Home Stretch

You have made a difference. 

You have worked hard.

Celebrate the work achieved by your students and what you have accomplished yourself. 

You are better for pushing yourself. You have learned so much.

I am inspired by your dedication to your teaching. I am moved by your willingness to try new things. You have faced obstacles and overcome failure. Your students are better for your efforts.

I am humbled by your graciousness. I am in awe of your passion to give unconditionally.

The school year ends. Lessons are wrapping up. The learning within your walls will cease.

Know that you have instilled within your students a desire to be better. To be thinkers. To be reflective. To take action.

We have learned so much. We have cared and we have listened. Now it is time to send them on their way. They will face new opportunities, new challenges, new growth.

We are better off for having the encounter that we have had this year.

You have made a difference.

You are on the home stretch.

My Turn - Be More Dog!

I am ready. I am motivated. I am inspired. It's my time. Time to "Be More Dog"!

If you have seen a common thread with the reference to "Be More Dog" then you are reading the work of The Compelled Tribe. We are writers. More importantly, we are educators. And even more important than that, we are educators that are committed to reflecting about our work through sharing of our experiences and being transparent in our success AND our failures.

So, what does it mean to "Be More Dog"? Well, start with this quick video. Recently I was able to share with this video among other "stuff" along side of Jennifer Hogan, my Compelled Tribe colleague, as we were presenting to educators about the craft of blogging, reflecting and sharing while at the NASSP Ignite Conference back in February.

Now that you have watched the video and had a moment to soak it in, here is how I will "Be More Dog" in the months ahead:

• I will own my professional development as I continue to support my teachers in their work with their students. As I challenge myself to this growth I will encourage others to come along with me and show them them the amazing results that can be gained by committing to this learning.

• I will dive deeper into relationships with stakeholders and ensure that I am purposeful in my interactions. I will demonstrate how those relationships support the work that we do. These relationships will catapult us to great things. 

• I will not allow others to negatively impact my spirit. I will share my work as I proudly talk about my story and my schools story. I will wear my passion on my sleeve and I will demonstrate through my actions what our teachers and students bring to their school every day of every week.

• I will share my failures with my colleagues as I make them and not after I make them. If I stumble, I will pick myself up. I will learn and I will be better for it. If I ask others to do just that, I will do the same myself. I will model.

• I will live each day do the fullest with my teachers, my students, my community and my family. I will find balance in what I do. There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. I will be purposeful and I will be present. I owe that to those that I spend my life with.

To me, "Be More Dog" means to get out of routine. It means that we must explore the paths that we are on and determine if there are opportunities out there that we are missing. Eyes open. Hearts beating. Confidence coming through. Who we are is a great thing to be but imagine if we take the passion of this cat and explore the options of being more dog.

Relationships Matter

Relationships with others – It is what defines a great leader from a good leader. It is what separates teachers that sell tickets for their lessons and lessons that just have students in attendance. We have read the books, had the conversations, participated in the chats and we have done our homework. If you want to be the best of the best then you need to find what matters most. And that is simply -  relationships with those around you.

The great teachers and great leaders are those that recognize that nothing of significance can be accomplished without having a connection with those that you are nearest to.  Students will believe in their learning (and more importantly themselves) and will sit at the edge of their seats awaiting the next moment in their instruction if you have take the time to know who they are.

If as adults we thrive on our relationships with each other than we owe that to our students.

Furthermore, if we do not take the time on the front end (and continue that over the course of time) to get to know our learners, the reality is that the knowledge we share will fall on deaf ears.

We believe in those that believe in us.

Angela Maiers says it best when she wrote about the 12 Most Important Ways to Let People Know They Matter and spoke to this: 

"When I think of people who made the biggest impact in my life, it was not their expertise or accomplishments that provided me with the direction, guidance and reassurance I needed to accomplish my goals. It was their sincere belief in me. They let me know through their words and actions that I mattered."

As you think about your interactions with others, reflect on the relationships you have formed with them. Consider the following: 

Do you listen more than you share out?

Do you know the interests and the passions of those you work with or teach with?

Do you know what makes your colleagues “tick”?

Do you know who your students are away from the classroom?

How will you be remembered as an educator?

Dave Burgess who knows that relationships in instruction are essential to student learning shares in Teach Like a Pirate, “provide an uncommon experience for your students and they will reward you with an uncommon effort and attitude.” Building those relationships and creating those uncommon experiences will guarantee a take-away like no other.

Great leaders and great teachers build relationships first, teach second. Continue to strive to make that a focus of what you do each day. You too will be rewarded. Everyone matters.