Category Archives: Effective

The Emotional Temperature of a Classroom: What Does The Thermometer Read?

03 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in Actions, Classroom Leadership, Classroom Management, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Emotion, Emotional Temperature, Empower, Leader, Leadership, Teachers

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The other day, I was listening to a future educator talk about what issues she sees in education and where they are going. One topic she hit on was how students gauge the emotional temperature of the classroom. Interesting thought, I told her, and then she gave me examples of her past teachers and how those classrooms felt.

So, I got to thinking more about this…

Education isn’t just about textbooks and lectures, and contrary to popular belief, it should be more than test scores, but that is where we live with education at the moment. At some point, we have gotten away from the idea that educating the whole child is not the best for students.

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But I digress…

The classroom… Education should be about creating a positive and inclusive learning environment centered around all students; this can be gauged by its “emotional temperature.” This thermometer reflects the climate in a classroom and plays a pivotal role in determining students’ success.

A positive emotional temperature in a classroom fosters engagement and motivation. Allowing students to feel safe where they enjoy the environment, where they are supported and valued, they are more likely to actively participate in their learning. Oh, but how this sometimes does not happen, and as educators, we miss the opportunity…

Too often, we see students only in school to fulfill the attendance requirements. Many students are genuinely interested in the subject matter, and this enthusiasm fuels their success. So, why do so many students enter a cold emotional climate? This cold climate is usually characterized by fear, anxiety, or indifference; all which can stifle students’ curiosity and willingness to learn. Considering this, why would we not want to offer an inviting atmosphere?

A warm emotional temperature also promotes well-being; just like getting out in the sun helps your immune system. Students who feel emotionally secure in the classroom are more likely to manage stress effectively, build resilience, and maintain their mental health.

Now, what about the teachers? Emotional temperature directly affects student-teacher relationships. Teachers who are approachable, and supportive often inspire trust and admiration among their students. These strong bonds encourage open communication, making it easier for students to seek help when they’re struggling, leading to more substantial progress in their academic journey and through all of this, standards can still be kept high.

Educational environments must collectively strive to maintain a warm emotional temperature in the classroom and with teachers to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive academically and emotionally.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

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

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I’ve got change in my pocket? More change than I realize…

28 Friday Jul 2023

Posted by in Actions, Change, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Embrace, Encouragement, Leader, Leadership, Relationships, Servant, Teachers, Value

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The summer sun is still high in the sky, pouring down heat that makes thermometers sweat. Some of us have started the new school year with a new change that brings, well… change. Yet, regardless of the start time, many things remain the same.

For students, parents, and educators alike, this period marks a fresh beginning, a chance to set new goals, and an opportunity to make the most of the academic journey ahead, developing future success now.

The start of a new school year is set in motion by what was recently achieved or not the previous year, and that goes for everyone in the school business. What a teacher, administration, or students previously did or did not do carries an effect into the new year, but each has an opportunity to wipe clean the past year, per se, and start anew.

Every new year brings change; embracing the change is up to you. Your effective leaders are going to be the ones who can. Adapting is a key concept while remaining open-minded and having perspective is a mindset that fosters a positive attitude. Something that is much needed in schools today.

Change brings an opportunity to kindle a new curiosity for what will come our way. To see more clearly, to rediscover a passion for how things should be. That is what the new school year brings. All involved in education should have a new thirst for doing and being better than before. Improving our motivation for continued success, creating an even more sense of purpose and responsibility.

Leadership is not just about individual achievements; it’s also about fostering collaboration and teamwork. The more things that can be done for the good of all by serving sends the message that a oneness exists among faculty and staff. This alone helps others embrace change more than anything else.

Change can also bring about an opportunity to exhibit empathy and support. Mistakes might happen, but I have yet to meet an educator who was in education for the right reasons mess up on purpose. If leaders want everyone to feel valued and encouraged, they need to model kindness, show gratitude, and not lead with a “me” mentality.

The new school year has started and at different times for each of us. We have the capability to change more than we realize. If we can always be for others, then change can be the helping tool others might need. That is what education should be about.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 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…

Are You, As A Teacher, An Advocate For Our Profession?

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by in Actions, Advocate, Appreciation, Attitude, Choice, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Emotion, Encouragement, Future, Leader, Leadership, Passion, Teacher Shortage, Teachers, Value

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Question for the week… With there being a teacher shortage, are you, as a teacher, an advocate for our profession?

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First, let me say that I enjoy being an educator. For those who know me, I hope you can say that my passion for education and educational leadership is very high. With that being said, I also know that there are times when teaching can wear you down. The list of items that go to this is endless, but that might be a topic for a future blog. Anyway…

I enjoy seeing teachers who are passionate about their jobs. But how many teachers do we see and hear who are not? That bothers me. For example, a future teacher recently told me that a high school teacher asked what she wanted to do. When she said she wanted to be a teacher, the actual teacher told her, “Good luck with that.” Why would they say that?

For the most part, society does not help advocate the teaching profession. Society will quickly tell us what is wrong with our profession and how we can do it better. I have always said that we are in trouble when we allow non-educators to make educational decisions. If we do not see ourselves as advocates for education, we leave the door open to the outside to determine our standing.

Teachers who are advocates see the end goal of education. They see growing students to become productive citizens in society. They look beyond students being “test scores” and provide an environment that is welcoming and conducive to learning. This is what passion for being an educator is about. It’s about telling success stories that are positive and uplifting. But, as we know, it’s only the negative stories that travel at a great speed…

Take this from one of my go-to “old heads” of education… “There is nothing ever printed or said about the positive aspects of teaching-with those in the profession being the most negative. The intrinsic values are rarely voiced. Being a teacher is the most valuable profession a young person can pursue, but most never hear many positive aspects that make it appealing!!! Just my humble opinion!!!”

I’ll go on and say this, if you are a teacher who cannot speak positively and advocate for our profession, please leave the profession and let those who want to be educators set ablaze the way that will light the way for many others. Yes, there are things wrong with education, just like any other business, but I get sick of hearing the statement, “You signed up for this.” That’s just bad leadership all the way around. These negative nay-sayers teachers are a disease to the profession and will create sores that fester and affect everyone around.

By nature, passionate people inspire. Why not do that for future educators? As I said in last week’s blog The Lengthening of the Teacher Shortage… Is there an end?, “We must give those who are even remotely thinking about becoming an educator a reason to be one. However, if our future teachers are in our schools today, and they are, how do you think they look at the teaching profession when they see us and what we do? It’s a question worth asking and, more importantly, answering… We must give teachers hope, for we are the only model future teachers see.”

Educators today have a choice, do we promote our profession, or do we sever the connection and let society or even other teachers determine our value? Do we love teaching to the point where we believe all children should be afforded equal learning opportunities? Or will we be defined by negative comments made by some in our profession who see teaching as a lonely, lowly job?

Punt that, I’m choosing to be an advocate and a leader of the profession that I love.

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

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

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Odds, Probability, Alternative – Words in Education We Should Not Have To Gamble With!

13 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by in Actions, Advantage, Consistency, Culture, Deciding, Decisions, Education, Effective, Expectations, Leader, Leadership, Purpose, Students, Teachers, Value

≈ 1 Comment

“But odds are only created if a probability exists that there is an alternative.”

I ran across that sentance in Robert Dugoni’s book What She Found, which I am currently reading. Two ideas jumped out as I reread that sentence. First, as a math teacher, I was like, “Yep, that makes sense.” Second, I realized some things should never have to have odds or an alternative. Where’s that idea going? Well, I’m glad you asked. 

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As an educator, education should not have an alternative. What? We either offer an education or we do not. What are the odds that a student receives an equitable education? Well, this question should not have be asked either. We find ourselves moving into 2023 and the second semester of the school year, wondering how to continue to educate when, for the most part, in many school settings, we find that we cannot. You might say, “Well, where I live, we have a great school, and our children get a great education.” I can say the same for where I live.

But, as I look across the state, and you do not have to travel far, many schools need more resources and community support that are clearly defined in other places. One might say, “This is due to the community’s tax base.” Ok, I get that. But why should that matter when it comes to educating the future of our state? As you know, so many variables, and let’s also add excuses, exist on why children do not get a “proper” education. They range from the lack of leadership, teachers, parenting, counseling, facilities, curriculum, and the list goes on… However, receiving an equitable education should never be an issue. 

Until we can find a way to offer an equitable education, we will continue to deal with odds, probability, and alternatives when it comes to education. When we have to add those words to our educational system, the level of success will be determined by those same words. It should not be a gamble. 

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 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…