Keeping the Sword Sharp

The winter months are filled with constant disruptions for an educator. Starting around Thanksgiving and stretching until late February it seems that full weeks of school are the exception instead of the norm. This creates a number of inconsistencies in a field that is filled with them already. We all know that a middle school student's life is filled with distractions that we as educators cannot control. So the challenge is to create an environment in the school and specifically the classroom is where students can be consistently great. The key is to have large goals that are focused on daily ones in order to provide a greater purpose to the learning.  That way every minute of every day counts as much for them as I know it does for you, the teacher.  Sure this is easy to say but what does it look like.  Consider the following 5 points:

1. Demonstrate a love for learning. Come with fresh ideas and EXPECT the same in return.

2. Hold yourself to the same expectations as you hold your students. If you are having students work bell to bell then do the same.

3. Plan for success. Use the MAP testing data, summative data and your formative data to pace, but never feel there aren't exceptions. When you read something, watch something or hear something that inspires you, share it with your students, it just may do the same.

4. Talk to the pros. Never stop collaborating about the "right stuff." People that say you can learn from others mistakes aren't hanging around the right people.

5.  Bring the POSITIVE energy. Students feed off of negative energy just as well as well as positive.

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."
 - Franklin D. Roosevelt