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~ J Clay Norton, Ed.D.

The Book Chamber

Monthly Archives: March 2021

The 4th Nine Weeks Stretch…

26 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in COVID-19, Deciding, Encouragement, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Momentum, Motivation, Purpose, Teachers, Useful, Value

≈ Leave a comment

Well, here we are. We have made it—the 4th nine weeks. Just like the 7th Inning stretch in baseball, the end is in sight. For 27 weeks, educators have taught like they never have before. In our teaching, we have dug deeper, gone further, taught harder, and almost exhausted every bit of teaching methodology we know. And, one more thing… most educators have now perfected what I call “Eduzoomcation.“

With all of that being said, we are still not done. As I have spoken with other teachers, many are trying to fit lessons in on top of regular lessons just to get their students where they need to be to progress to what they need to know. The idea of incremental development of lessons has never been more important, but the time factor has many teachers pressing.

More importantly, what we cannot do is compare our teaching and pacing of our subjects to years past. If you do, it will devalue what you have done and accomplished this year. It may not seem as much, but considering everything, it is much. Many teachers have turned into accepting minor roles of psychologists while they teach, asking themselves what they can do to reach one more student and trying to figure out the best way forward. As I told someone the other day, teaching this year during the COVID pandemic is worthy of a resume bullet.

This time last year, we found out that we would not be coming back to school for the 4th nine weeks. Now here we are at that same point one year later. The good news… we still have an opportunity as educators to make good on what we do. It does not matter if students are still on Zoom or in the classroom. What matters is that we stay committed to the values of what education should do… to help better society by educating students for the future.

The 4th nine weeks stretch… Go ahead and stretch… but know, like baseball, there are a few more innings to play, and they matter. If you get complacent, odds are your students will also. And please do not get into what I call the “hook-slide.” While we are rounding third-base, per se, beat the throw at home plate. Don’t try to “hook-slide” in; you might just get tagged out.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

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Zooming Out… For a Week…

12 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in coronavirus, COVID-19, Education, Spring Break, Teachers

≈ 1 Comment

Can you believe it? Next week is Spring Break for some of us. A few schools had their’s last week, and some will take it the week after next. Some colleges and universities are not having one due to COVID-19. Nonetheless, Spring Break, we are ready!

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The need for Spring Break is real. Probably more this school year than years past. We did get that one week out of school for the “ice-apocalypse” a couple of weeks ago, but we could not go anywhere and still provided Zoom lessons each day.

Needless to say, this year’s Spring Break brings the enjoyment of NO ZOOM for a solid week. As educators, many of you know what I am talking about. It is even more relief for those who have both in-person and Zoom-person classes.

So, what does no Zoom look like for a week? Here are a few of the best Zoom responses…

Can you hear me now? You are on mute.
Mr./Mrs. Teacher, I can’t hear you.
Hang on, y’all, my screen share is not working.
Are you there? Why did you leave the screen?
What are you wearing?
You can’t eat breakfast in bed during class.
Get off your phone.
Quit watching TV and focus.
Did you get my email that my Zoom is not working?
Student posting social media pics for an official absence while shopping.
Are you at work?
Why are you driving down the road?
Wake up.
I’m taking your quiz while driving and I am going through an area with bad reception. Can I close out, and you  reopen the quiz for me?

And my favorite thus far…
No, ma’am, you cannot sit in for your child on the Zoom.
And the list can go on and on…

By now, teachers are probably at their “wit’s end,” trying to keep everything and everyone on the same page. Teaching has taken on a new definition of late (almost a year now, to be exact). Being an educator can be exhausting in a regular year. How tired are you this school year? The “extra” whatever is weighing heavy on all educators. A few extra hours each day are needed in hopes the next day is good to go.

And somewhere in there, we are supposed to be a family member.

Yes, no Zoom for a week. No lesson plans, no worrying about who is on the Zoom and who is not. No worrying about whose technology is working. No nothing…

I hope each of you has a great one. We will pick back up with the blogs AFTER Spring Break. I’m Zooming out now…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

Twitter @thebookchamber

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Dr. Seuss, Oh the places you will continue to go…

05 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Dr. Seuss, Integrity, Leader, Leadership

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Oh, the places you would let me go,
But read you no more I can.
See, Dr. Suess, some of your books are under a ban.

Why? We do not know.
For you have taught us to use our minds,
I guess that is why it is so.

From the Lorax to Green Eggs and Ham,
Your books have caught our imaginations.
You taught us to read and introduced us to Sam-I-Am.

The Cat, Sally and the Fish,
Characters who are adored.
Thing 1, Thing 2… never kept us bored.

Too funny and too serious,
Were usually your themes.
Now, they are becoming social media’s memes.

Why is there a ban, you ask?
Well, it’s because of the Grinch, I guess.
He gets all the blame.

Now, as we “Read Across America,”
We have fewer of your books to choose.
It will not be the same.

Your books offer for us to be ourselves,
To make the world a better place,
To love, have joy, and be friends.

Yes, Dr. Suess, you have taught us to use our brains in our heads.
And walk where we want to with our feet in our shoes.
Most importantly, to walk in any direction we choose.

But some bring thunderstorms and rain.
To drown your books,
Right into the drain.

As I grow older,
Memories grow fonder.
Of laps being sat in and read to of Horton Hears a Who.

Dr. Seuss, I am a fan.
I will read your books.
Even the ones who others ban.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– I Can Read with My Eyes Shut

©2021 J Clay Norton

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

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