Let me hear you say, "Everything's alright" (Steve Forbert)

Photo by Amy Reed on Unsplash

School holidays for two weeks - a great chance to catch up with my reading and myself.

Brené Brown's book The Gifts of Imperfection has an interesting list (I love lists) of middle age's big ticket items, or as she calls them - unravelling journeys:

• marriage
• divorce
• becoming a parent
• recovery
• moving
• empty nest
• retiring
• experiencing loss or trauma
• working in a soul sucking job

I wonder how many you ticked off (my tally was 6 - you can guess which 6).

I'm not contemplating the retiring one any time soon. I'm enjoying what I'm doing way too much to give that up.

Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox) (John Lennon)

Dan Rockwell makes some worthwhile points about the paradox of power in a recent blog (whole thing is here)

Paradoxically, I feel more powerful in the classroom that I ever did as a Principal, or even a Head of English in various schools.

The paradox is that the higher you ascend the leadership ladder, the less power you actually have.

Why is that? Dan provides some following thoughts:

• Healthy power is using skills and abilities in service to others.  
• You don’t need authority to have power.  
• The more power you have, the more valuable you are when you serve with humility.

So, if you are truly being a leader, the more you actually concede power to others.

This is something micro managers and control freaks don't get.

As Dan says:

• The paradox of power is it grows when it’s shared and shrinks when it’s hoarded.

Or as I say: if you employ good people, get out of their way and let them do their job.

One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the rickyard when—whack!—an acorn hit her upon the head. "Goodness gracious me!" said Henny-penny, "the sky's a-going to fall"

I'm enjoying my current climate where people can (and do) make mistakes, without much angst and stress. Teaching is all about learning, right.

Finding teachable moments is a key ingredient to every classroom. Tolerance, forbearance, perseverance, acceptance of people's strengths and weaknesses are all mixed into the experience as well.

This has been a long week and the final week of the term is coming up so staff and students are looking forward to the break.

A student said to me today that his previous teacher was really grumpy today to which I replied that the teacher was probably really tired, so be kind.

I always remember Brené Brown's belief - I know my life is better when I work from the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can. 

Way up in the sky, little darlin', If you fall I'll pick you up, pick you up (Rickie Lee Jones)

Teachers have secret superpowers

“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing. They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage--the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing--but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire of Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”

A wee reminder from Harry S. Truman

Being that guy!

Photo by Mark König on Unsplash

You can carve out a very good career simply by being the most reliable person on the team. You would not think that always showing up on time, hitting every deadline, and responding quickly and professionally to all communication would be such a differentiator, but these traits are always in short supply.

James Clear

Wow, I feel good. I knew that I would, now (James Brown)

Recently (Sunday just gone), I was on a high after an exchange at my local Four Square.  

As she rang up my purchases, the shop lady said, "How's your day been?"

Me, "Pretty good. Been marking essays"

She looked at me.

Me, channeling C3PO, "It's a teacher's lot in life - marking on a Sunday"

She, "Oh, where do you teach?"

Me, "Hastings Boys'"

She, "That will be $23 please, right, yes. I see you coming home sometimes and wondered which school you were at".

Yeah - I know. Not the most riveting conversation, but I walked out of there on a high. 

I didn't have to enter into a lengthy explanation of where I worked, as I've had to do in the past. Or add anything else, at all.

It felt really, really good.

Well, there's nothing to lose and there's nothing to prove when I'm dancing with myself (Billy Idol)

Photo by chris robert on Unsplash

James Clear in his recent newsletter said: 

"I have had periods in my career when I have been sprinting full speed and accomplished a great deal and I have had seasons when I have been fairly lazy and coasted on my previous effort.

What I have learned is that I am the major obstruction to getting results. Whether external conditions are favorable or unfavorable makes less difference than whether I am fully engaged and consistent. Even in competitive fields, the competition is primarily within yourself."

This is very true. 

I had a few shaky moments with my classes last week and it was all down to me and my approach. I need to make it easier for myself and design tasks and lessons better to get the boys' attention with more buy-in.

It's worth my time to get it right.