Best To Forget

I trust it's been a wonderful summer and that you are all going back rested and with some degree of rejuvenation. As you head back to your classroom, there are many things that you need to remember, from various passwords to school supplies. Even routines often need refreshing. However, it is not the things you need to remember to bring back to school which will change the way you teach. It is the things that you can forget that will do that. Can you forget to bring you ego into the classroom, for just one day? Then maybe the next? Are you able to leave all of your personal stories and assumptions behind on the counter at home where they cannot damage anyone? Can you drop your need to be right and express your opinions to everyone, and leave them on the road on your way to work? And if you feel that these are important to you and they will be missed, how about replacing them with a fresh, open and expansive view of the world, unburdened by all of your judgements and biases. Let's see how that works for you and everyone around you.

Reflecting

Teachers all know that the end of the year is not December 31st, but the last school day in June. The only difference is we don't have one night before New Year's, we have nine or ten weeks. That should be more than enough time to take a look back and do some reflecting. Don't get too heavy duty about it, this is not an exam. Simply take a few moments while you are lying in the sun, hoisting a drink, whatever gives you the best mood for ruminating and try to see yourself during the best and worst times of the year. How did you handle yourself? Were you guided by your love of kids and teaching or were you just trying to hang on for dear life? How well did you listen, see? When everything seemed to be overwhelming, what did you practice to help centre yourself and come back to what you really are?

When you have had time to consider some of these questions start to contemplate where you went off the rails and more important, how you were able to bring out the best in yourself and pass that on to the kids in your charge. Having done that, open yourself to everything that releases these qualities and let them be your guide today. This isn't something that waits until September, because it already lives in all you are. So if you can just get out of your own way and let it live in all you do, then you are definitely on the right path and there will be no need for New Year's resolutions in the fall. Have a wonderful summer!

Stop Being A Teacher For Awhile

People tend to confuse who they are with what they do. We often identify ourselves with our job or role in life. When asked what we do we will more than likely reply, "I am a doctor, lawyer, accountant, waiter etc." As a quick reply this is fine. However, what happens in many cases is we equate our job or position with who we are. Once we start doing this there is the danger that we will try to become what we think our role is, rather than just being what we are. I am a lawyer so I should act like one, and have all the things a lawyer has. Or at least be the things that the general population perceives in a lawyer. Teachers often fall into this trap. The idea that they are a teacher starts to colour all of their dealings with kids. Separation is created. Once that happens we lose much of our ability to relate to our children and guide them in a meaningful way. Yes, we are the teacher, but that is only our function. We are there to help lead, direct, give our experience, everything a teacher should be doing. The trick is to avoid falling into the illusion of duality. Teacher and student have their distinct function and purpose, but we are still human beings, equal and yet different. Once we identify with our role, we create the idea of superior and inferior. We gain self-importance and lose effectiveness. Try for just one day losing your identification with your role and start concentrating on your purpose. Then let it become a habit.

Let It Go

Letting go is difficult sometimes. Letting go of those we care about can be a huge challenge. Yet as teachers, it is something we do all the time, perhaps without even thinking about it. What other life choice entails meeting a group of young people with all sorts of diverse personalities, getting to know them, becoming completely involved in their lives, more than likely growing very attached and then after ten months having to let them go? Sometimes you may stay connected if they are in the same school, but frequently, aside from a couple of visits in September, they walk out of your life forever once the school year ends. I ask you, how many folks do you know, other than teachers who can do that? And the amazing thing is that each year we do the same thing. Somewhere, somehow, we develop the capacity to be so close to these kids and yet when the time comes, we can set them off with a minimum of clinging and pain. Pretty amazing! Now if you can do that, just think how much easier it is to let go of petty
issues and grudges you may be tempted to hold onto in your days at school, whether they involve students or staff. Please think about it.

Spring Cleaning

It's April and it's been a long year. No matter how uplifting you find your career, the stress that piles on each day starts we wear you down somewhat by this time of the year. The thought of all of the testing, marking, evaluating and reporting, while juggling all the clubs and activities that you all do can take their toll on your spirits. Remember, at this time in particular, to take time away from it all. Perhaps this is the time to take a couple of me/you days and just do the things you love to do; read, bike ride, hang out in nature or just hide away at home. Whatever you do, always be mindful that any feelings of hopelessness, being taken for granted or being overwhelmed are simply that. They are feelings, they come and they go. In the end they have nothing to do with our why we teach and they cannot affect our love for the kids we work with, unless we give them power. Step back and see that it's totally okay to be frustrated and tired. Then take some time for yourself, to rejuvenate, and then damn it, get back in there and enjoy those last couple of months of the year.

People are always looking for happiness, it's even in the U.S. constitution. Kids bounce the word around constantly. They are happy because they did well on a test, it is their birthday or they have a candy. Teachers carry on the same way. Happiness is a weekend, a holiday or a new car. For some reason we have this idea that there is this event or thing that magically has the power to bring us happiness. But when we are not happy for one of these tangible reasons, then what are we? If these things were taken away could it be possible to still be happy? Why are some people content and at peace whether they have something or not?

All of this shows that we have missed something along the way and our children are growing up with the same sense of need and lack. The good news is that there is really nothing missing in our lives at all. It's all made up. We are alive and that in itself is a miracle. Somewhere we have forgotten to see that magic all around us. It is cliched but a poignant truth that we fail to smell the roses. And worse still, we teach our kids to ignore the roses and go looking for happiness elsewhere. Well, it ain't there. It's right here all the time. Please help your kids to see that the world and life is a wonder and gift from the universe. It isn't always going to be pretty but we are here and believe it or not that can be enough. And when we see that we can enjoy our candy, our car or our vacation without being attached to them.

Do They Like Me?

I want to bebunk a myth that some teachers use to hide the fact that they really have little real interest in their kids. How many times have you heard a teacher say, "I'm not here to be liked. It doesn't matter if they like me or not."? I have news for you. Of course it matters. Just because they are young does not mean that kids are not perceptive. They know whether you have their true best interests at heart. They can feel if you truly care or are just marking time until the end of the day, week, term or even career. And if they truly know that caring and compassion are coming from you they will like you. It has nothing to do with how strict you are, because if you are tuned in to your students, and teach from a place of honesty and truth you will be liked. You may be firm in your expectations but when they know you care, they will be totally okay with that. And you can be easy going, but if there is no heart in it, they will not be okay with it. When your actions come from the heart, your students know it and feel it, and no matter what your teaching style is, they will like and respect you because they are sure you feel the same about them. By all means have your structure and expectations, but take time to find out where they come from, and if you know it comes from a good place you need not be concerned with whether they like you or not. You will see it how they act and what they do. If your methods come from ego, a need to control or anything that is less than honest, they will never learn anything meaningful. To boot, they will not like you and in this case it does matter.