Category Archives: COVID-19

Embracing… “They’re back…”

20 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by in Change, COVID-19, Education, Embrace, Engagement, Leader, Leadership, Patience, Teachers, Technology

≈ Leave a comment

“They’re back…” The classic line from the movie Poltergeist II: The Other Side.

95df5de2-90eb-45cf-9127-388be6b94c11_text

Well, guess what? Students are back, and some are back for the very first time in a year and a half. Yes, a whole year and a half of being in person in a school setting. Think of it this way, some students are just now setting foot back in a school building for the first time academically, changing classes, eating in the lunchroom, riding a bus, and whatever else. I imagine there are some school districts where entire campuses have been missed. Some students might be relieved that they have not even had to serve detention in a long time. Nonetheless…

Now, I’m a fan of in-person school. Agree or disagree, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is now, most schools are back to in-person teaching and learning. I imagine some students are wide-eyed walking up and down halls; some teachers are wide-eyed at having a “full” class again. Yes, “they’re back…”

So, as educators, how do we swim with instead of against the current of change as we have it now? I have a few ideas…

Embrace the digital learning that was…
Many students “learned” last year through some platform of digital technology. For over a year, that is all it has been for some. Why not keep and incorporate that same idea with technology in your teaching this year. We might be all “in-person,” but that does not mean you cannot keep some of the technology in place. As an educator, do not put limits on a student’s learning.

Embrace engagement…
Do you realize that some students have not actually spoken to a teacher in over a year? No engagement or acknowledgment whatsoever. I think that is sad, but now that we are back “live,” find ways for conversation to occur. Speak to your students as they come into the room. Acknowledge them by name during the class. You be the “ice-breaker; let your opening or closing statements be non-subject related (that’s a novel idea). I always try to drop a “dad joke” somewhere in the class.

Embrace patience…
By nature, I’m a no-nonsense teacher. Now, I do provide “edutainment” but in a serious manner. However, some students are not where they need to be in their progression of classes, but regardless, they are in your class now. They are behind because they simply did not receive the instruction they needed. Who’s to blame? Well, that depends on if you are the student or the teacher. Anyway… set your students up for success. You might have to explain something one more time, you might have to work a few more examples, you might… have to just be patient.

Education is ever-changing and ever-changed it has. When we embrace the positives of education (do not embrace the negatives), we become better educators, and hopefully, students will be better as well. Yes, “They’re back…” yet we should not be afraid of them. Remember, we might be the only chance some of them have to succeed.

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

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Teacher A̶p̶p̶r̶e̶c̶i̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ Value

07 Friday May 2021

Posted by in Appreciation, coronavirus, COVID-19, Education, Heroes, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Thankful, Value

≈ Leave a comment

This past Tuesday was National Teacher Appreciation Day, and this is Teacher Appreciation Week. So… a little history…

“In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt stood up to Congress in hopes of convincing them that teachers needed a day to be recognized for all that they do. Until that point, the celebration of the day wasn’t clear… The National Education Association (NEA) in partnership with the Kansas State and Indiana State Boards of Education, lobbied Congress in order for the day to be recognized. Despite her best efforts, the first National Teacher Day didn’t become an official national day until 1980. At its inception, National Teacher Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984 when it was moved to May. Thanks to the assistance of the National PTA, it evolved into Teacher Appreciation Week, giving teachers more time to bask in appreciation. A year later, the NEA established that the first Tuesday of the week would be National Teacher Appreciation Day.”¹

Now…
This year, let’s face it… Wierd cannot describe this school year. However, we have almost finished with it, and the credit goes to teachers. This year, more than any other, teachers have taught as they have never before. Instruction has been virtual, in-person, or a mix of both. Teachers have Zoomed in and Zoomed out. While education might have looked different, the work teachers have put in daily has provided a needed constant for communities and students’ lives.

value

However, there is a question that I would like to ask and answer. Is there a difference between being appreciated and being valued? I believe so. Often, it seems that teachers are appreciated for what they do, not so much for what and who they are. That, to me, is where the value needs to be – who teachers are.

For example, take a person in your life that you love… Yes, you appreciate the things they do for you. More importantly, you also value who they are and the value they bring to your life. That is what I think is missing with teachers; the value.

By nature, teachers play a critical and pivotal role in educating and shaping children who will become the future of our society. For this to happen, year in and year out, teachers constantly have to renew their certification, attend professional development, plan and work after school hours, provide customer service, spend their own money, etc. After that, even the subject they teach is regulated by the Federal and State Departments of Education. You might say, “Well, good; they should.” I do not disagree with some of it. However, the same scenario goes for doctors, CPAs, lawyers, or any other professional occupation. When it comes to needing help, we quickly value them. Professionals, unlike teachers, are not so much valued for their years of experience but for their production and results. Value towards teachers, it seems, stems only from how long they have been in the system.

Anyway, it is teacher appreciation week, and I value education and the teachers who make it happen. There are some quality, great teachers in our system, but they are often overshadowed by the negativity of education in general. We must have a paradigm shift toward the good that education provides.

Personally, I value the teachers who have had a huge impact on my life and have influenced and inspired the way I teach and lead, and I have had some great ones; rock star status worthy. I also value the teachers I work with; we have some who “bring it” every day. They are hero-worthy.

Value brings better productivity, engagement, longevity, and satisfaction. Let’s change the way we appreciate teachers. Let’s start valuing them. When we do, the appreciation will take care of itself.

¹ https://nationaltoday.com/national-teachers-day/

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

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

The 4th Nine Weeks Stretch…

26 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by 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…

Twitter @thebookchamber

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Zooming Out… For a Week…

12 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by 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!

IMG_7472-900x540

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

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…