Footwork

I am responsible for the footwork, not the result.

Destination

It is not important where students come from. What matters is where they are going.

Grooming

It is not only first impressions that count. Good grooming matters all year round. Just like students notice everything about their teachers’ appearance, teachers take notice of their students’. As a rule, a well-groomed student is better behaved and more mindful of his/her academic achievement. Neatly trimmed and clean fingernails are a good place to start.

Priorities

How strange it would be to get dressed in the morning and then take a shower with my clothes on! When I know what comes first and what follows, my day is smoother and I am not stressed. To prioritize is to put things in order within a time context, be it a week, a month or a year. I can only control my organization, certainly not life’s surprises.

Spelling

The extra time it takes to check one's spelling on homework assignments, papers or special projects, is worth every second. By using a dictionary or Spell Check, students can be assured of turning in a job they can be proud of, with zero spelling errors.

People

"People do not change when we tell them they should; they change when their context tells them they must."
Thomas Friedman - New York Times - 12/2/09

Recharging batteries

There are times when we need to hustle and there are times when we need to rest. The holidays are a perfect time to recharge out batteries, by sleeping in, reading for pleasure, visiting relatives, going to the movies, listening to music or just lounging around the house. When January comes, we’ll be ready to go back to school with energy and a sense of renewal.

Copying

To copy someone else’s work is bad enough, but it is also bad be copied from. This level of cheating does not affect teachers; it affects students in many ways that go beyond getting a zero. There is no sense of pride in turning in unauthentic work, and students who let their friends copy from them are hurting the very ones they want to help.

What's the point?

Students go to school until a certain age because they have to, by law. But what’s the point of sitting in class without paying attention or misbehaving? Being present, participating and taking notes prevents boredom. When students are not engaged in the learning process, classes seem endless and pointless when, in fact, they never are.

Nervousness

It is normal to be nervous at the beginning of a new school year. As students get to know their teachers and their schedules, we can all start to relax and feel more comfortable with each other and with what is expected of us.

Follow through

Students sometimes think that learning happens only within the confines of their school. The reality is that everything we encounter on a daily basis provides us with an opportunity to learn something new. Our minds do not shut off with the closing bell.

New faces

So far, so good.

The first day of school

On your mark…get set…GO!

Footwork

I am responsible for the effort I put into things, not the results. With proper footwork, results are not just OK; they exceed my expectations, restore my self-esteem and make me proud to be dedicated to my pursuits.

Creativity

I recently asked a group of 5th grade students if they could think of any topics for this blog. One of them yelled, “Creativity!” Her name was Isabelle and she gets all the credit for this entry.

Handwriting

Students need to be aware that when they write, whether on tests or homework assignments, someone else reads their writing. I always tell them that if I can’t read it I can’t grade it. If they don’t get credit for a correct answer because I can’t understand their writing, I tell them not to despair, that they can always study medicine and become doctors.

Summer

Summer is to be enjoyed, not to be stressed over what will be next September

Endings

With all endings come new beginnings.

Finals

To prepare for final exams do the following:

- Do not panic.
- Separate your study material into folders for each subject.
- Organize the study material within each folder.
- Study one subject at a time.
- Stay away from all forms of noise or distraction.
- Understand the material you’re studying. (If you don’t understand it, call a friend who does and have him or her explain it to you.)
- Retain the material; memorize it when necessary.
- Review old tests and written assignments, paying special attention to your wrong answers.
- Visualize possible questions or problems that will be on the test.
- Take breaks.
- Do not skip meals.
- Do not get caught up in other students’ nervousness.
- Get a good night’s sleep before each exam.
- Do not aim to just pass; aim to get a perfect score.
- Never discuss how long you have studied because, especially when studying, quality always trumps quantity.
- Stay away from negative thoughts about how unfair life is.
- Enjoy the challenge and be confident that your very best effort will have the best possible result.

Planning

Poor planning leads to poor results. And no planning at all can lead to disastrous results. Although good results cannot be guaranteed, the better we plan, the better chance we have to succeed, no matter what the particular endeavor.

Hope

It is OK to hope for good things: to pass a test we prepared for, to have great weather for a special occasion, to receive gifts we especially want, to improve the circumstance of a loved one. Without hope there is no hope.

Obnoxiousness

Everybody knows who the obnoxious kids are in school. The problem is that some of their behavior extends beyond the classroom and spills onto the Internet, where they bully innocent classmates and spread malicious rumors, often devastating victims and parents alike. Teachers must be sensitive to this and do everything in their power to censor the guilty parties and teach them a lesson once and for all.

Concern

There is a difference between “concern” and “alarm.” Some students act irrationally in the face of a particular concern, such as getting a detention for not doing homework. Getting three failing test grades in a row is definitely a wake-up call and a cause for alarm. Students who freak out over a detention and do not react to a failing grade have things backwards.

Paying attention

Ninety-nine percent of learning takes place in the classroom. By paying close attention to what is being taught in class, students can cut their studying time at home. They can then spend time reviewing rather than trying to first learn what they missed by not paying attention.

Assertiveness

Assertiveness is an attractive quality not only in parents and teachers but in students as well. It is different from being aggressive. Assertive people command respect; aggressive people command dislike and are a complete turn-off.

Clarity

Why is it that when I fear an outcome I lose the ability to think clearly and expect the worst? To be able to think clearly is a gift; to disregard reality and think negatively is an obsession.

Wisdom

We all have a certain measure of wisdom regardless of our intelligence. I trust my wisdom to get me through circumstances I have no control over. Without hope for success, whatever I’m doing proves meaningless.

Outlook

To constantly think that my cup is half empty is an absolute waste of time and energy. Even under dire circumstances I always try to find something inside my cup. Once in a while it even “runneth over.”

Decisions

When I follow a routine my decisions are simple, what to wear, what to eat or what to watch on television. In out of ordinary situations I have a more difficult time with choices. I used to make rash decisions that were often wrong, so I now take my time, mull them over, sleep on them and discuss them with friends.

Motives

I often spend too much time wondering why people do the things they do, especially if their decisions affect me either personally or professionally. What I need to do is pay attention to my own motives and stop thinking that I’m the center of the universe.