“Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” ~Muhammad Ali
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Plugins
I tested the plugins Compfight, Easy Tables, Visual Editor, and Light Box for Images to see some of the great options that are available to me with this blogging platform. As I looked at them, I considered ease of use and benefit to future blog posts. Below is the chart that shows my opinions about these plugins.
| Compfight | Easy Tables | Visual Editor | Light Box for Images |
| Compfight is great. I used it recently to find amazing photos that are free to use in blogging. I will use this plugin frequently. | This plugin seems fairly cut and dry. Easy to use and likely to be used frequently. | This works like the original Visual Editor. Easy. | I appreciate this plugin. It adds a layer of convenience for visitors to my blog. However, it does not seem to be working with the Compfight image below. |
Additionally, I activated the Supreme Google Webfonts plugin. I am thrilled to have various fonts from which to choose.
Gauthier DELECROIX – 郭天 via Compfight
Shine
You. Yes, you. I see you there. I see you trying to shrink into invisibility and remain unnoticed. You are different. I get it. You don’t quite fit in. People look at you funny and don’t understand your ways. You are tired of feeling so alone. You just wish that you could be like everyone else. I understand.
Stop. Read this carefully. You are somebody. Those things that make you different…those are gifts. Gifts that somehow, somewhere, someday you will use to make this world a better place. I see your gifts, and I think they are amazing.
Sure. I know. You’ve heard this before. Blah, blah, blah. That doesn’t change the way people look at you or shy away from you. You are lonely. You are hurting. I know. But do me a favor. Please?
Allow yourself to let one of your gifts shine. Let it really shine. I encourage you. I support you. Go ahead. Open the door and let it out. Once you do, all other worries will begin to fall away. People will be drawn to you. You will know you are on the right track. You will know that it is indeed a gift. Be brave and believe.
You. Yes, you. I see your light, and it is amazing. Let it shine. You and your gifts have a purpose. Your presence makes this world a better place. Thank you.
A Heart for All
Marco Verch via Compfight
February has commonly come to be known as the heart month. Everyone wears red and draws attention to the many things you can do to improve your physical heart health. While those efforts are incredibly important, I would also encourage you to consider the things you can do to improve the emotional and social heart health of those within your circles of influence.
As educators, we see students and parents who are hurting. They feel anxious, excluded, unwanted, and unloved. The increase in school/public shootings, incarcerated family members, drug and alcohol abuse, etc. point to an emotional void within the heart that is begging to be heard in any way possible. I realize that some of these issues have their basis in mental illness and need professional care, but a lot of it points to a society where it has become okay to ignore, exclude, and reject others for any given reason.
Just do a quick search on the topic and a multitude of articles from reputable sources show up in your feed. What can we do about it? As educators, we can work on building positive relationships with our students. That can be as simple as a greeting every day at the door, showing an interest in a student’s ideas, inquiring after their health or the health of a parent, etc. We can send quick notes or phone calls to parents just to check in and show that we care about their students and their families. There are many articles that give ideas for building the rapport that will let students and parents know that they are important to you. Here are just a couple of sites that have helpful tips:
https://teach.com/blog/five-ways-teachers-can-establish-positive-relationships-with-parents/
So this February while we are eating our heart-healthy foods and trying to fit in more heart-healthy exercise, let’s also seek ways to reach out to the emotional hearts of the students and parents we serve. While you’re at it, see what you can do to reach out to your colleagues and administrators, too. Teaching and leading are stressful, and often our colleagues and administrators feel alone in their struggles. By reaching out to build positive relationships with those around us, perhaps we can make a small dent in the easing the hurt that is so prevalent in our society today.
The Best Career for Me
There are so many things I love about my work. In my profession, every year is different, I get to meet and work with new students and new families regularly, and I get to spend my time learning and writing alongside my learners. I currently teach writing and science, so I spend time keeping current on the latest research about the best practices in those subject areas. I am thrilled to work in a career that affords me these opportunities.
As a veteran teacher, I have had times when I wondered what it would be like to do some other work. Honestly, though, I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. I do what I love-teaching and writing-and I hope that through my dedication to these pursuits, I can help others discover and develop their own interests.
Below is a slideshow that I created about teaching for fifth grade Career Day. It expresses my feelings exactly!