Category Archives: Opportunity

It’s the most wonderful time of the year?

11 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Choice, Christmas, COVID-19, Intentions, Jesus, Mask, Opportunity, Reflection, Thankful

≈ 2 Comments

Well, now that you have read the title, the song may be stuck in your head. Sorry about that.

Is it? The most wonderful time of the year? But it’s 2020, you ask… what’s wonderful about it?

How about this line in the opening verse…
And everyone telling you be of good cheer. Bah Humbug, for sure! I don’t want to be happy. I just watched the news, for goodness sake.

Second verse…
When friends come to call. No one is coming to see you, we all have to stay home.
It’s the hap-happiest season of all. Where’s the Tylenol? (credit to Clark Griswald)

Third verse…
There’ll be parties for hosting. Limit the number!

Fourth verse…
There’ll be much mistltoeing. Hard to do with the mask on.
And hearts will be glowing. More like aching.
When loved ones are near. Remember to stay 6′ away.

Well, I’ll say that there is much truth to what I have written above, and it is where we are right now. But, “as for me and my house…” Yes, it is still the most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas time. It may not be what and how we want it, and yes, I am tired of it all, to say the least. However, it is up to me and my mindset to “be of good cheer.” Why would we not? It sure beats having a pity party (truly should limit that number of people anyway, and everyone who joins is probably wearing a “mask”).

So, be of good cheer…

  • Tell someone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
  • Send a Christmas card or note to someone (I guess a text will work).
  • “Say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet.“
  • Sing Christmas songs.
  • Watch movies as a family.
  • Play good ole fashion board games.
  • Have a party with your family. They should be the ones you love and want to spend time with the most anyway.
  • Kiss your spouse even if there is not any mistletoe around.
  • Read the Christmas Story from the Bible (Luke 2: 1-21; Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Matthew 1: 18-23)

Most of all, yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year… Why? For it is the season we celebrate the birth of Christ. Any opportunity we have to tell the praiseworthiness of Jesus and the Christmas Story, we should take advantage of. You might not realize who is listening. That will give you good cheer!

MEERY CHRISTMAS everyone…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2020 J Clay Norton

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Teaching on a “wing” and a “prayer” – It is NOT what students need right now…

11 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by in Consistency, coronavirus, COVID-19, Distance Learning, Education, Effective, Expectations, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Lesson Plans, Opportunity, Preparation, Teachers, Technology

≈ 3 Comments

Our hallways are less crowded, classes have fewer students, the parking lot is easier to maneuver, temperatures are taken before room entry, and lunch is eaten in the classrooms. Lessons are traditional for some, virtual for others, and hybrid based on the alphabet of a student’s last name. To top it off, I write this being “masked-up.” People say this is the “new” normal. I say this is what normal is now. Normal is normal, and we play the hand we are dealt with. You are probably thinking, “What a crappy hand!”

Yes, this is where we are with our education of 2020, thus far. One week from spring break five months ago, who would have thought we would be where we are now in September? Consistency of how we teach as we know it, like Elvis, has left the building. Our apple cart has been upset, and it is turned over.

Given all that we have to do differently now, a few thoughts come to mind after five weeks back in school…

Really great teachers are going to excel even better. That’s why they are fantastic, to begin with. They are prepared, on time, delivery of the lessons only changes for the better, and expectations are still high. They always meet and greet students as they have in the past, regardless of whether they live or on the Zoom screen. These are the teachers who go out of their way, no matter what. Not much really needs to be said about this group other than thank you.

Now it gets a little sticky…

What about teachers who are not so great or just not good at all? Yes, contrary to popular belief, they are out there… Odds are, we all know one or two, or…

While some of us are really good at “winging it” and can teach on the fly (it is a gift, but not always suggested), there are some who are staring at the wall, praying that lessons will somehow magically appear on their computers in a zip file that only needs to be downloaded and open. Those who cannot “wing it and fly,” well… their lessons are stuck at the terminal, and the students are getting bumped.

But guess what? There is hope for them. I believe there is an opportunity for these teachers to grow and improve, but there must be a “want to” in them. Teaching virtual and live simultaneously exposes one’s teaching quickly—especially their instruction delivery. However, what an opportunity teachers have now to make sure lessons are pertinent and intentional. Yes, more preparation will be required, and they might actually have to ask for help. The best way to get rid of a “not so good” teacher is to make them a better teacher.

And for all of us, let’s make sure we continue to be intentional with our teaching. Regardless of whether a student enjoys your subject or not, find a way to provide an inviting atmosphere for your classroom, both for virtually and live. This is a consistency that should not change.

Yes, teaching is WORK… more work now than usual. Education will always matter, no more now than at any other time. However, teaching might be remembered more now than ever.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2020 J Clay Norton

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“AAA” Calculator Leadership – Are You Leading With A Basic Or Scientific Mindset?

26 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Achieve, Advantage, Align, Assist, Choice, Leader, Leadership, Opportunity, Servant, Understanding, Useful, Value

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534078_LI have in my hand a calculator; the old four function one. The one, many of us remember having for the first time after we set our abacus aside. Yes, the one that only you could add, subtract, multiply and divide with and was about the size of a wallet.

In my other hand, I have a scientific/graphing calculator that has an untold amount of functions. Many of the functions, never been used. But none the less, it does more than the basic calculator. TEXTI84PLUSCE

It is like that in leadership also. Either we can be “basic” with our leadership, or we can have many functions available. Most importantly, we must know what buttons to use. Any calculator, like any tool, is only as good as the person using it. Every day we have opportunities to lead; some more than others, but lead we do. The more functions you have as a leader allows you to know and understand which to use at the appropriate time.

The compare and contrast between the two different styles are not very complicated. Either you have the functions to do all that is possible, or you limit yourself because you only have the basics. Looking more closely, we can determine what style we lead with easily and establish why one is better.

When we lead “scientifically” instead of “basic” we…

Are ALIGNED with almost anything that comes our way.
Different situations will occur and the more functions you have to add value and show significant concern provides a calming effect. If all we have is “basic,” then we can only make one to four decisions. Sometimes you just need more to align yourself to make sure you provide the right leadership.

Have the ADVANTAGE to better the opportunity.
I also like to think that here, we have the advantage to connect. For me, that is one of the fundamental ideas of leadership. If we have more “buttons” to use, then our connection with others can only increase. Being “basic” does not carry an advantage. It limits our ability to function properly.

Can ACHIEVE more.
“Basic” is what it is, basic. We all know that the more functions we have, the more we can do, the more we can be. Achievement is satisfying. It provides success. It completes the desired outcome of what we want to achieve.

ASSIST to the overall good.
Assist, to help. Better yet, to serve. That is what all leaders should strive to do. To assist others, we have to go beyond a “basic” mentality of giving an effort of just what we have. When we assist, we move beyond the idea of selfishness by placing the importance on someone or something else above our thoughts.

images-3Have you ever noticed what is needed to make a scientific calculator work? Most of the time it is four “AAA” batteries, and they all need to be working together. Make sure your four “AAA” batteries are charged and ready to lead. Your leadership will not be able to provide as many functions if they are not.

 

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2018 J Clay Norton

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Teaching With Dignity

14 Friday Sep 2018

Posted by in Actions, Attitude, Character, Choice, Dignity, Giving, Leader, Leadership, Opportunity, Purpose, Servant, Teachers, Understanding

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A quick web search for the definition of dignity… “bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.”

I like the part “… appreciation of the gravity of a situation.”

My questions for you today are:

“Does your job as a teacher reflect the dignity it should?” and “Do we understand the gravity of what a teacher should be?”

dignity

A few weeks ago, I alluded to the notion that I believe too many teachers downplay that teaching is a privilege, and not everyone can or wants to do it.  Many people say they have respect for teachers and they are probably sincere.  However, teaching has to be a profession that represents your self-respect.

How does that look?

Having dignity as a teacher shows…

An endless opportunity to give.

Every teacher should teach with a goal of helping others in mind. Teachers are part of a solution that has the opportunity to improve society.  I am sure that other professions can have that type of empowerment, but teaching has to be at the top of the list.

Doing what is right.

When we do what is right, we often have to forgo what is easy.  Do we teach the “right way?” Do we teach the children that walk into the classrooms the same way we teach our children at home? If we ever take the time to see the students we teach as our own; teaching and learning will take on a whole new level.

Changing the way we look at others.

Understand this: it is not about YOU.  When we realize this, our ability to listen to and learn from others enables us to be better. When it is about ourselves, we miss the opportunity to treat others with respect.  If you can ever have an appreciation of your dignity, then you can begin to have an appreciation of others.

No one can give you dignity. There is not a “dignity” line to stand in.  It is one of the few characteristics that we must go out and get for ourselves.  As teachers (and leaders for that matter), our dignity reveals so much about us.  Let others see that we take pride in what we do, that we have self-respect, and accept the gravity of the situation of educating the future.

We might not always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that does not mean we don’t use our flashlights or light candles to help shine the way until we do.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2018 J Clay Norton

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