upon whether there is no drama in your school. There always will be!</p> <p>If you have a great administrator - thank him or her every day. You are fortunate. Sadly, there are also those administrators, who, overwhelmed and for reasons of their own, hide like these shadowy gate attendants at this airport - afraid of angry people and letting the ire pile up. They hide behind closed doors and sometimes clock out early. This is life.</p> <p>If all of your colleagues are perfect teachers - enjoy it - it won't last. We all screw up sometimes. Some teachers do the bare minimum - copying worksheets and memos and leaving no imprint on the minds of children except a hatred of the topic. You can't help that. You can't.</p> <p>If no one in your school has answered the call of the siren song of secret sin - now gone public for everyone to know - be thankful! Because odds are there will often be these scandals.They happen because people are human and make mistakes. Your attitude cannot depend on whether one of these is going on either.</p> <h1>Are you really waiting for the nightly news to be good?</h1> <p>Waiting for everything to be perfect is like waiting for the nightly news to only report good things - it will never happen. Bad things happen. They do - this is earth - not heaven - bad things happen here.</p> <p>I'm saying this because so often, as a teacher, it is so easy to get upset about things we cannot control. We cannot control others at all. Not one brand new spanking bit.</p> <p><strong>Quite frankly - if your attitude depends on others - it is like the other kind of Depends. It will always smell because foul stuff is always around you</strong>. It is the function of the world that stinky stuff happens. It always will. Your attitude cannot depend upon your environment being squeaky clean. If it does, you'll be disappointed and miserable the rest of your life - whether you teach or not.</p> <p>As teachers, <strong>we must get rid of our depends</strong>. </p> <p>Throw them in the trash and never put them on again! We have to. It is essential that we cultivate an ability to insulate our students. When we close the door, it should be like a cocoon - a safe, secure place.<br></p> <h1>Take off your Depends!</h1> <p>To do this, we must get rid of our depends. Take off your depends RIGHT NOW!</p> <h1>The Most important "A" in your Classroom</h1> <p>The most important A in your classroom is your Attitude.</p> <p>Look at that word attitude. -- look at it again -- </p> <p>Att - <font size="7">I</font> - tude.</p> <p> Do you see that?</p> <p>I am at the center of my attitude. It is me. I'm at the center of my own attitude.</p> <p>There are times we have to own our attitude and decide to turn it around.</p> <h1>Attitudes spread</h1> <p>I've been in Ft. Wayne this week at the Knight Time Learning Conference in Kendallville, Indiana at East Noble High and they have an ash tree borer that is killing off these lovely ash trees. The only thing they can do is cut out all the trees around when one is blighted. Bad attitudes spread like ash borers - killing off attitudes -- beauty, and effectiveness.</p> <p>East Noble High School has the other kind of attitude - they are some of the most positive, kind, hard working people I've ever met. They are blessed.</p> <p>The difference between trees and us is that once a tree is blighted - it must be chopped down. You and I can actually do something about our attitudes. We can change.</p> <h1>How can I change my bad attitude?</h1> <p>Sometimes it is just going to a friend and saying:</p> <blockquote><p>"You know what, I've had a stinky attitude and I'm done. I'm not going to do this any more. I'm going to do what it takes to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."</p></blockquote> <p>Other times it is decided to stay away from the ash-boring negative talk of some of your colleagues until this most recent happening passes.</p> <p>Ultimately, there are often times - probably less than you think - when the corruption is so foul that you've made your home in a septic tank and you have to get out. </p> <h1>It happens EVERYWHERE</h1> <p>But every school - I repeat - EVERY SCHOOL goes through cycles. ALL OF THEM. </p> <p>All have scandals. All have staff members who make mistakes. All have parents with nasty divorces and the drama that ensues. All of them have things that make others angry and irate. </p> <p>All schools even have people who bide their time and have become people who hold a job instead of doing their job. These people, hold a job because no one else can do those responsibilities but they don't do their job - leaving others to secretly have a hard choice. Do you do the right thing for your students and do the job of another or do you let them fall and hurt more kids in the process?<em> (I admit, I usually do the latter, although it might not be right - I love the kids and they are why I teach. It is infuriating when sorry people get "promoted" to get them away from students but it happens. Move on. It isn't fair but life isn't either. Do your job anyway and love those students. It is the right thing to do.)</em></p> <p>If your attitude depends - why not get rid of your depends?</p> <p>If you're going to be one of those teachers who makes it 30 or 40 years then you're going to have throw your depends away.</p> <p>Like Dorothy saying "there's no place like home" and clicking her ruby slippers, let's repeat the words that will remind us how to throw away our depends.</p> <ul> <li>My attitude will not depend upon whether other teachers do their job.</li> <li>My attitude will not depend upon whether administrators are doing their job.</li> <li>My attitude will not depend upon whether everything is fair around me - life isn't fair. It never will be.</li> <li>I will influence MY attitude. My attitude will be positive and encouraging. I will make no excuses and will not perpetuate negativity.</li> <li>In my classroom, my attitude determines my student's altitude and ultimately their aptitude for my subject. My attitude is important and I will protect it.</li> <li>If my attitude stinks, my students are not old enough to get rid of their depends. Because I love my students, I will do whatever it takes to keep and maintain my positive attitude even if it means distancing myself from colleagues.</li> <li>Nothing good comes out of a bad attitude - they stink.</li> <li>I will do what it takes to be a noble teacher - ANYWAY. </li> <li>I will surround myself with positive people, encouraging books, and avoid whiners.</li> <li>Even when truly tough things are happening, I will do my best to close my door and provide the most positive environment I can for my students. This only depends upon me and my attitude.</li> <li>I will work hard to stay rested and healthy so I have every chance of staying positive in tough times.</li> <li>I will encourage other educators to see the big picture instead of dwelling on the injustices that will happen.</li> <li>If I depend upon anything or anyone it will be my God, my family, and my closest friends and even then, I will know there are times and things I don't understand that I have to leave at the front door of my school so I can teach.</li> <li>My smile depends upon nothing and I will give it freely as I will also give my love, energy, time, and knowledge.</li> <li>My students depend on me and I'll never forget the honor and privilege I have to be given the opportunity to teach them.</li></ul> <p>Hi everyone, I'm a teacher and I've thrown away my depends. How about you?</p> <p> <em>Written June 15. It took some time to finish and publish this post.</em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration Teaching The Key to Staying Positive in Your Classroom: Throw Away Your Depends

  Does my attitude depend on others? Be careful - there are always reasons for having a bad one. As I sit here in the Fort Wayne, Indiana...

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12 Secrets to Having a Truly Restful Vacation

Summer is here. Whether you're reading this in June and live in the northern hemisphere or in November in Australia and south America. You know what you've got ahead.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw2Z5NMfZKHyFwJZBdF8iTUqX02yPmZfl7a2-Kfnnbp5mz9w4-05S-uP-c9m7vvorHCFQWL0-p00OxGK9LlKqQw8owMjj69fEM25DqVUzItS0SBOLjqMeamIGjYc1tfwuuRG0Y-K7TM8L/s1600/IMG_6498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw2Z5NMfZKHyFwJZBdF8iTUqX02yPmZfl7a2-Kfnnbp5mz9w4-05S-uP-c9m7vvorHCFQWL0-p00OxGK9LlKqQw8owMjj69fEM25DqVUzItS0SBOLjqMeamIGjYc1tfwuuRG0Y-K7TM8L/s320/IMG_6498.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQOVKC16Y8gsYHlzikg2aqzJqqelx3-9KJ69LJGGlxKkeWYVz3M7tHWk8t5KEgEFIu5OqEizbuu7zoDBjcZiu60yNUbDNAguWLKhCB6u5l4gthzzfpLy7tuRIVbf4QRbwXhbKKjvYJbs2/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQOVKC16Y8gsYHlzikg2aqzJqqelx3-9KJ69LJGGlxKkeWYVz3M7tHWk8t5KEgEFIu5OqEizbuu7zoDBjcZiu60yNUbDNAguWLKhCB6u5l4gthzzfpLy7tuRIVbf4QRbwXhbKKjvYJbs2/s320/IMG_2208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See "S<a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/06/school-daze-recovering-teacher-within.html" target="_blank">chool Daze: Recapturing the Teacher within</a>" for the<br />story of these photos of me and my son.<br />I'm an idiot when it comes to being goofy in the water.<br />It just feels so good to be outside and be free!</td></tr></tbody></table>You do need rest. You need to veg out. There are so many things you can do. Let's look at some things that will improve your life and your mood. When I say technology, I really mean an always-on smartphone that texts and tweets and vibrates every time that some happens to hit send. I don't mean you can't take pictures. We're talking the barrage of people OUT THERE keeping you from paying attention to the people RIGHT HERE.<br /><br />Disconnecting helps you feel more like a human BEING rather than a human DOING. It is ok to just BE.<br /><br /><br /><h3>Why?</h3>A <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0054402" target="_blank">new study</a> shows that people who claim to be the best multitaskers AREN'T. So, if you think you can focus on all happening OUT THERE, you're lying to yourself. There is a company now to help you with your <a href="http://theweek.com/article/index/239243/life-in-the-age-of-internet-addiction" target="_blank">internet addiction</a>. Even more so, your kids are likely at risk.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQV9bppz50I0cVkQFKoWkLmZZbLOR4yfo8yJMqNh9OPt4jysqNiyTxG4tUmlOLy3G5DT7KMFOk4xqmoJC-Cgoo2jd1NwRkvdkty-fO0cFpW-3cXBUHfpdEB28yd17K8EplYNTGRMhA7F4/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQV9bppz50I0cVkQFKoWkLmZZbLOR4yfo8yJMqNh9OPt4jysqNiyTxG4tUmlOLy3G5DT7KMFOk4xqmoJC-Cgoo2jd1NwRkvdkty-fO0cFpW-3cXBUHfpdEB28yd17K8EplYNTGRMhA7F4/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken just the moment before I saw<br />a flash of light and bubbles. If you've done water sports<br />you know how fast it happens.<br />Don't be afraid to have fun because you're going to fall<br />if you're healthy.</td></tr></tbody></table>Are you really UNABLE to disconnect? Is this a matrix where your spine is forever wired into this mesh of people and when you're done, you unplug and are thrown in the ground?<br /><h2>Take a technology-free vacation.</h2><h3>1. Set guidelines</h3><div>If you have to check, then set a time when you won't be taking away from your family. What does disconnecting mean?</div><div><br /></div><div> I'll never forget the year I was in the mountains and I got a nasty tweet from an awful person. The attack was very personal, off base, and upsetting. I spent the day brooding and writing a response. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>No one can cross the fence of disconnectivity to ruin your peace of mind. You can't control THEM but you can control what you look at. </b>You NEED To disconnect sometimes, YOU DO. What does it mean? Will you still take pics (I do?) Will you use your ereader?  Don't say technology free to your kids and take away their phones and bang away on your laptop. What does technology free look like.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6myyh0OerOD2-Uvy_UCVLkpjk1-CYV74cYJlUjeGv0tnOJEOi7lqo7aoWfMtyj_aK65nyw0f2A6V-Y2qKeuHrBLhhib8UGRh-Fk28f7k37MpBXlqcWQ4owVAvDMemJBPdM6ynvILFHKs/s1600/DSC01811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6myyh0OerOD2-Uvy_UCVLkpjk1-CYV74cYJlUjeGv0tnOJEOi7lqo7aoWfMtyj_aK65nyw0f2A6V-Y2qKeuHrBLhhib8UGRh-Fk28f7k37MpBXlqcWQ4owVAvDMemJBPdM6ynvILFHKs/s320/DSC01811.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of a mushroom taken on a hike.<br />Vicki Davis</td></tr></tbody></table><div>When we go to the mountains with my parents, sisters, kids, and nieces and nephews, we all check our email, etc.in the morning. Then we spend the rest of the day together.</div><div><br /></div><h2>2. Plan to go offline</h2><div>I'll schedule my tweets in buffer and my blog posts as well. I'm often a better blogger when I'm out of town. This also helps others not worry and start trying to reach you because you disappeared! Communicate with those who need to know that you're going offline. </div><div><br /></div><div>Decide how often you're going to post and schedule those before you go out of town. My goal is that the moment I get in the car, I can curl up with a good book and start laughing at Dad's jokes.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s1600/img_0046_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s320/img_0046_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my son rafting down Little Wesser Falls.<br />Yahoo! I'm always scared but glad I do it.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>3. Disconnect your eReader / Tablet from notifications</h3>OK. This doesn't include a Kindle that is NOT connected to the internet. I have an old Kindle that allows me to download books.<br /><br />The problem with my iPad is that if I don't turn off notifications, it will bug me all day. If your tablet is your ereader, then turn off the wi-fi. You need to read. You might not take paper books any more, especially with the prices for luggage on airplanes. Make provision to read, but be careful you're not interrupted.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT6f0jFxCLy3YN8E5mQoahcCYZRpvVHMoN5hO5hDjCUACWvZwy6ZKlISwtV4a00OphvESmrBKyShJmIV6uFJ0OyJYWKedLCgBtT3UEeivRDCAsT8mPohcaJcchRfKhj3pPxeJQhd8oz79/s1600/Zipline+2012+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT6f0jFxCLy3YN8E5mQoahcCYZRpvVHMoN5hO5hDjCUACWvZwy6ZKlISwtV4a00OphvESmrBKyShJmIV6uFJ0OyJYWKedLCgBtT3UEeivRDCAsT8mPohcaJcchRfKhj3pPxeJQhd8oz79/s400/Zipline+2012+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last summer all of us went ziplining. It was awesome. They don't<br />allow you to have cell phones on the zips for safety reasons.<br />They say you can't focus and you become a danger.<br />You're not focusing on the moment and what you're doing.<br />I think this applies to everything on vacation.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3>4. Take up Smartphones and cell phones for long periods of time</h3>My pastor, <a href="http://michaelcatt.com/" target="_blank">Michael Catt</a>, has a basket at the door of his summer vacation cabin where everyone deposits their cell phone. He pays to take his adult daughters and their families on the trip and makes it a condition of the trip. I agree.<br /><br />Have you ever looked up from your laptop on vacation and seen everyone furiously texting people who aren't there? Your time as a family is your chance to connect. You can make memories. I promise that you won't remember ONE text you received or tweet you wrote. You will, however, remember going ziplining with the kids or rafting. You'll remember playing Uno or a board game. You'll remember snuggling up under blankets with a warm batch of brownies watching old episodes of The Pink Panther.<br /><br />You'll remember sleeping late and staying up late. You'll remember catching fire flies and building bonfires. You'll remember when Joey sat on the flaming smore. You'll remember when Suzie ate a bug because she didn't look before grabbing a handful of raisinettes from the picnic basket. You'll even remember when the whole family started singing a crazy Pink song and you filmed it and put it on the family movie at Christmas.<br /><br />When you unplug you make memories. When you stay plugged in, you just make data.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-oU_SIYSBl_8YH702cSdFXM0Xq5W3GZVJ-1mjp_hdRWyo25UrvL-7wX8zchDvcor6RNwukisT3UkJd6j4nx80lhiYVWU5LwUqOKesybAPs9cXnb2D3aFQf7IzLekBGUqXM67SFdyly2n/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-oU_SIYSBl_8YH702cSdFXM0Xq5W3GZVJ-1mjp_hdRWyo25UrvL-7wX8zchDvcor6RNwukisT3UkJd6j4nx80lhiYVWU5LwUqOKesybAPs9cXnb2D3aFQf7IzLekBGUqXM67SFdyly2n/s320/IMG_2894.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><h2>5. Take pictures but wait to upload them</h2>I don't upload pictures until after a trip. First of all, so I don't worry about the security of my house. Secondly, so I can just be in  the moment. Thirdly, because as much as it hurts, if you put too many cool things on Facebook in a small town, people get jealous and it doesn't help you.<br /><br />I know people who go to the beach every weekend and others resent it like crazy. If they just went and kept it private, NO ONE WOULD KNOW. Upload a few highlights when you're done. Plus, if you do something cool, then you start getting, TEXT MESSAGES.<br /><br />This blog post is full of photographs I've taken with my Canon Rebel. It is offline, I can focus on what I'm seeing and I truly see it. I remember the snail and the mushroom and the flowers. Pictures are beautiful memories but beware lest they suck you back into an online world that will take you away from your vacation.<br /><br /><h2>6. Carry a Journal</h2>I use Evernote for everything. But it is a quick jump from Evernote journaling to Twitter for me. Typing is typing. So, I carry a journal to capture ideas (it is what writers do). I write down memories and thoughts. Then, when I get home, I scan them to evernote which handles handwriting recognition just fine. This includes pens and a small notebook in my pocket book and full size journal with at least 20 pages.<br /><br />If I can avoid technology as much as possible, I'm happier. Plus, the bright light of technology can make it harder for you to go to sleep.<br /><br /><h2>7. Investigate cool places</h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm-2D6Csht1FwvTn9Bky-9-NGdAC9RZl_yOFh848r5bzzUUe8WnpnCrj4TdMC4RWorh0nUipcllFrFPJcCAqiBGD-BFl_RyYLySf1hjwAKkzj0qqn3fuwxtqFT1SqOtmLKZ9-iAylkE3U/s1600/IMG_2617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm-2D6Csht1FwvTn9Bky-9-NGdAC9RZl_yOFh848r5bzzUUe8WnpnCrj4TdMC4RWorh0nUipcllFrFPJcCAqiBGD-BFl_RyYLySf1hjwAKkzj0qqn3fuwxtqFT1SqOtmLKZ9-iAylkE3U/s320/IMG_2617.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We collect "waterfalls" in my family.<br />We buy books about them and<br />go off weird places to find them.<br />There's something beautiful in the roar<br />and something calming in the shhhh<br />of water falling from rocks.<br />We use the same book every year and<br />mark them in the book. We take pics.<br />Think of something you like to<br />see and collect experiences.</td></tr></tbody></table>I do use Yelp like crazy when we're traveling. I use the "nearby" feature to find cool restaurants nearby and bookstores. I love bookstores,even though I'm an ebook fanatic. I like the smell of books and the feel of them. Books are like air to me - they help me feel truly alive.<br /><br />Some people check these out ahead of time and mark them on Foursquare.But be careful, it is an easy slide into full blown online engagement and offline disconnect. There have been times my kids have looked at each other and said, "Mom's gone again..." I don't like that! I'm here! I'll be here! Time is short because soon they'll be gone.<br /><br /><h2>8. Go places off the grid</h2>Do you really NEED wifi everywhere you go? I've found the best way to disconnect is to go somewhere with bad service. I always feel so much better by the second day and like a human again by the third.<br /><h2>9. Plan ahead to do fun things</h2>We have older movies, board games and card games. We pack them. Sometimes the boys pack their airsoft guns or nerf guns (what a mess.) This is a great thing about going to one place each summer that is the same from the prior year. Routines often make memories.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwiZRF8Rc7yODZ0rhKuef3hiL9F5obVPzvUz7JJYBgN41Qwqm5O2QL_kduRk6TkvRCsFaiGgp9FECEGDZaFpvsVq91Bq72NZRn9E0DyFe61ydNmCwBvRddbttcrhS0mHWg2lcg4tPqnav/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwiZRF8Rc7yODZ0rhKuef3hiL9F5obVPzvUz7JJYBgN41Qwqm5O2QL_kduRk6TkvRCsFaiGgp9FECEGDZaFpvsVq91Bq72NZRn9E0DyFe61ydNmCwBvRddbttcrhS0mHWg2lcg4tPqnav/s320/IMG_2581.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you really look at the wildlife?<br />Kip stopped the car one year so I could<br />photograph these lovely flowers.<br />When you take pictures, you make a memory.</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>10. Leave your worries at home</h2>I make a list of things that will bother me while I"m gone and do them before I go. If there is a bill to be paid, I pay it. If there is something upsetting me, I try to tackle it head on (unless it is something I have to think about.) I handle the pets. I'm not tempted, then, to make phone calls and interact too much with the outside world.<br /><h2>11. Plan to return to a clean house</h2>Money is always tight but one thing I've always done is to schedule someone to clean my house while I'm gone. There is nothing nicer to come home to a clean house. Otherwise, you feel like you've got to come home and wear yourself out.<br /><br />How does this help with technology? It means that when I come home, I can focus that first day on getting caught up. I don't have to panic as I drive home all upset knowing the house is a mess AND I haven't checked email.<br /><br /><h2>12. Don't stress. Remember, you make the rules and this is YOUR vacation.</h2>Stuff happens. It does. If it does, handle the problem. Get on the phone, use your laptop, etc. Talk to your family and then move on. Remember, though, that you are a gift you give your family. Unstress and be your best.<br /><br />But stuff doesn't happen every day. If it does, why are you on vacation?<br /><br />In Conclusion<br />This is your time. These precious people will not last forever. Twitter will likely live longer than some of the people you're with. If you want to live life with no regrets, intentionally walk away from things that tempt you to distraction.<br /><br />Life life with intention. You can't be perfect but you can plan ahead. You can focus on the people around you instead of that cell phone that will put you in a digital jail if you let it.<br /><br />Enjoy your vacation and yes, I want to see pics and I will be happy for you. (Unless you go to Alaska and if you do, I don't want to hear about it! ;-)

Inspiration 12 Secrets to Having a Truly Restful Vacation

Summer is here. Whether you're reading this in June and live in the northern hemisphere or in November in Australia and south America. Y...

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How your students can join the #quest2matter and change the world @angelamaiers

<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" scrollable="no" src="http://embed.live.huffingtonpost.com/HPLEmbedPlayer/?segmentId=519501802b8c2a258b000319" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><h2>The Quest 2 Matter is here! </h2><div><a href="http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1102:teaching-teachers-with-technology&catid=91:every-classroom-matters&Itemid=259">Listen to my interview with Agnela about the #quest2matter</a> (Every Classroom Matters on BAM Radio)</div><div><br /></div>Think of a Match.com for student ideas to improve the world and the rest of the world. That is the platform that is being built behind Quest 2 Matter. Some incredible opportunities are here for rich student participation.Whether it is on the back end helping manage and run the projects (some of my students are spending time on their summer passion projects volunteering in the movement in social media, judging, etc. Kids really are behind this movement) or submitting their quest.<br /><br />I sat down recently with <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/110733317135232488232" target="_blank">+Angela Maiers</a>  (@<a href="http://www.twitter.com/angelamaiers" target="_blank">angelamaiers)</a> to understand the details about the <a href="http://choose2matter.org/quest2matter-join" target="_blank">Quest2Matter</a> and how your students can participate. Watch as your students solve a problem. Help them upload their videos to the Quest 2 Matter website. The best will be selected and curated for an opportunity to mentor and be scaled globally. The Huff Post video above gives an overview about the movement from a business/ college perspective. My show focused on students and the classroom.<br /><br />This is an important part of the #geniushour movement (See <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2013/05/engage-students-supercharge-learning.html" target="_blank">Engage Students and Supercharge Learning with #geniushour)</a> It is also passion based learning and integrates well with digital storytelling.<br /><br />If you're looking for the PERFECT way to end the school year THIS IS IT!<br /><br /><h2>Links from the #Quest2Matter Show</h2>Flyer - <a href="https://www.smore.com/0ruh-taking-student-genius-global?utm_content=buffere386f&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer">https://www.smore.com/0ruh-taking-student-genius-global</a><br />YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/choose2matter">https://www.youtube.com/choose2matter</a> -- <i>Many students including my own have been involved in the Quest2Matter. They are excited and share their stories.</i><br /><br />FAQ about Quest2Matter and how to join: <a href="http://choose2matter.org/quest2matter-join">http://choose2matter.org/quest2matter-join</a><br /><a href="https://www.nonamesite.com/web/cs-stem/quest-2-matter;jsessionid=4nvkpU14+sA3TNTUtsOPBg__.node4?p_p_id=quest2Matter_WAR_quest2matterportlet_INSTANCE_3Mmn&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_quest2Matter_WAR_quest2matterportlet_INSTANCE_3Mmn_view=viewRules">Rules for the Quest2Matter</a><br /><br />Respond to the Huff Post Video Above: <a href="http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/tech-game-changers-choose2matter/519501802b8c2a258b000319">http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/tech-game-changers-choose2matter/519501802b8c2a258b000319</a><br /><br />I hope you'll join in the quest2matter!

EDUCATION every classroom matters Inspiration How your students can join the #quest2matter and change the world @angelamaiers

The Quest 2 Matter is here!  Listen to my interview with Agnela about the #quest2matter  (Every Classroom Matters on BAM Radio) Think of a M...

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Google #22 Discover the potential of YouTube to motivate you as a teacher

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5knyPUvrYtEY38mg5mqprArkvPYrLHrYaarFXUlzY_60SqNEf6FZIM7X3KWuV_q2N_d389FdikP1xMV6HePS7Iz60hs3fgqN3Kh6fJtM5YoBqO02VxAAmCSxkiZjjVggd_AKETMlpbEs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="200" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many really amazing, educational videos available on YouTube that can really motivate a teacher. These are often brief but powerful in the message expressed. Take a look at these few examples. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">1) Connecting classrooms </b>(1min 53secs)<br />Cathy Cassidy a Grade 1 teacher from Canada Gr 1 teacher gives 'A brief description of my journey to connect my classroom of 6 and 7 year olds'</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u3RWjZnLLg4" width="420"></iframe></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2) What most schools don’t teach </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(5min 46secs)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These famous names in technology such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Will.i.am, Chris Bosh, Jack Dorsey, Tony Hsieh, Drew Houston, Gabe Newell, Ruchi Sanghvi, Elena Silenok, Vanessa Hurst, and Hadi Partovi.  express their viewpoints on knowing how to code a computer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q0z-C8Ke2FQ" width="420"></iframe></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">3) The Future of Learning, Networked Society - Ericsson </b>(20 min 16secs)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’re living in a networked society – a great way to learn anything new. Watch this video as world renowned experts and educators talk about a networked society’s potential to shift away from traditional methods of learning based on memorization and repetition to more holistic approaches that focus on individual students' needs and self expression.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/quYDkuD4dMU" width="420"></iframe></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4) What is 21st century learning?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2min 11secs)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ax5cNlutAys" width="420"></iframe> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are just a few of the many many offerings that can inspire teachers on YouTube. Do you know of any others to recommend?</span></div>

30 Days of Google Inspiration videos Google #22 Discover the potential of YouTube to motivate you as a teacher

There are so many really amazing, educational videos available on YouTube that can really motivate a teacher. These are often brief but powe...

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11 kinds of people I've noticed and how to decide who you want to be

Very few people are do-ers - the kind who get things done and take care of business. <br /><br />Here's what I've observed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-12wnRiq0TUyQv267snNABHPVCv099k9kzmTitpYAwvmiFpV_9DZxYUnRQ65vTQr7ZnPKc9zLb2ca6k-_olwYxRS86p0t2vwnyOhJEGdGPh-_JOkWzaAPpet4PWrqtSQ8bkau3vEaqcRg/s1600/ihateyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-12wnRiq0TUyQv267snNABHPVCv099k9kzmTitpYAwvmiFpV_9DZxYUnRQ65vTQr7ZnPKc9zLb2ca6k-_olwYxRS86p0t2vwnyOhJEGdGPh-_JOkWzaAPpet4PWrqtSQ8bkau3vEaqcRg/s320/ihateyou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2><b>The poo-poo-ers</b></h2>These people ALWAYS complain and NEVER EVER do anything but complain. Our society loves a good controversy so these people gain a group of followers of bitter, angry people who feel the world is out to get them. Everyone is a hypocrite? (OK, I agree on that one, but still, the person saying it better watch out too. ;-)<br /><br />No one is ever right, everyone is corrupt and only a few people in the world are ok -- the poo-poo-er him/herself and his/her buddies. Don't waste your time trying to please this person -- you'll just get -- yep, you know what - all over you. You'll never be good enough.<br /><br />These people show up at board meetings and church meetings and everyone groans when they stand up because you know that you'll all feel much worse and sad to be a human being after they sit down. These people see the world through poo-covered glasses. I guess there's a place for this kind of person, but just not near me. Pew!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wo-qgHiYnnUekr9LIfjAgvsQIFUGno12iKQxiMWCCuua0qjzl6uff4qRj9Zzz2X9nERTrB3XV0HbBi4ficyvWpULTXLoPrkEcVjM5s1Dzy6Lwk2Pc7ZQde9xDikT6XTKx0UDcCs4zK0W/s1600/iStock_000005803734XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wo-qgHiYnnUekr9LIfjAgvsQIFUGno12iKQxiMWCCuua0qjzl6uff4qRj9Zzz2X9nERTrB3XV0HbBi4ficyvWpULTXLoPrkEcVjM5s1Dzy6Lwk2Pc7ZQde9xDikT6XTKx0UDcCs4zK0W/s320/iStock_000005803734XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The look-through-ers</h2>These people are always reading and looking at the latest greatest. Like perpetual shoppers who have all of the catalogs and look at them daily but never buy, these are often veritable repositories of information. They know a lot and are exposed to a lot.<br /><br />If not careful, they can become paralyzed from making a decision and doing anything because they know that something new will come along tomorrow that they'd rather have instead. So, instead of doing something, they often just continued to look - finding lots of answers but never the answer for their situation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvByAOgxpvPBoPA7Kypqpfjh3n8kHhYaFtsMM5Uk0dJAxz6BGHka79l1sggCM-wjdlDbkRpmrQAoMh0zfNcdUV0VhrCNuhr4OSl2vzKIYvVDSGKAo-uY4ZLSWg4F6UZeV3NLipOCdYsAC/s1600/iStock_000005792724XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvByAOgxpvPBoPA7Kypqpfjh3n8kHhYaFtsMM5Uk0dJAxz6BGHka79l1sggCM-wjdlDbkRpmrQAoMh0zfNcdUV0VhrCNuhr4OSl2vzKIYvVDSGKAo-uY4ZLSWg4F6UZeV3NLipOCdYsAC/s320/iStock_000005792724XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The get-round-to-ers</h2>These people know what they need to do but never quite understand the difference between the urgent and the important. It is always on their list, they always plan to do "it" but "it" -- the important, visionary thing that really needs to happen -- never gets done.<br /><br />These people are often afraid to let go and delegate the minutiae of their jobs because that minutiae is what makes them feel job security. If they do a thousand tiny things, they'll never be replaced because they're "indispensable."  They never figure out that people can be hired to handle minutia but a true visionary is the one that gets the big bucks.<br /><br /><h2>The froo-froo-ers</h2>These people will curl the hair on a poodle before sending him out to be a bird dog -- the things they do are lovely, embellished and often beautiful but ill suited for the task at hand. Like putting on lipstick before sitting down in a dentist's chair, they often focus on things that are so trivial and banal and unimportant -- but they insist these things be done painstakingly well -- that others groan when they come to a meeting.<br /><br />I've seen some in authority this way and it means that there will be several ill-fitting mis-guided Oscar-awards-like experiences that just don't fit what is needed. When people tell them it is froo-froo -- these people just assume everyone the critics are poo-poo-ers who don't understand that "everything" should be done with excellence.<br /><br />No, not everything should be done with excellence. Sometimes, marginally important jobs can be done sufficiently to get the job done -- for example, napkins can be put on the table in the lunchrooms without tying a ribbon around it. Maybe the ribbon might improve learning in the school -- but I doubt it -- just give the kids the napkins, let them eat and get back to class. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCcXH_3wu30mFqEarEVXOrUhzIAs5gJ3i1k0iiAzcmk1eh5ItuuUXHd772XdPzsSrVlVf0QriqKDKKqctgQlq3n-rjC5fsLhGe7MQSB_FNUuJJhKgPPLyDN8QFPKPI7L5nFeu3TJdJHQi/s1600/bigstock-The-Complaint--878239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCcXH_3wu30mFqEarEVXOrUhzIAs5gJ3i1k0iiAzcmk1eh5ItuuUXHd772XdPzsSrVlVf0QriqKDKKqctgQlq3n-rjC5fsLhGe7MQSB_FNUuJJhKgPPLyDN8QFPKPI7L5nFeu3TJdJHQi/s320/bigstock-The-Complaint--878239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The pontificators</h2>These people pontificate and analyze everything. They sit on the sidelines and watch others do and analyze everything about what they done. They've always been able to find a misplaced comma in that brochure or a mis-said word quoted in the paper.<br /><br />Count on them for a great analysis of what should have been done and could have been done. They'll give you great wisdom after the fact, but ask them what to do next week and they'll hedge their answer and give you both sides in the hope that one of the sides will be right and they can easily forget that they didn't give you an answer.<br /><br />They have a huge need to be fortune tellers of the future so they say a lot of words, like throwing spaghetti against a wall, hoping something will stick. They sound smart and most of them are, they often lack the backbone to make a decision but wish they could.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFGOKLwowWwJ-dQd3beogxeclWKWFEth7KSnjDSptnMOM3tJWZpP8hDV2GCImzc-HRSGsHaynHRd5jxRJdha7gigF5vGFexYp2WS7KFeJhxqZXF6ZZa9YcZSLivGdUElbbFXucuiF4hlj/s1600/bigstock-Spring-Entertainments-3161773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFGOKLwowWwJ-dQd3beogxeclWKWFEth7KSnjDSptnMOM3tJWZpP8hDV2GCImzc-HRSGsHaynHRd5jxRJdha7gigF5vGFexYp2WS7KFeJhxqZXF6ZZa9YcZSLivGdUElbbFXucuiF4hlj/s320/bigstock-Spring-Entertainments-3161773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The never-follow-through-ers</h2>These people start down great paths but can't quite finish. It is kind of like the person who leads in a cross country race but decides to run another race halfway through the first one and takes off across town to get to the starting line. Call it short attention span or just an inability to finish anything they start -- they start things alright but they just can't seem to finish. It might be fear or indecisiveness but these people have to learn to get the job done.<br /><br />They blow bubbles of progress that pop moments after they are born. Lots of hot air but not much permanence there.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOvX7ytv_JL6nXpn458j2oT70aKnHBlhWvE8O8ec_P-Oip0vxei_CncA2tSDYf2CRZaRnEGTO_suwfkf7vB_qK7soICvJC_kOoHVvNkIHlGwNmHxXvx_q3wKQ7NAceN5baVpmkR34836k/s1600/iStock_000013746797XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOvX7ytv_JL6nXpn458j2oT70aKnHBlhWvE8O8ec_P-Oip0vxei_CncA2tSDYf2CRZaRnEGTO_suwfkf7vB_qK7soICvJC_kOoHVvNkIHlGwNmHxXvx_q3wKQ7NAceN5baVpmkR34836k/s320/iStock_000013746797XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The preener seeners</h2>These people love to be seen. They are great at picking winning causes and positioning themselves at the front to be seen. Sometimes they swoop in at the last minute and take credit. Because they are often well spoken, they are put out front to speak and give the sound byte to the media.<br /><br />There are times that a good, honest doer may look like a preener seener, because they are well spoken and have their act together, but there are times that charlatans look like do-ers but really are just stepping up to take a bow and another step up. Don't mistake having a public job like a superintendent as being a preener seener. <br /><br />There's one big thing that separates the preener seener from the do-er who has a job that needs to be public: the willingness to share the spotlight. A preener seener wants all of the focus to be on him/her -- perfectly coiffed - this person says "I" a lot and takes credit for everything.<br /><br />The do-er, however, will call the names of others when in public and make every effort to take others and put them on stage to give them credit, with a particular attention to those who can do nothing to help their career in return. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlV53XhlnUqs4MNck7jzWmmRBz_asHCFq_Gb3mHSGaMULETh6b-8KuYdPaHnpBeau72yEk4VQshzZIXMW5ZfMtttS4zv1rin4hTWZhLCTAx7t0pz_L5iYROe-ZwyA8RuZ-dQnbJQ-U_2J/s1600/iStock_000004176631XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlV53XhlnUqs4MNck7jzWmmRBz_asHCFq_Gb3mHSGaMULETh6b-8KuYdPaHnpBeau72yEk4VQshzZIXMW5ZfMtttS4zv1rin4hTWZhLCTAx7t0pz_L5iYROe-ZwyA8RuZ-dQnbJQ-U_2J/s320/iStock_000004176631XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The jump-in-to-ers</h2>Haste, rush, hurry, NOW NOW NOW. I've read that the most successful people are slow to make a decision but after the decision is made, they are slow to change their mind and stay committed to the cause.<br /><br />This person is the antithesis of that-- jumping in and making quick decisions without all the facts is what this person does. Sadly, this person doesn't stay committed and will just as quickly change course. If this person was a boat, they'd be riding in circles in the bay - -never coming into harbor and never going out to sea.<br /><br /><br /><h2>The I-know-everything-because-I'm-rich-er</h2>Being rich means that a person is very likely good at managing money - that is it. Being rich is not a stamp of intelligence, higher learning, higher morals, or a higher calling. Mother Theresa gave up her worldly goods to help others and was the person you called on if trying to understand how to help the poor in India.<br /><br />Wealth is a blessing and those who wear it well often hide it from the world and use it to help great causes. Beware of the arrogant wealthy person who arrives with money and opinions in tow - they will spend all of their money to prove they are a good, knowledgeable person. Honestly, I'm not going to ask the person born on third base how to hit a home run, I will however, ask the kind of person who has earned money from nothing because those are the action oriented kind of people I like.<br /><br />If you can find a wealthy person who is humble and helpful, they are truly a blessing upon this earth and treat them well. <b>That is the kind of person who should be rich.</b> Being wealthy isn't a sin so don't treat someone poorly or disrespectfully because they are wealthy -- wealth doesn't mean a person is obnoxious, I've known many very great men and women who were wealthy and saw it as a responsibility to help others.<br /><br /><h2>The slackers</h2>Yes, these people are there. They show up, clock in, go through the motions, clock out and go home to veg in front of the tv. Their goal is to expend as little energy as possible so it is saved up for R&R. A good day is one that is uneventful as possible so they sign up for as little as possible.<br /><br />They often like a good story and enjoy hanging out, but doing something is an anathema to them. They miss the point that legacies are built when you work hard and work worth doing and live for the weekend.<br /><br />Having this person in your group makes you feel like you're a mule harnessed to a dead horse.<br /><br />I say "<b>wake up the horse or bury him</b>, too many people want and need jobs to let these hang around." Of course, sometimes people look like slackers because their hope is gone and don't think things will ever change. Sometimes a do-er (see below) can look like a slacker because froo-froers or never-follow-through-ers are in charge and the do-er is frustrated because nothing ever gets done so they feel it is hopeless to try.<br /><br />Be very very careful if you're a leader when you criticize the slackers. The slackers in a demoralized organization may actually be your do-ers who are sitting out rather than taking the cheapshots and potshots of a toxic organization of negativity or dysfunctional management.<br /><br /><b>Many doers take vacations as slackers until they decide they are ready to do again</b>. Good managers recruit doers. A former doer who looks like a slacker is most likely just a doer taking a break. Good leaders know this and resist the desire to criticize people who do nothing. A lot of great leaders may be in this category at this point in time for various reasons.<br /><br />If you're taking a vacation as a slacker, ask yourself if this is really the right thing for you to be doing? You can be more.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s1600/img_0046_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s320/img_0046_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>The do-ers</h2>Doers are rare, beautiful, practical people. They don't always know the answers but have a habit of looking at the facts, making the best decision possible, staying committed and getting it done. Doers are known and sought after because they DO IT.<br /><br />They have an uncanny ability to cut out the froo-froo, ignore the poo-poo, use the wisdom of the look-throughs to make a decision, and even to recruit some of the do-ers who have been taking a break in the slack-stack to come out of retirement and start doing again. <br /><br />If you have a doer on your staff, their doing is contagious so treat them well, you have a gift. Because doers can get discouraged. If too much of the other roles are taking a lead in the organizations - most doers will tune out and quit. It would be like trying to pull a truck out of the mud when the back of the truck was chained to a tree -- why would you keep pulling?<br /><br />Doers are practical people with one exception. Sometimes doers spend so much time doing that they don't spend time being. We are human be-ings not human do-ings. Your self worth isn't measured in how much you do -- sometimes you just have to be. Take time off and take a break - your kids and parents are getting older and so are you and none of us lasts forever. Will one more day at the office really make you a happier person?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66q8rDmKk16ZDEwuJqhIHDUxAitz8a5yrnSqPqEIg5R40fEPIhK03QhVtACu25RVUTNPKKGC5jRbPGO8MZj2hUanVB6Vw7mRmANWLRmfnFcL4i9KcuS4WpmtF5hH2y7mkQIPIKgp52tYZ/s1600/bigstock-Will-you-choose-I-am-a-Winner--21747167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66q8rDmKk16ZDEwuJqhIHDUxAitz8a5yrnSqPqEIg5R40fEPIhK03QhVtACu25RVUTNPKKGC5jRbPGO8MZj2hUanVB6Vw7mRmANWLRmfnFcL4i9KcuS4WpmtF5hH2y7mkQIPIKgp52tYZ/s320/bigstock-Will-you-choose-I-am-a-Winner--21747167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>How can we all become doers?</h2>Don't be discouraged if you think you're one of the first few I named. This is just an unscientific observation from a person who is most often a do-er but sometimes takes a trip into other roles too. We all have tendencies to be each of these at different times. I've been ALL OF THESE at some point in my life, probably far too much than I wish to admit.<br /><br />When I'm at a standstill in life I have to ask myself:<br /><br /><ul><li>Am I trapped in my own negativity?</li><li>If my cell phone's voice recorder was accidentally triggered in the day and my words were broadcast over the PA, would I immediately try to figure out if I was having a negative conversation that I wouldn't want heard?</li><li>Am I continuing to look at options without making a decision? </li><li>Are the people around me sensing it is time for me to make a decision and I'm still "looking at options?"</li><li>Am I letting the urgent things in my day keep me from focusing on important, visionary things?</li><li>Do I need to delegate some less important things and clear my schedule to DO something important?</li><li>Am I listening to those around me about the importance of what I want to do? </li><li>What is the body language of people when I have a new idea that we're going to do? </li><li>Do I let other people contribute to help get my ideas more central to the mission of my organization?</li><li>Do I spend a lot of time talking and hoping to be right?</li><li> Am I always saying "I told you so?" </li><li>Do I wish more people would just "listen to me" but never offer solutions? Maybe I need to put myself out there and make some decisions.</li><li>Do I finish anything I start? </li><li>Do I start new things before enough old things have closure so I can make forward progress?</li><li>Am I focused on being seen, getting credit and moving forward my career or will I call attention and give credit to others who deserve it?</li><li>Am I a slacker? </li><li>Am I too tired to do anything or have any ideas? </li><li>Am I so discouraged that I've moved myself from do-er status to slacker status just to heal up before I start again?</li><li>Am I a doer? </li><li>Do I pace myself and take care of myself and my personal relationships? </li><li>Do I take time to be a human being and not just a human doing?</li></ul><br /><br />It helps if we all step back and take a look at where we are and where we're going so we'll know what success looks like when we get there.<br /><br />Hope you've enjoyed my unscientific observations on the world and that you'll consider the kind of person you want to be in your life, your classroom, your community. Life is short and we need people who are unselfish, hard working, and have character.<br /><br />You have already shown yourself exceptional because you are reading what others write. Take some time for introspection time today.<br /><br />Take this article for what it is, a rambling view into the weaknesses of most of us. It isn't scientific nor meant to be and there are more things in life than this. In fact, I've let this post sit in my draft for over 3 months knowing that someone is going to email me about this or that, but you know what. I've reread this again and I think, the observations of people are right on. ;-) So, I'm going to do it and move on! Have a great day!<br /><br />If you were writing an article on the kinds of people you've known, what would be your categories?<br /><br />

Inspiration 11 kinds of people I've noticed and how to decide who you want to be

Very few people are do-ers - the kind who get things done and take care of business. Here's what I've observed. The poo-poo-ers The...

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26,144 visitors and 138,737 page views. Yay!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><img border="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzNjU2Mjc4Njg3ODgmcHQ9MTM2NTYyNzg3NTA4MSZwPTc*MzIxJmQ9Jmc9MSZvPWQ2Y2RjYjhmZmZlZTQ4ZjU5MDFi/NGQ2YWM5ZGM3NjJk.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><a href="http://www.sparklee.com/"><img alt="free glitter - http://www.sparklee.com" border="0" src="http://img-s3-01.mytextgraphics.com/sparklee/2013/04/10/56d7f451db0196a3f2f6713e6a9dbfe1.gif" /></a><br /><br /></div>

Inspiration 26,144 visitors and 138,737 page views. Yay!

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11 ways to be positive when your spring break isn't all you wished for

<p> Yesterday with my eye partially covered with a bandage from the mohs surgery done to remove a skin cancer growth next to my eye, I realized that I was gifted with seeing things clearly.</p> <p>I'm not happy about having to do this surgery over spring break nor are my children happy that we are spending the money intended for our holiday on such unpleasantness but that is how it goes sometimes. Tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon I'll be done with the last of it. </p> <p>Yet, as unpleasant as it is, life isn't all happy stuff. And when we have struggles, we can learn even from those. Here are some things that came to me yesterday as I went to Cracker Barrel with Mom, my face covered in gauze and iodine.</p> <ol> <li><strong>There are kind people in the world</strong>. The waitress was so kind to me. The lady at the doctor's who cut the gauze meticulously so I could see out of my right eye today was kind. The adept Mohs surgeon was kind, looking me in the eye and asking me if I had questions (and we even talked about my blog - why does that always come up - I guess it is important to me.)</li> <li><strong>Rejoice in the little things</strong>. I got to read a book yesterday while waiting and I got to spend time with my Mama. She's so busy and everyone wants her attention that time alone with her is precious. </li> <li><strong>Put one foot in front of the other</strong>. When dealing with unpleasantness it is important not to get too far ahead of yourself. I had to deal with yesterday before today. And today before tomorrow.</li> <li><strong>Play your game forward</strong>. You can't live life in the rear view mirror. I could be angry at myself for the year of sunbeds I did for the sake of beauty pageants. I could be bitter that others are out having fun while I'm dealing with this. Come to think of it, my kids could be bitter too. The great movie 7 Days in Utopia has a scene where Robert Duvall tells the golfer to "Play his game forward" - it means you look ahead of you and not behind you to determine what your next shot will be.</li> <li><strong>Mercy always trumps legalism</strong>. Kip brought home the Les Miserables movie last night. It is such a reminder to me of how mercy and love are always stronger than legalism and unforgiveness. Some will look down upon me and say "she's getting what she deserves because she got in the sunbed when she was 18, it serves her right." Yet, I have doctors who are giving me mercy, trying to help me look good again. I have a family who is merciful and my Dad picked up pizza for us. I had texted my kids that I needed some Tylenol hoping one of them would get it for me and I had 2 extra large bottles on the table that they had bought with their own money - each of them got it for me. Those 2 bottles of Tylenol are precious reminders that although I may struggle with my teens, underneath it all, they love me. Without this, I might have only seen the dirty laundry and dirty dishes.</li> <li><strong>There can be purpose in the pain</strong>. I was called back for a second time to have the doctor go back in and remove more. I have to admit, I just thought I was going to die, but while I was back, my Mom was helping a lady in the lobby who was struggling to get to the ladies room. She was there because I was back there. I believe the good Lord can use our struggles and pain to minister and be there for others. People need kindness wherever we are. If we're only self centered and see our own selves, we miss out on the chance to be a blessing.</li> <li><strong>Crying is not always the right thing to do. I</strong> admit, I'm a pretty private person. I've teared up on stage before talking about my students but I try not to. My Mom tells a story of when she and Dad were in Russia and Mom almost died in a Russian hospital due to an allergic reaction to some medicine she'd taken. As she sat there in the hallway of a dirty hospital, watching doctors reuse needles and with roaches crawling on the walls and beds, she realized how bad her situation was. Her throat was swollen and she could barely breathe. She started feeling the tears coming but then, she realized, "I can either cry and die or I can make it through this and live." She toughed it out and lived to come home to us girls. As I teared up yesterday, the worst pain of the day started shooting down my nose and through my eye. I quickly realized as upsetting as it was, that the best thing for me to do is to go through this, without the tears. Those would have been tears of self pity anyway as the biggest pain was gone. It is OK to cry when you lose someone but self-pity tears often make it worse.</li> <li><strong>There is always someone having a harder time</strong>. Dad had lunch yesterday with a man whose 28 year old daughter is hoping to get her kidney function back. She's been in the hospital 2 weeks and it is a tough situation. While it doesn't minimize my own pain, it does offer perspective that there are worse things that could happen.</li> <li><strong>There are always people having a great time out there</strong>. Facebook is filled with photos of people in fantastic places. I was talking on Facebook with people about a recent study that shows that most people have a temporary dip in self image after getting on Facebook. This person quoted a friend (I can't find the original comment) who said, "The problem with Facebook is that we are comparing the best exterior of others to our worst interior thoughts." Right now, I'm taking a Facebook break as much as I can. It is just too upsetting. Why do something that will make me more upset. Sure, it is spring break and most people are off, that is what people DO on spring break.</li> <li><strong>Choose your attitude</strong>. I don't sit in manure. So, why would I sit in unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger - three components of a stinky attitude? I'd rather have love, forgiveness, faith and renew my mind daily so that I can accomplish what God intended me to do with my life.</li> <li><strong>Remember</strong>. Last summer was awesome. More awesome than usual. I'll look back on the ziplining and rafting memories. Some women my age can't manage a canoe or ducky or zipline, so I'm happy I got to do that.</li></ol> <p>Even now, this blog post is part of my hope that God will use this situation for good. Some of you out there are having a pity party about something. Something didn't go as planned. You're not getting to do what you want to do. Someone you love is having a hard time. Why? Why? Why?</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtLeTqwkG6Q7SHsnv3YwvUyEfszvrQA3b7egzl-pUlKwox6N3kEkev4qJxZMrzFhhpbP5oFRJV6jdJojd2q59n3PTsNhnSoVJdrJ9swdoM43N0wjOh8BlApo2_SET4RAL4uybezoR2Lgu/s720/E0624DD5-6AA4-4901-A683-133D9EF06750.JPG" target="_blank" style="text-align: center; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1364904200561.4927" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtLeTqwkG6Q7SHsnv3YwvUyEfszvrQA3b7egzl-pUlKwox6N3kEkev4qJxZMrzFhhpbP5oFRJV6jdJojd2q59n3PTsNhnSoVJdrJ9swdoM43N0wjOh8BlApo2_SET4RAL4uybezoR2Lgu/s500/E0624DD5-6AA4-4901-A683-133D9EF06750.JPG" width="500"></a><p>Just yesterday in my journal, I listed 2 whole pages of worries that I'm praying about. Just yesterday I had 2 shots in the face and tomorrow I have more surgery. I don't say this to gross you out but to say, life isn't always pleasant and none of us are Pollyanna. It isn't easy living life but life is much easier when we learn how to help others and be kind amidst the struggles.</p> <p>The last time I checked the death ratio is 1:1. Everyone will die at least once. And, for me, I truly believe that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." We're not put on this planet to serve ourselves but to serve and help others. Even in our pain, we can help others and we should, but it isn't always that easy to do.</p> <p>I guess this is why I'm happiest for Easter. This didn't start out to be an Easter-themed post, and yet, if you're looking for a reason that someone could be happy amidst all of this mess - there it is. I serve a risen Savior and He's alive in me. </p> <p>I welcome all faiths and religions here on this blog and in education and work everyday to include and encourage others. Those of you who know me, however, know that truth and honesty is important. It is what it is. I'll just speak the truth in love as honestly as I know how, while respecting the fact that you can choose what to believe yourself.</p> <p> I may take a break for a few days and not have my typical 4-5 posts this week but I'll be back working hard to inspire all teachers with technology, inspiration, and encouragement to be excellent next week. Meanwhile, Mom just texted me she's leaving the house and I've got to get ready for Day 2.</p> <p>Remember your noble calling, teacher. And know that there are ways you can teach through the struggles of life - people are always watching so live your life in a way worth living. Have a great day and if you're on spring break, enjoy it, and I will too.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration 11 ways to be positive when your spring break isn't all you wished for

Yesterday with my eye partially covered with a bandage from the mohs surgery done to remove a skin cancer growth next to my eye, I realized...

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Do you stop and solve problems or just whine?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T2msTwfsm_M/SaQQz2N-5OI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q1AEYGH7-S4/s32/Ambulance-32x32.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="32" id="blogsy-1364037874153.72" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T2msTwfsm_M/SaQQz2N-5OI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q1AEYGH7-S4/s32/Ambulance-32x32.jpg" width="32"></a></div> <p> Do you solve problems or sit by and whine? The difference is profound.</p> <p>Whiners are like ambulances that never stop. Zipping through neighborhoods of critically ill people - they just whine - pointing out the problem, upsetting the pets, causing everyone to be sleepless - but never doing anything about it.</p> <p>Give me people of action. Give me people who actually put on the brakes, stop the ambulance, triage the problem and take action steps to isolate, remediate, and medicate so there is hope for recovery.</p> <p>Every time you hear an ambulance - ask yourself if you're the siren or the solver who stops to do something.</p> <p> <font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T2msTwfsm_M/SaQQz2N-5OI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q1AEYGH7-S4/s32/Ambulance-32x32.jpg" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="32" id="blogsy-1364037874153.72" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T2msTwfsm_M/SaQQz2N-5OI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q1AEYGH7-S4/s32/Ambulance-32x32.jpg" width="32"></a> Be the solution, not the waaambulance.</font></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration productivity Do you stop and solve problems or just whine?

Do you solve problems or sit by and whine? The difference is profound. Whiners are like ambulances that never stop. Zipping through neigh...

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Open Your Eyes Wide to the Heroes Beside

<div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Can you spot a hero? We work beside them. They are every where but often blind to the fact that they make such a difference.</span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVuvhE7yUsQoSOFRv2QcXT7_3F7cXAEwx6gJeKGRn1_JB4fUopREGAFlvR3JFUqjgYiDC7ex5PSWK2DGN3kkCPijuG49gThnO94gldwF8KhBOLttVlgsoHNxkzgjIANtTaVoy4oWoGnlB/s1600/iStock_000005877462XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVuvhE7yUsQoSOFRv2QcXT7_3F7cXAEwx6gJeKGRn1_JB4fUopREGAFlvR3JFUqjgYiDC7ex5PSWK2DGN3kkCPijuG49gThnO94gldwF8KhBOLttVlgsoHNxkzgjIANtTaVoy4oWoGnlB/s320/iStock_000005877462XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span id="goog_2006207230"></span><span id="goog_2006207231"></span><br /></span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Heroic people rarely stand at the front of a hall hearing applause. They are watching reruns at night along rocking a colicky baby. They are in a hospital room reading a book to a sick friend. They are all over schools.</span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div><h2>Heroes in the schoolhouse. </h2><h2></h2><h3>The teachers</h3><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. You are misunderstood. Yet you show up to work every day with a smile on your face. You have love in your heart. You have a burning desire to improve the lives of children. Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3>The janitor</h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. The quiet janitor who mops up the mess in the halls.  Your meticulous, thankless job probably saves hundreds of illnesses a year. Maybe even a few lives. Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;">School Secretary</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. You are kind even when you're tired. You sort life changing messages from the distractions. You buffer administrators and teachers so they can do their job. Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Bookkeeper</span></h3><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. You make that deposit faithfully knowing your own bank account is painfully empty. Maybe some think it is not heroic just to be honest. Heroes do the right thing when no one is looking. Hero.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">IT Staff</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. You could leave early some days but choose to do that maintenance that no one knows about. No one understands what you do. You do the right thing anyway. Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Media Specialist</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you.  There are children who love to read today because you took the time to help them find the perfect book. Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lunchroom Staff</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes, you. The lunchroom staff who make good food. You take the long way because it tastes better. Your job, when done well, can save thousands of pounds of fat. Maybe a few lives as well.  Hero.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><br /><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div><h3>School Nurse</h3><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes you. The school nurse who hugs the crying child who just got sick. You decide to be personal and close knowing that you might be exposed to something, just because that child needs love. Hero.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br /><h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Administrator</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Yes you. The administrator who is pounded on multiple times a day. You still make time to hi-5 kids in the hall. You find encouragement to give others even though you get far too little yourself. Hero.</span><br /><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br /><h2><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Is everyone a hero?</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: Georgia;">No. There is a difference between having a job and doing a job well. </span><strong style="font-family: Georgia;">The difference between just being here and being a hero is the "O!" The extra.</strong><strong style="font-family: Georgia;"> </strong><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Just because you work in a school doesn't mean you're a hero. You just have a lot of potential to be one.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><br /><h2>Thank the heroes.</h2><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>O! </b>They struggle with depression, recession and the exhaustion of obsession like everyone else. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's because the price of a being a hero is everything. Everything you've got and some you don't. <b>O!</b> Because that is what heroes do… they give all they have in a cause worth giving it for. </span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><b>O!</b> Heroes<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal;"> get tired... bone tired. They wonder if they matter. They cry because they feel like a failure. They wonder if all the things they give up are worth it. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal;">They ask themselves if they should just quietly go live on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.4384,-71.342&spn=0.1,0.1&q=42.4384,-71.342%20(Walden%20Pond)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Walden Pond">Walden pond</a> alone.</span><br /><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><h1>YOU!</h1><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Hey you. You reading this. Open your eyes wide to the heroes beside. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Your thanks and words may just be all that is standing between a hero and the abyss. The recognition of heroes is probably the quickest path to being one yourself. </span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Be a hero.</span></div><div style="font: medium 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><br /><br /><br />---------</div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.istockphoto.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="iStockphoto">iStockPhoto</a></span><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=ae5bb9de-c11c-4a81-8617-7f16bbb9a167" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Inspiration Open Your Eyes Wide to the Heroes Beside

Can you spot a hero? We work beside them. They are every where but often blind to the fact that they make such a difference. Heroic people r...

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