Category Archives: Reflection

Teacher and student rapport, how is it in your classroom?

22 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Attention, Attitude, Communication, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Reflection, Relationships

≈ 2 Comments

As a teacher, have you really ever listened to what students talk about? Believe it or not, there are some pretty good conversations out there. A casual “ear to the ground” can let you know a lot about what is happening up and down the halls and in classrooms. For some reason, it seems to me, we do not give students enough credit sometimes to be able to think on a more mature level. Now, I am not saying that we should always provide them with a platform, but just listening and acknowledging goes a long way.

For example… the other day, I heard a student talking about another student’s conversation and their teacher in class. Work with me here; you know how this will go… it is worthy of being a case study…

Teacher… Here are the directions. Don’t ask me again, because I am not going to repeat them.
A few seconds go by…
Student… Could you please say what you said again?
Teacher… No, you should have been listening.
Student gets upset.
The teacher sends the student to the office.
The student is now out of class.
Much time has now passed.
The administration walks the student back to class.
Instruction time is stopped again.
Administration, teacher, student all get on the same page.
The teacher gives students the needed information.
The student goes back to class.
All is good?

Wow, know any teachers like this? Ok… I know we all want students to be attentive. My question is, why and how did it get to that point? I know we all want them to come in, sit down, be quiet, sit appropriately, etc. However…

If this is the worst thing you have to deal with, you have it pretty good as a teacher. So the student asked again. Did you set the stage for all of them to pay attention, to begin with? What did you do to help? It would have taken little to no effort to restate the directions. The teacher could have spun it to be a teachable moment of comedy. The teacher could have even gone back to the student’s desk and had a one on one moment. I don’t know, but telling the student no, did not help anyone.

Another question I have is what type of rapport are you establishing with that student and others? Remember, everyone in the class saw and heard the teacher’s response, and you know how student talk gets spread…

I do not know what was going on with the student or the teacher that day. I do not know why the situation had to escalate as it did. I know that we can get aggravated with students. But… I do know that in the end, the teacher had the opportunity to be the bigger, better person.

I have said this before, “If you can create an environment where your students feel invited, regardless of the subject you teach, they are going to give you more than a fair shake.” Be the teacher your students need. It will make a huge difference.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

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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

≈ 3 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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Why I enjoy “Christmas Vacation”…

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas, Expectations, Leadership, Memories, Reflection, Relationships, Thankful

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Like many of you, I’m sure you have your favorite Christmas shows/movies you watch as a family. The other night our family had a discussion on what made a movie a Christmas movie or not. My thoughts… Christmas movies have a Christmas theme for the entire movie. Anyway… there was a agree to disagree moment…

My top three shows are A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story. Why these three? I am not sure, but I do find myself drawn to these three for different reasons. One thing is for sure, we all have a way of resonating with a show or movie for some reason or another. Most of the time, it is because there is a “tug of the heart,” or the show is just plain funny.

For me, Christmas Vacation does both. Also, it is great for the “relatableness” of life during the Christmas season. And… it has some of the best quotes that can last all year long. So this past Thanksgiving week, we do what we always do… watch Christmas Vacation.

A few thoughts on the “relatableness”…
The neighbors (Are they not going to decorate?)
The family relatives coming to stay (Where is everyone going to sleep?)
The family relatives we are not sure about (Does everyone have a Cousin Eddie?)
The Christmas meal (What’s wrong with turkey left in the oven too long?)
Outside decorations (Making sure all the lights work – did we check all the bulbs?)

And here is a quick list of my favorites quotes…
“I hope nobody I know drives by and sees me standing in the yard staring at the house in my pajamas.” — Audrey

“You better take a rain check on that, Art—he’s got a lip fungus they ain’t identified yet.” — Cousin Eddie

“Oh, he’s just yakkin’ on a bone.” — Cousin Eddie

“Whoa, geez! Look at the time. I gotta get to bed—and brush my teeth, feed the hog, do the laundry, wash the car, still got some homework to do.” — Rusty Griswold

“The BLESSSSSING.” — Uncle Lewis

“If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised.” — Clark

“Is your house on fire, Clark?” – Aunt Bethany

“You serious, Clark?” — Cousin Eddie

“Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.” — Cousin Eddie

“It’s people that make the difference – little people like you.” — Frank Shirley

“If it isn’t too much I’d like to get somethin’ for you Clark, somethin’… real nice.” – Cousin Eddie

“Oh, no, that there is an RV.” – Cousin Eddie

“Catherine, if this turkey tastes half as good as it looks, we’re all in for a real treat!” – Clark

Yes, there is leadership in the movie as well…
We see awful leadership in Clark’s boss, Mr. Shirley.
We see Clark wanting what is best and having great intentions.
We also see Clark having expectations that sometimes cannot be met.
However, in the end, Clark’s heart is in the right place.

Tis the season to be jolly? Yes, for it is Christmas. Friends and family or, as Clark said, “The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin.”

I am very fortunate to say that I love getting together with our families during the holidays. The fun we have should be bottled up and sold. We remember and make memorable moments, and our aggravation is at its finest. The older I get, the more I cherish getting together with our family. For me, that makes all the difference.

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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Pause and Reflect…

20 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Gratitude, Heart, Reflection, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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If you would like to download a printer friendly version of this with a washout watermark background, click here:

pause-and-reflect-2Download
Pause and Reflect

Gratitude and the heart, 
A clear connection... 
Existing between the two.
 
Authentic, sincere, personal...
Truly felt - open.
 
The impact of gratitude...
More than "I'm thankful because..."
 
Less about what you do,
More about what you are.
 
Gratitude transforms lives.
Recipients of things we do not deserve.
 
Attention directed to what we already have...
Of the good things we possess.
A value we can own - never cheapened.
 
Eyes turned away from discontent,
Fostering thankfulness in our hearts.
 
Hearts open to a meaningful life...
One that provides an understanding.
 
Gratitude in your heart... 
A decision, not a response.
Take time to pause and reflect.
 
…Happy Thanksgiving…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2020 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

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