on guilt.

The Case of the Teacher Patrol

We all know the stereotype of the high school hall monitor.  It’s kind of like the adolescent version of the parking patrol officer, trolling the the mean streets for expired parking meters.  Although equally annoying, both play a role in enforcing basic rules: if you’re in the hall without a pass, you get a detention.  If you’re parking meter expires, you get a ticket.  

Right now, somewhere in Big City, USA, teacher tone enforcement officers (TTEO) are in full force.  Raise your voice at a child?  Strike one.  Express a borderline negative tone when redirecting a student? Strike two.  Demonstrate a less than calm demeanor when addressing your class at recess?  Strike 3.  And no, not strike 3 -you’re out.  Strike 3 you are inconsiderate.  You lack empathy.  You are impatient and need to work on understanding your kids better.  You should reflect more.    

In the words of Michelle Tanner-DUH.  We teachers love our kids, we L.O.V.E.  love them to pieces.  Obviously we self-reflect when we lose our cool.  We realize that negativity, breeds negativity.  Raising your voice daily, holds no power when you need to play that card for real. Duhhh.   

But are we seriously monitoring teacher behaviors with clipboards?  And what constitutes a negative tone?  Is there such thing as an inflection meter?  Do we have a decibel meter next to the fire distinguisher in the east hallway to measure teacher voice level?  

When relayed to me, this miles-away teacher confession didn’t go in depth, but I can guess that the TTEO and school leaders enforcing these preposterous teacher behaviors didn’t directly inform the rebellious law breakers they were inconsiderate, lacked empathy or needed to reflect.  They didn’t have to.  The message was clear: good teachers are calm and patient at all times.  If they are not, they will be fined with a TTEO ticket of teacher guilt.  Don’t pay your fee on time?  Expect a TTEO with a clipboard and a smile, aggressively monitoring your hallway transitions and explicitly gushing over your law-abiding teacher friends’ tranquil teaching style at your next staff meeting.  

More recently, I’ve received frequent messages and texts from fellow educators sharing teacher tales that make my jaw drop.  As a former administrator and coach, and having failed a million times over in those roles and as a teacher, I believe that in most cases, the leaders’ intentions are good.  It just may be the execution that lacks empathy and differentiation.  

Let’s be honest, there are some teachers out there that flat-out, yell at kids all day.  They are the outliers.  Then there are many that aim for a calming presence, but raise voices and get a little snappy at times.  Lastly there are the zenned-out Chill Kings and Chill Kweens that ride the waves no matter the weather.  

As leaders and coaches, wouldn’t it be better to ask questions, provide behavior supports and check-in with teachers, rather than patrol their hallway tone and volume with kids?  Maybe even ensure meeting-free prep times and create a data-free lunch break rule to encourage teachers to recharge?  

Making teachers feel guilty for their tone and voice level can get pretty touchy.  We’re not talking missing deadlines, this is about how we express ourselves as human beings.  There have to be alternative approaches to addressing this.  

To the millions of teachers out there, fiercely committed to doing what’s best for your students...Every. Single. Day...

Doing your best is enough.  You are doing enough.   We can always improve, but stop thinking you’re not doing enough.  

Teacher guilt is powerful, whether self-inflicted or not.  Taking notes from the Chillout Kings and Kweens out there, I’ve been reminded that perfection doesn’t exist in anyone.  Accepting that fact combined with the understanding that school leaders are always growing,  just like teachers, helps a little.  

Power to the teacher.  

on questioning authority.

My first job was as a busgirl.  Memories of marinara drenched cloth napkins, crusty, caked Parmesan shakers, and silver sauce cups overflowing with wasted “ranches on the side” reminded me of my 1990’s glory days as a fourteen-year-old on the mean streets of Detroit suburbia.  

In those days I was paid “under the table,” which strikes me now as fitting, since so much of this neighborhood Italian gem was “under the table.”  Especially the bread situation.  

Busgirl job description number 4: Clear consumed bread baskets from tables, but do not dispose uneaten bread slices or fresh rolls.  Brush out crumbs and refill basket for next table.  

Umm, excuse me?  You want me to reuse the bread? The rolls that people touched and maybe even licked? Even my teeny bopping, Dr. Pepper flavored lip-glossed butt knew that that was, like, so wrong, like, you know, like?!

My voice was far from existent in that dining establishment, but I did make sure to throw away that nasty used bread whenever I had the chance.  Looking back, I wish I would’ve questioned the manager and gotten fired with some dignity.  I would’ve said, sir, would you serve your children this bread?

Meeting motherhood for the first time, last year, I now ask that question often at work.  Would I serve my daughter this lesson?  

I have been fortunate in my career to take a path both in teaching and leadership, where opportunities lead me to experience a wide range of roles in various geographical locations.  I guess you could say I spent my twenties “finding myself” as an educator and learning from my many failures in hopes of becoming a better educator someday.   

Still failing and learning from it, I reflect on the core values that evolved into my beliefs today. And honestly, not much has changed.  The core is the core.  It’s the core, like my conscience that tells me to stand up for what I believe in and challenge authority when something isn’t right.  

In theory, we should only work hard for what we believe in.  But in reality, and especially as we grow older, we can’t just jump job to job searching for the right fit.  Adulthood brings responsibility, and maturity brings the willingness to persevere and uphold commitments.  

So, at what point as leaders and teachers, do we stop compromising our values to keep our jobs?  Or to please our bosses?  Or to avoid conflict?  Or because we’re so damn tired?  

I think it starts with an organization or school’s mission and vision. Do you believe in yours? Not the one on paper, but the kind of mission and vision that you feel in the classroom, the hallway, the playground, the cafeteria and the library.  Not the talk the talk mission and vision...the walk the walk mission and vision.  

Perhaps we can lean on the mission and vision of our schools to question authority.  If your school’s goal is to “create independent thinkers,” and your instructional coach is constantly encouraging you to spoon-feed lessons to students, then you might have some ground to stand on when suggesting you move toward Socratic seminars.   

I’m not suggesting you whip out the student handbook with the glossed up mission and vision to prove your coach wrong, but I think school leaders and teachers are too often staying quiet about things that matter.  Approaching authority with extreme professionalism and respect, might be worth the satisfying feeling of not only being heard, but standing up for what’s right.  No matter the outcome.  

Power to the teacher.  

on sending messages.

Tales from the teacher are the best.  Sharing stories reaffirm that we aren’t alone and that we aren’t crazy.  

Recently, my teacher friend reminisced about a post-state test song analysis project she facilitated.  You know, that time of year where you experiment with projects, plays and competitions?  Because it doesn’t “count?”

My friend introduced the project to her students, “we will be analyzing song lyrics for theme, and…”

She calls on the dramatically waved hand in the back.  “Yes..?”

“I thought you could only analyze theme for benchmarks and packets!”  He was serious.  

Telling this teacher tale, we both agreed that this was sad and probably a common misconception.  School, in fact, is not a place where you learn to do packets and pass tests.  I hope...

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this right now, you are no fan of standardized testing.  Like me, the side effects of the test obsession is what you like least about your job.  It kills you how it stifles creativity, narrows curriculum and is so short-sighted for true student achievement that you wonder why things haven’t changed by now.  

For me, standardization is not the enemy, it’s how much fear these tests impose on kids and educators.  The fear brings on some truly crappy learning environments.  The fear makes teachers quit and students hate school.  

I mean, right now there are thousands of American children with four crispy, new state test prep workbooks glamming up their student desks.  Purple, red, green and yellow-one for each subject.  Promised to give them high scores and hours of practice “mastering test-released questions.”  These are hot items for the next three months.  And sure to make student behavior extra spicy.  

For a long time, I drank the Koolaid of believing that teachers are doing our kids a disservice if they don’t test-prep.  And, testing is part of life, students have to know how to pass tests to be globally competitive. And my fave, State test pep rallies get kids psyched about showing off their learning this year.

Now...not so much.

What kind of message are we sending our students when we only celebrate test scores?  Or throw parties for their upcoming twenty seven hours of bubble sheets and ticking timers?  What’s with the teacher award ceremonies for state test performance?  

Teachers, we can take hold of what matters. Be the filter for your kids.  Protect them from the standardized test pandemonium.  Send them the message that you know is true.  Make them love school and value life-long learning.  

Possible approaches to sending the right messages:

1. Celebrate academic achievement with more than standardized tests.  Schools are stellar at celebrating core values and improved behavior, but when rewarding academics, test scores usually take the lead. Let’s include student discoveries in science, creative writing pieces or history projects in award ceremonies!  Instead of a pizza party for math benchmark scores, why not a pizza party to award class mathematicians for the “most original problem solving approach” or "best rationale for evaluating wrong answers vs correct answers.”  What we reward shows what we value.  
2. Post student work that shows what students value and what you value. Instead of posting one-hundred percenter spelling tests, why not post the twenty-five letters to the mayor that each kid typed, and actually sent, calling for action to improve their neighborhoods?
3. Incorporate lessons on communication. Speaking and listening state standards exist and are vital to developing strong communicators.  These standards may not be assessed on benchmarks and state tests, but just think how powerful knowledge can be when well-communicated!  Go get your Socratic Seminar on!

Teachers may not have the power to change state testing yet, but we do have the power to change the narrative.  We can start conversations with colleagues and school leaders about sending the right messages to our kids.  We can support each other when the fear gets the best of us.  

We can remind ourselves what really matters in education.  

Power to the teacher...

on rekindling the flame.

You lost that lovin’ feelin´

Whoah that lovin’ feelin´

You lost that lovin’ feelin’

Now itś gone, gone, gone whoah

Don´t sweat the small stuff, they said.  I remember when I was a kid, the nuclear-family sitcoms told a twenty-two minute tale of a suburban husband and wife, passive-aggressively disagreeing over putting the toilet seat down, controlling the remote, or how to handle the visiting in-laws in their Home Alone-sized colonial on their police officer and SAHM salary.   Insert laugh track.  By 8:51pm, you usually knew what was coming next...some epiphany about how love conquers all annoyances and how drinking OJ from the carton really wasn´t all that bad.  

My husband is the greatest.  Yeah, we´re newlyweds, I know, but other than the big stuff that makes him a wonderful man, it´s the little things (like organizing the overflowing kitchen pantry this morning, because he knows how it kills me to have to dig) that show his consideration and thoughtfulness toward his partner in crime.

Little things matter.  It´s the little things that drive teachers crazy.  It´s the little things that cause teachers to leave the profession.  Little things add up to one heaping pile of big things, ultimately leading some teachers to fall out of love with the teaching world. The romance slowly dies and then one day it´s just gone.  

Much of why I started this blog, was to offer reflections on teacher mindset and to fuel teacher empowerment.  As I work on strengthening my own internal locus of control, I often struggle with the highs and lows of being an educator.  Some days I feel the passion fading...the flame burning out.  It´s about keeping that passion alive.  

Reflections on Rekindling the Flame

1. Take a trip down memory lane.  Why did you fall in love with teaching?  Reread old diary passages, pull out old pictures & student thank you notes.  Think about the first teaching experience that shook you to the core.  Where did it all begin?  
2. Try new things together.  You and teaching have had your adventures, but why stop now?  Maybe itś time to explore a master´s program.  Maybe you could move abroad and teach in a whole new setting.  Maybe it´s time to change your role within education and be a librarian, an interventionist, a school leader or transition to adult ed.  Take a leap!
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  If those nineties sitcoms taught me anything, it´s that real life is not like the movies.  Or TV.  It´s hard to not sweat the small stuff.  Annoying emails, unnecessary paperwork, a pointless meeting...this stuff does make you sweat sometimes.  Time is precious and so is mental energy.  The dumb little stuff can weigh down excitement from a recent class accomplishment or a meaningful conversation with a student.  The small stuff, though, comes with any profession.  Not every profession, though, provides opportunities to inspire and be inspired by students, teachers and learning every day.  For me, that´s the big stuff that outweighs the little stuff.  
4. Lean on your support system.  Turn to people who know you and get you for guidance.  

Charlie: So you´re the one.

Maverick: Yes, ma´am.  

If education is the one, then we owe it to ourselves and our love to keep the candle burning. Power to the teacher.  

on music.

I don’t know how single moms do it.  It’s not just the sleep deprivation, it’s the deep down mental strength that is required for daily function.  Spoiled with ten days off work to honor  the New Orleans Mardi Gras holiday traditions, and my husband away on tour, it’s just me and the baby...just us.  

Wailing with the lung strength of a five-year-old, my thirteen-month old will.not.stop.crying.  

For those of you who know my daughter, most of you think she’s one hundred percent chill, one hundred percent of the time.  Contrary to popular belief, she’s cranky five percent of the time.  And in this moment, the first time doing this solo mommy thing, I recalled the antidote to her meltdown.  Moana.   

See the light as it shines on the sea

It’s blinding

But no one knows how deep it goes

And it seems like it’s calling out to me

So come find me

And let me know

What’s beyond that line

Will I cross that line

Baby muscles unclench, tears cease and the gritty cry/scream comes to a halt.  Her mouth forms the cute baby “oh” face and her pint-size hips begin to sway.  The Moana soundtrack is like a sedative for my baby, every single time.  The antidote worked- she is chill again, and happy.  I thank Lin Manuel, The Rock, Auli’li Cravalho and all involved in bringing peace to my family’s life. The music and lyrics really are magical.  Mahalo Moana.  

Music has special powers.  It’s ability to transport the mind, body and soul can be surreal.  As an educator, I’ve found that taking advantage of music’s super powers has brought unity, solace and a brighter spirit to my classroom and personal life.  Science shows that this transformative and age-old medicine is proven to reduce stress and act as a catalyst to building friendships.  MUSIC-Sign up for your free trial today!

Music Unifies People

Mardi Gras is nothing like I could have imagined.  Celebrating only my third Mardi Gras this year, I act as more of an observer, than anything.  Watching otherwise strangers unify by means of music, food, floats, traditions and costumes is mind-blowing.  The amount of love and kind-spirited interaction would make a tourist cancel their trip back home.  When the entire street is singing-along to “Do Whatcha Wanna” (Rebirth Brass Band) with that look of city love and family pride, exchanging smiles and sharing the contents of their cooler...it’s a beautiful thing.  

Music unites people. Beyond Mardi Gras, it may not be our natural tendency to hug strangers in the darkness, but music does that to people,  It unifies us.  

Music Ignites Good Vibes

In preparation for this week’s traditions, our ultra-spirited K-8 school prepped their own Mardi-Gras parade with super-krewes, banners and beaded throws galore.  My class does the Krewe of  “Look What’s Cookin’ with Values” accompanied with a choreographed song and dance to Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.  Five morning spent belting out MJ lyrics and collaborating to get in sync for the big parade was pure joy.  Letting go of some control and allowing for some organized chaos paid off in the end.  

The camaraderie and positive vibes carried through each and every other lesson on those days.  I could feel the love all week.  

Music is not just an emotional experience, it’s physical.  The hormone, oxytocin, is released when interacting with music.  Singing, especially!  “Oxytocin is sometimes known as the cuddle hormone or the love hormone because it’s released when people snuggle up or bond socially.”  (livescience.com)

So, music physically produces good vibes.  

Music Reduces Anxiety

Clearly, the Moana tunes reduces anxiety in my daughter, and ultimately, in me.  Science has proven time and time again, that music does reduce stress. There are numerous forms of music therapy, and in terms of recovery, hospitals are using music to speed patient recovery.  

“An observation made at Massachusetts General Hospital, found that heart patients confined to a bed that listened to music for 30 minutes had lower blood pressure, slower heart rates, and less distress than those who didn’t listen to music.” (circ.ahajournals.org)

Despite all of the research, we know that music can change our moods and perhaps the moods of our students.  

So what now? Be intentional about music as therapy.  Whether it be our personal lives, our classrooms or in helping others.  Turning on the local radio station probably won’t do the trick.  Make a “winding down” mix, specifically for your ride home from work.  Integrate a choral singing task into your morning classroom routine, offer some music education within ELA and introduce your students to  some artists to research on their smartphones for homework.  Trade in your Netflix binge Saturday for a Spotify binge Saturday.  

When you set a purpose for your musical experience, you may find the results are more substantial.  We all love music for pleasure, but why not take advantage of it’s power to heal and inspire?  

Happy listening teachers!  And forgive me for my day late, post.  Tuesday was a big day in New Orleans!

We are sunset.  Mardi Gras 2017