With the weather getting nicer, and the day getting longer,
I have noticed a decrease in my stamina. I can also see it in all the students,
they are ready to get outside. When returning from our two week spring break,
stamina will need to be built again. It may feel like starting the school year
over again, but it is a great chance to review expectation and student goals.
Here are some great articles that are available on the Daily
CAFÉ:
It feels like such a long journey, from January to Spring
Break. The road was definitely long and bumpy; benchmarking, cancellations,
eLearning, delays, and ISTEP. Now we are so close and I’m guessing that each of
us is ready for a break. I’m sure you have also noticed your students getting a
little squirmy. They are ready for it too.
So, what do you do when your students look restless or
unengaged? What do you have them do when they stumped?
Why not “GoNoOdle?”
Zumba, Brainercise, KidzBop, running, and tons of other fun activities to get
your students moving. Or try YouTube, type in the words “brain breaks” and you
will get tons of fun videos.
Research shows us that people are more collaborative and
engaged when we are on our feet, yet we ask our students to sit for many hours
of the day. Have you ever asked yourself if you could sit that long? Students
can focus longer on their tasks when they get their “wiggles” out. This
includes all students, even the older kids, and sometimes even the adults. That
means getting into it yourself, and trust me, you’ll feel more focused when you
do. Try it out!
A very knowledgeable person said something very profound to
me last week. What she said resonated in my head for days later, and every day
I have found myself reflecting on this statement. What she said was simple, “we
need to stop ‘making stories’ from what we hear.” In other words, if during
times of high stress you are telling yourself that this is all happening to you
because of someone or something else, you are making a story.
It is easy, during times of high pressure, to create these
stories. As No Excuses schools, we need to ensure we are open and candid with
others. In that way, no stories can be made. We need to ensure that we are
doing what is right for our students at all times. At the end of the day, we
should remind ourselves of the results we made during that day. It takes
teamwork, and positive attitudes. We can overcome obstacles or become the
obstacle. Which do you choose?
