Expecting More From Yourself--OWN IT ALL

Reach for the stars--Be all that you can be--excellence in the workplace--don't settle for second best--Go for Gold

We have heard these catch phases all our lives. It could have been in a graduation speech, while being recruited to serve in the military, at a professional inservice, teacher workshop, or from a parent of grandparent.

I like to be reminded to reach higher and be better. It is particularly impressing to me when I am inspired out of the blue--when I am not expecting to be inspired. This unexpected life lesson can come as a 'side effect' or 'fringe benefit' of some other event. I love when that happens. Out of something that could be mundane and ordinary comes inspiration. What a great world we live in.

This is an example of inspiration for me--I go here expecting to be inspired:

I follow a BLOG of a young math teacher called--Love Your Life--what a great message that is. I enjoy reading it because she makes me proud to be a teacher. She is so much more than a Math Teacher--she gets it. She gets that part of her job is to inspire children to reach higher and be better--in math of course, but in life as well.

This is an example of inspiration in an unexpected place:

I love to go to an area of Omaha called the Old Market. We have a collection of unique shops and restaurants down there, surrounded by old buildings, cobble stone streets, street performers, and a wonderful collection of humanity. I go there to get away from day to day life in the 'suburbs'.

Yesterday I drove down there after attending a very inspirational teacher workshop. I was excited and full of hope for my chosen profession. I wanted to be around people instead of going home and being in my house alone for several hours.

I had no real plan, so I parked and start walking. After an hour in a coffee shop I went 'window' shopping. The 'shop manager' I met was a young lady in her 20's I would guess, we had an amazing conversation about life. It really was enjoyable. I am inspired that there are 'people out there' willing to strike up a conversation like that with a total stranger. It makes me feel better; it makes me feel connected to people; it makes me feel like I can be part of something exciting and big. In a word, INSPIRED.

Go got inspired--let yourself be inspired when you least expect it--it is a wonderful feeling.

Montessori

As I mentioned, attended an inservice this morning. It made me happy, proud and inspired. I am glad to be part of a profession that encourages me to not settle for mediocrity. The speaker was truly 'on fire' about Montessori Education. I literally got goosebumps several times when she spoke about projects she does with her three to six year old students.

It is easy to see the negative and wonder--why do I do this? But today I know. The topic of her workshop was Parent Communication. She covered the material very well. She was organized, confident, and had a slick powerpoint presentation to illuminate each point. I carefully followed the topic, took notes on my computer, and followed her line of thought without any gaps. But, I came away with so much more than three pages worth of typed notes on how to communicate with the parents of students in my schools.

I came away empowered to reach higher, be better, and see myself as part of the solution to what is "wrong" with education these days. It is easy to sit and say--'if the administration, or parents, or fellow teachers, would just listen to me--education would improve'. She challenged us to see ourselves as part of the problem. That is, to see where we play a roll. To 'own' our part of the problem, she said, must come before a, LASTING SOLUTION can take place. I love that--we all need to see how we contribute to the PROBLEM--in order to SEE solutions.

I will give example of the 'wrong' way of thinking about a problem with Parent Communication, then turn it around and to see a 'right' way of thinking.

Wrong thinking would go something like this:

"The parents just don't care enough to read the notes, newsletters, and handbooks, that we send home. There is just so much a teacher or school administration can do. What's the use!"--frustration

Right way of thinking would go something like this:

"We know these parents care, they cared enough to enroll their child in this wonderful Montessori School, so how can we present the information in a more user friendly way so that parents will have the information we know is important. How can we work together to give the best education possible to these children.

I hope something inspires you today!