Category Archives: Effective

A 26-Day Teacher Challenge…

22 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in Actions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Encouragement, Engagement, Influence, Inspiration, Intentional, Kindness, Leader, Relationships, Servant, Students, Teachers, Value

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As I write this, we have 27 days of school left. By now most students (and some teachers) are in what I call “The Hook Slide.” They have already rounded third base and can see and smell home plate. State tests, AP tests, dual-credit tests, end-of-year finals… ugh!

These 27 days are as important for the teachers as for the students. Maximizing time and effort is at the forefront of classroom instruction; I agree. I would also say that maximizing your relationships with your students is just as important. Many students need a cheerleader near the end of school. There are many who are not involved in anything at or out of school, and they can somewhat get “lost in the crowd.” I believe these students need to be recognized and acknowledged, for it might be the only time they are. School just might be the only outlet some students have.

So, with only 26 days left (starting today, Friday), what will you do as an educator to help ALL students? It is easy to gravitate to the students we “like” and those who “do well.” But we must make an intentional effort toward the others as well. We might not never know what it will mean or do for a particular student. So, a 26-day challenge…

Identify a few students every day (they don’t even have to be the ones you teach) and say a positive comment to them. We cannot know which students are involved in stuff and those who are not, but if we focus on ALL, we will catch everyone. It’s not hard. I bet some will be shocked they were spoken to and acknowledged.

A small gesture to help someone feel better about themselves. A value worth your time. A smile on their faces, maybe? What we do and do not do matters. For 26 days, be a difference-maker and see what the difference will be for others.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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What Advice Would You Give a Student Teacher?

04 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by in Actions, Attitude, Choice, Classroom Leadership, Connections, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Embrace, Encouragement, Engagement, Expectations, Experience, Heart, Leader, Leadership, Patience, Reflection, Relationships, Teachers, Value

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This past week my wife, Heather, was sent an email from an education major, getting ready to do her practice teaching stint. The three questions were…
1. What advice do you have for new teachers?
2. How can I succeed in this profession?
3. What did you not know that you wish you knew when you got here?

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As Heather typed her response, she asked me some of my thoughts… Well, for those of you who know me, that can result in positive corruption on many different levels. As you read, here are our combined thoughts…

1. Form a relationship with a seasoned teacher who can mentor you and support you during your first years. Be prepared for tough days, but great teachers are strong people who do not give up. Keep striving and apply what you have learned from your teaching experience and your college academic program. Be proud of being a teacher. Teaching is a God-given gift. Our society depends on dedicated and devoted teachers. You need to have a strong desire for student success and make a positive difference in your school building. You cannot be friends with your students. Earning your student’s respect is necessary. Finding ways to relate to your students creates an inviting environment in your classroom. Being consistent in everything you do is important, especially when you have discipline. Remember, you are the adult in the classroom.

2. Always plan ahead and use your time wisely to prepare your lessons. Understand that true teacher success is growing students academically, socially, and emotionally. Teaching students responsibility, treating others, self-discipline, and accomplishing positive goals are life skills needed for their future. You must take care of yourself. Avoid becoming content. Stay an idealist teacher. Good teachers are lifelong learners. Even though teachers have holidays and a summer break, the teaching profession is hard work (preparing and teaching lessons, managing your classroom, grading work, dealing with difficult students, communicating with parents, teacher “duties,” which have lots of descriptions, are just a few of a teacher’s daily responsibilities). You must take care of yourself and find time for other activities besides school. Try to leave school at school. At some point, you will be a spouse and a parent; never apologize for putting family first. To continue in this profession, you must take care of your mental, spiritual, and physical health. Also, you do not want to be an island. You need to talk to other teacher friends to learn from each other and support each other. Your relationship with your principal is also necessary for future success. Hopefully, you will work in a school where your principal supports you. You definitely need their support when challenges come concerning students and parents.

3. When standing in the hallway between class changes, talk to students and find ways to communicate with them, even those who are not your students. Develop hallway cred. Stay organized and always be prepared for the day. Stay positive and look for ways to get your students involved in your lessons. Allow them to have some ownership in your class. If you can, add some humor to your teaching style. Find ways to brag on your students and encourage them in front of their peers. Know your students’ names and greet them when they arrive at your class. Remember to work smarter, not harder. This will help to prevent getting burned out. Learn patience. 

As Heather read the above response, I started thinking… shouldn’t veteran teachers want and do the same thing? How many times, as educators, do we make school “hard” when we know what needs to be done? As I read the above answers, I created a mental checklist in my head to make sure that I was doing these things. How about you? Go be the teacher you want to be…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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National School Counseling Week…

11 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by in Actions, Amazing, Appreciation, Attention, Authentic, Counseling, Effective, Encouragement, Intentional, Kindness, Promotion, Purpose, Servant, Sincerity, Value

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This week, February 7-11, is National School Counseling Week. According to the American School Counselors Association, the emphasis is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Well, I just happen to know a school counselor who fits that emphasis quite well.

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Let me introduce you to a school counselor I know. She is a school counselor with 21 years of experience. What she does day in and day out amazes me. Of all the things she does, the one that amazes me the most is that she takes an intentional interest in every student in the school building. Along with that, there are individual and small groups, peer leadership, helping with after-school clubs, scheduling, new student meetings, parent meetings, student plans, encouragement, etc… you get the idea…

I don’t really remember school counselors growing up. I do not remember one in elementary or middle school. If we had one, I did not know. We had one in high school, but all I thought he did was make out our student schedules. His name was Mr. Leonard. He and I talked about baseball cards a lot, and my senior year, he was our assistant baseball coach.

Anyway, as I think about what this school counselor does and her role as a school counselor, I can see her passion for promoting it. She works after hours at home and during the summers. So many things are behind the scenes. She is a staunch advocate for what the definition of a school counselor should be. Most importantly, she is for all students and their success.

I’m not sure about all the counselors out there, but I do know a good many. Those who are successful have a servant’s heart and a genuine concern for students’ social and emotional needs. And I think to myself, isn’t that what educators and all of education should also do?

Over time, I have seen many counselors who impact not only at the school but also in the community. In many ways, they are the unsung heroes of schools. Since this is National High School Counselors Week, tell your counselors thank you. I’m pretty sure they will appreciate it.

And by the way, for those who do not know the school counselor I talking about, it’s Heather, and I’m married to her, and she’s the counselor at Sumner Hill Junior High School in the Clinton Public School District. For those who know us, many say she is a great counselor because she lives a daily practicum of counseling me… and they are probably right. But, nonetheless… she’s a great school counselor.

Happy National High School Counselors Week to the school counselors who make a difference. The value you bring makes changes in many lives.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Mississippi Legislators have listened… Now what?

14 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in Actions, Choice, Deciding, Decisions, Education, Effective, Leadership, Legislators, Momentum, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Value

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“I’m just a bill…” No, this time, you are not…

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HB530 has made it through committee to the House floor and passed 114-6, bipartisan at that. That is great news for Mississippi’s educators. But… what will happen next? The Senate Education proposal has not, as of today’s writing (Thursday, January 13), been introduced. It has until Monday, January 17, to do so. With that being said, if the Senate Education Bill for teacher raises makes it out of committee and passes on the floor of the Senate, what will happen when the House and Senate bills meet?

Now, for a long time coming, teachers have a pep in their step. Many educators are actually following this session of the legislature. If that’s what we want to call it, teacher morale is higher than it has been in a long time… Why? It seems that legislatures have actually listened. We can see that in the two bill proposals and the overwhelming support of how the voting went in the House. We often hear what others are saying, but listening often does not occur. It seems the legislators have listened. Now, teachers across the state are somewhat breathing a sigh of relief in hopes of a salary increase.

Being an election year, I knew that teacher salary would be more discussed. Every session, it is brought up, but now… I would have never thought the House and Senate’s numbers made public would be what they are. One thing for sure, while the bidding war is on, let’s just make sure it is the teachers who win.

So, what happens now… will the Senate approve the House bill? Will the House look at what the Senate proposes? Will it even be taken up in the other House’s committee? Will the topic be tabled? This is the period of uncertainty. No one likes that in their lives. We want to know what is going on and what the results will be. I’m sure negotiations will be made and a compromise offered, but to what cost to the teachers? To add the finality of questions, what will the Governor do?

While we wait, I believe we cannot just sit and hope. We must continue to contact our legislators. We must remain proactive and let our voices be listened to. We must continue to advocate. Legislators have now acknowledged that a salary increase is way past due. Now is the time for them to make good on what they have made public.

I remain hopeful, and I hope other teachers also do. The teacher shortage, teacher retention, teacher “morale,” teachers staying idealists instead of disheartened can take a turn for the better. Now is the time. Too much has been said to backpedal and give reasons why not. Legislators should not use teacher salaries as a “tack on” to another bill to pass a political agenda.

It is time to set aside political differences. It is time for that bipartisan legislation we saw in the House vote and time for the Senate to uphold the value public educators bring every day to their schools. Everyone says they want to invest in the future. What better way to help our future than to ensure that our students have the best and most qualified teachers to educate them. Value does have a price tag.

Legislators, thank you. Now, make good on your promise. This is much more than a bill.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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