Have you ever wondered, “What are my students thinking today?” Recently, I have found myself considering this, and it leads me to more questions. Are they enjoying class? Do they feel like it’s meaningful? Are they even present in the moments in which I think learning is occurring? Is this class beneficial for them, both now and in the future? What distractions exist in my classroom that affect my students? How can I help them be present? Continue reading Today’s Lesson Plan: Do Nothing
Month: March 2016
“Faith It ’til You Make It”
I love to eat, but regrettably I am not a great cook. Many of my favorite childhood memories start with the smell of my aunt’s cooking at our shore house. My Aunt Eileen is one of my favorite cooks. She makes the best meals and, in particular, the best sandwiches. I often try to replicate them but always fall short. I never know exactly where I went wrong, but what I do know is that something is off. Perhaps I am rushing. Perhaps I am not using the right ingredients in the right amounts. Or perhaps something is missing. Much like my futile attempts to replicate my aunt’s sandwiches, a young man’s future success will not be fully satisfying when something is missing. Continue reading “Faith It ’til You Make It”
The Desire to Be Part of Something Greater
Boys need to belong to a group that provides a greater purpose for who they are and who they are becoming. A common offshoot of this desire is to join a sports team. Many young men identify with being an athlete; hence, cuts from sports team are difficult and can lead to an identity crisis for some. “If I did not make the team, then I am no longer an athlete. Who am I?” (More on this identity crisis in another post.)
“Fake It ‘til You Make It”
The confidence of a young man is a powerful, yet very fragile trait, especially during his teenage years. Schools must dedicate time in their curricula to character development and, in particular, confidence-building for boys. Our freshmen take two such courses, Public Speaking and Lifetime Fitness Skills. These classes introduce and strengthen two critical life skills, self-presentation and healthy living; both build the confidence of our young men.
To Blog or Not To Blog?
After much hesitation, I am jumping into this blog world. I am thankful to @MrFlexon for being the final nudge to get me to start a blog. I am hopeful that I can learn from others and share what I learn to help other administrators and educators.
I recently participated in the “Shadow a Student Challenge”. After shadowing two students last week and preparing to shadow two students this week, I learned, again, how important it is to walk in others’ shoes. Empathy is key as we make decisions for our schools and our classrooms.