Sometimes That's All They Need

I don't know about you but here in northwest Missouri we are finally breaking out of a record breaking cold snap. Delays, closures and online learning days were all around us. Between the weather, holidays and professional development days, this was our first full week in what seems like forever.  It was a struggle for several of our students as we worked towards day 4 and 5 of the week. I may have been struggling by Friday myself! Patience is key.

I was able to finish up the last few summative evaluations last Friday while a student slept on my office floor. The steady snore seemed to keep me moving at a consistent pace. I couldn't help but think about all the things that our students deal with outside of our walls that we have no control over. The lives that they have we will never fully know. Their schedule (or lack of), when they last ate or how much sleep they really got will always be a mystery to us as educators. One thing that I do know is that we have to meet them where they are when they come in  and try to get them to progress before they leave. To learn. Seeing that there may be an issue, knowing we can't fix it, and assuring the student that you are there for them while they are at school is all we can do sometimes. Sometimes that's all they need.

Photo Credit: "Teacher Helping Students Working At Computers In Classroom" by City of Seattle Community Tech is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

My #OneWord for 2020: Focus

Focus. The dictionary defines the word focus as a center of activity, attraction or attention or directed attention. While I was coming up with my one word for 2020 I took my time. I had a few in mind but I really wanted it to mean something. Not like a New Year's resolution that comes and goes after a few weeks but a guiding word that I could reflect on at the end of the year and see how well I lived up to it. 2019 was a year of changes, turmoil and new realities. It was a year that would stretch my limits of leadership, time and patients. It also turned out to be a year of great growth and opportunity. I originally shared my word on Twitter ( @jasoncmcdowell ) a while back with the goal of writing a post that went into more detail later. This is that post.

Focusing on the key parts of my life, both personally and professionally, was needed after the 18-19 school year. I divided up my key focus areas into four main categories. These areas are family, community service, professional growth and personal growth. Through the fours areas of focus I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2020!

I put family first on the list because, well, they should be. The support, patience, attention and love that my family gives me is what it's all about. I owe them nothing less. Obviously there are times, especially in administration, that job duties take away large chunks of time. When the luxury of family time comes around it's important to focus on that time. My goal is to be mindful of my family and live in the moment.

Community service has been a large part of my life for many years. While the hours I spend are less than in the past my passion for it is not. I'm serving my second term on the City Council in the community I live in. I also volunteer for the monthly community breakfast in the town where my school is located. I'd love to do more but by focusing on these I am being a positive force in both spaces.

I've jumped in head first with professional growth in 2020 and I can sum it up in two words. Doctoral Program. This program will really put me to the test but in the end it will make me a better educational leader for my students, teachers and district.

Personal growth encompasses the other 3 pillars that I've mentioned. By putting my focus on my family, community and profession I'll be growing personally each step of the way. We're a couple months into 2020 and I can already tell that it's going to be a fantastic. year!
#PromoteGreatness

Stress and Anxiety of a New School Year

There’s a saying that states that every student starts a new school year with an A. Basically what they mean is that they have a fresh start. I believe every student starts the year with an A as well. That A can either stand for anticipation or anxiety. If a student struggles with anxiety then that stress can create a difficult start to the school year. New classes, new teachers and just getting back into a routine are difficult to deal with. As summer break comes to an end, and schools start to get back in session, there’s a need for planning, patience and positivity to help children get ready for a successful school year.

One thing that we can plan ahead on is our morning routines. Kicking things off right at home can help start the day off right. Knowing pick up and drop off plans can also reduce stress. If the student knows that they are riding the bus or being picked up by grandma before the leave for the day then it’s one less thing for them to worry about.

A new year often brings on new sleeping habits. Slow risers and worn out kids in the evening can be an issue at home and at school. Patience is key as they all get back into a routine. The struggle is real.

Remaining positive and attacking the new year head on in a proactive way is a quick way to a smooth school year. Teachers, be the calming face the students need in the morning. Have a positive attitude, celebrate success and be encouraging during difficult times. If we all work together we can help reduce anxiety and move towards a smoother transition into the new school year. Here’s to a great 19-20 school year to all the teachers and staff in our area schools!

#PromoteGreatness

Bus Drivers Deserve Our Support

Our bus drivers have one of the most important jobs in the school district, safely transporting our students from home to school and vice versa. Throw in all the field trips, sporting events and contests and you are looking at thousands of miles and hours for our students each school year. It’s also on the list of jobs that conjure up comments like, “I’d never be able to do that” or “how do you deal with all those kids.” Every year bus drivers are at a premium, not only here at Northeast Nodaway but across our region, I went along with one of our driver’s requests and rode a route.
 A few things became clear quickly, the students were both excited and a little confused by the principal riding their bus. They were also pretty excited to announce when their stop came up. I do have to admit that the excitement level lowered the older the student was. High school students were more skeptical and elementary kids were more excited to see me. Another thing that was very obvious was that these bus drivers take their jobs and responsibilities that go along with them very seriously.
Parents expect that their students will be transported safely. Student safety is our top priority as well. We all have a role in supporting our bus drivers. This support will not only insure a safer trip for our kids, it’ll also keep the good bus drivers around even longer. As a Principal I take the time to speak with my drivers regularly. Their eyes and ears see a whole different side of kids that sometimes needs to be brought to my attention. It’s important to meet with them, even if it’s just for a minute,and let them know that they matter to the success of our school. Parents also have a role in all of this. Talk to your kids about how to act on the bus. Make sure that they know right from wrong when it comes to this fairly unstructured time. Your driver will thank you for it. If, and hopefully not when, an issue comes up with your son or daughter on the bus. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute before casting blame on others. It’s better for everyone in the long run.
 I already have plans to ride more of our routes throughout the rest of the school year. I made it on one last year and want to hit he rest this year. I’m looking forward to getting each driver’s individual perspective as I ride their route. We are very appreciative of all of our bus drivers here at Northeast Nodaway. Whether it’s getting them home every day or to the recent Northwest homecoming parade, they go above and beyond for our students. We are putting our kids in a vehicle with someone who we should be able to trust. For everyone to feel that trust we also need to be able to be able to communicate with those drivers.

Be Mindful of Yourself: 5 Quick Ways to Recharge and Reconnect

Every educator reaches a point where they need to take time for themselves to rejuvenate. Whether you're an administrator, classroom teacher, school nurse or librarian the school year can take a toll. With even the best intentions we can move a lot of people, projects and issues in front of our own physical and mental health. We've all done it. The "I'll eat lunch right after school" or the "I don't need more than 5 hours of sleep". I use those examples because they are two of my go to quotes during the school year. We have to be mindful of our bodies and what they're telling us or we could end up with some serious problems. Skipping a couple hours of sleep to get through emails. can't be a part of your routine. Short of saying "I'm never skipping lunch again" there's a ton of things we can do to keep ourselves ready to take on a new day, every day.

It's the weekend, sleep in a little!
If you're like me you don't want to sleep the day away. I want to get every possible minute out of the weekend. Getting an extra hour or two of sleep on the weekend is a great way to give yourself a boost. If you're used to rolling out of bed after 5 or 6 hours of sleep try 7-8 hours and see how you're doing. An alternate would be to get a nap in on Saturday and Sunday. If you're a real overachiever get the 8 hours and a nap. Go for it!
Disconnect
Take some time in the evenings and shut your phone off for an hour or two. You won't hear any email alerts, texts, Facebook updates and whatever else makes a ping noise on your device. It will all be waiting for you when you turn it back on. If you don't answer that email in under a minute or aren't quickly replying to a parent who needs to speak with you then so be it. Take some of your time back in the evening.
Reflect
Whether its the end of the school year or 4 o'clock on a Monday, reflection can help you put things in perspective and wipe away some of that work related stress. You don't have to be on a sandy beach in a yoga pose to do it either. Although that would be nice. Turn the radio off on your ride home and process the day. Take a day after the school year gets out to decompress. Think through any unfinished business. What will you do different for your next lesson or school year? The great thing about reflection is it can happen anytime, anywhere. We just have to make time for it.

Reflect: Anytime, Anywhere by Jason McDowell

Write
Sometimes putting your thoughts on paper is the way to go. It gets them out of your head and forces you to put some type of organization to them. Pro's and cons, positives and not so positives, celebrations and moments of failing forward, they are all worth writing down and thinking about. Writing as part of your weekly routine is a great habit to start. It also gives you the opportunity to go back months later and see where your head was at.
Time with Loved Ones
Reconnect with your family and friends. Push those deadlines one more day and focus on those around you. After all they care about and support you. What better way to feel recharged than to spend some time with these people. Call a friend or relative you've been too busy to connect with recently. See how they are doing. What's new in their life? Take some time off of your stress. It can be a light hearted conversation or a week long vacation. Spending time with those that we care about helps heal the heart and gets us ready to fight the good fight another day.

They main thing is that we all (myself included) need to remember that life is short, take it a day at a time and love it while it lasts!

Reflect on Last Year for a Better Next Year!

Philosopher John Locke is quoted as saying "Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him". We were all drawn to education by different forces. Some by a supportive classroom teacher, some by a relative that was in education and others by the desire to help kids be the best that they can be in this world. Whatever your reasoning we can all agree that growth is the key to a successful classroom and school. I want to get stale and show no growth, said no one ever! 

 As educators we are constantly reading. It may not always be for pleasure but there's always something. Summertime is when the tweets go wild with what books everyone has on their summer reading list. We've got that covered. If you don't read, it's a good time to start!
I like to look at good company as my PLN (professional learning network). When I joined Twitter a few years back it changed the way I looked at professional learning. Being active on Twitter connects you with new voices with new ideas. It offers support on a daily, or hourly, basis if you need it. It's up to the minute, personalized PD at it's finest. Follow me, I'll follow you back and we can learn from each other! Twitter @jasoncmcdowell 
Let's get back to the purpose for this entire post, reflection. It's the final piece to this quote about education. Reflection is valuable in so many ways. Don't like the way a lesson went, reflect and make adjustments. Had a difficult encounter with a parent? Take time to reflect on your next steps and what could have been done differently in the first place. We don't always have time at the end of the day to process everything that went on. This time of year is a great one for educators. It can be easier, not EASY but easier, to find some time to think about the previous year. What would you do differently going into next year. What pleasant surprises do you want to build on in your classroom, school or district?