Ready, set, start.

As I sit here thinking about the last few days and the flurry of activity to get ready for the students to come on Wednesday I can't help to be both excited and overwhelmed. iPad carts aren't ready and not everything is up and running but plans are being made, teachers are working hard, and the love of students is evident. 

I've started this year trying to keep things in perspective in terms of the big picture. I've had some overly encouraging conversations, some amazing ego boosts both from within and outside my school community. 

I've met with and instructed some new teachers on tech integration. Would I like to have had more time? sure... But just like we should always be looking for the teachable moment with students, I will do the same to meet the needs of our teachers. 

My top goals for this start are:

1. Be intentional, timely, and helpful with my tech tip Tuesday emails to our teachers.

2.  Be positive and affirming of those I come in contact with. I plan to look for things to thank people for this year- both big and small and tell at least one person a day that they are appreciated, valued, and acknowledged in their work (students, teachers, parents...

whoever!) and maybe even let them know they are loved.

3. Keep learning and growing by trying new things that will help our students. There is a lot of new possibilities on the horizon for me to learn about this year.

4. Be timely in my responses to others and strive to see issues through the eyes of others.

My word for these next few weeks is STEADFASTNESS. According to dictionary.com the definition to this word is "sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering. Steadfast, staunch, steady imply a sureness and continuousness that may be depended upon. Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution: steadfast in one's faith." I want to be that spiritually, emotionally and physically for our school this year as I work to grow, resolve,  and adapt to a new year of learning with new people, with familiar faces, with the past to spur me through reflection, with steadfastness in mind.

The frenzy of beginning

I always seem to be starting the new year wondering if I'm adding "the last straw" to overwhelmed teachers as they face the new school year with different expectations and a need to learn something quickly. I hold my breath as I plan how to share what this year will entail and I pray that I'm setting them up for success with the scaffolding and planning I've prepped. 

The hard part of starting new endeavors with teachers is that it usually means introducing the concepts the week before school starts when they are at their most frazzled! For the past two months I've been immersing myself in all things STEAM, PBL, and integrated units to best be the support I need to be as this new school year unfolds.

I am excited about these concepts and I hope my excitement is contagious as I extol to the teachers the benefits of PBL, the blessings of a STEAM grant, and the effectiveness of integrated units to wrap it all together. I stand amazed as I've seen the pieces come together in the last few days! 

As we plan and move forward to best meet the needs of the elementary students at CCS I am thankful for the team of educators I work with that come alongside, encourage, and challenge me to create a culture of learning that is exciting for all of us! It will definitely be a year of learning with our students... And I'm excited about that aspect. I think there is great value in students seeing that educators don't always have all the answers, aren't the smartest person in the room, and that they have things to learn about the topic at hand too. Perhaps that in itself will encourage some of our students to see the value of lifelong learning.

Open Letter to THE NEW KID.

Dear New Kid,

I see you. I see your concerns, insecurities, expectations, and fears. I see you wondering where that class is, who you can ask, and if you will make it there before the bell rings.

I know that you might be at this school because you had no choice- your family moved, or family circumstances changed, or your parents are looking for something better- but this school just wasn't your choice. Maybe you were quite happy where you came from and now you feel sad and overwhelmed. I hear the crack in your voice and see the tears that want to spill over. I see you. I've been that kid. I understand.

Maybe this school is a new chance for you. Maybe you were unhappy at your old school and you are hoping beyond hope that THIS PLACE will be different. I see you trying to figure it out.

Hey new kid, I see you worrying about usernames and passwords. I see you trying to figure out what in the world you will do with TEN minutes between classes during midmorning break. I see you trying to figure out where you are going to fit in. I see you being discouraged because everyone else already has friends and you feel shy and alone. I've been that kid. I understand.

New kid, I hope you find your way soon. I hope in 3 weeks you realize most of your fears were unfounded. I can tell you that I promise to be a welcoming face and a helpful teacher. I can tell you that if you just want someone to walk you there- I'm willing. I can tell you that being the new kid isn't always bad after you learn the ropes a bit. I can also tell you that people are looking out for you. We have our eyes on the new kids, we want your transition to our school to go well. We want you to succeed with us.

Hey new kid, everything is going to be alright. Be yourself, find your niche, step out of your comfort zone at lunch and sit with someone. If I see you alone, I promise to introduce you to others or have you included on the playground.

New kid, I hope you learn from this experience. I hope from now on you are aware of people that could use a friend. They aren't always new kids, sometimes it's just shy kids or "different" kids or kids that need a new friend group. Look for those kids and be a difference. Why? Because you've been that kid.

By the way, I know your name isn't new kid- I'll learn your name if you'll learn mine. :)

You are loved,


Mrs. Davis

A New Year- A New Difference Maker

It's a day of looking forward as the new school year starts tomorrow but for me, today was also a day of looking back. I woke up this morning and saw the obituary for a young man named Clark that I taught when I did my student teaching. He was a senior taking Economics and I was a brand new pre-service teacher with big ideas on how to make a difference. There aren't a lot of names I still remember from 13 years ago but he stands out still.

I still remember him because he made a difference to me. I was trying to make my Economics class unique- we made homemade pies one day in class for me to introduce the concept of "pie charts," then one day I had a stockbroker friend of mine speak to the class. That's why I remember this student. He purposefully asked questions in class when most of the other kids could really care less. I could never decide if he was doing it for me or to make our guest feel more comfortable but his "care" in that moment has stuck with me all these years. At the age of 30, he tragically died this week but as I see others post about him on Facebook the last few days I know he was known for his kindness. I just reaped the benefit of that personality trait on that teaching day so many years ago.

The 2015-2016 begins. There will be students walking in your door that need to be loved, heard, gently admonished, challenged, prayed for, side-hugged, encouraged, and respected. Some of our students don't get those things at home. Some of our students, like Clark, can teach us a thing or two about caring for others. As educators, we have a responsibility (and often power) to change the course of a kid's life for the good forever. We can't take that lightly.

As I go into this school year my prayer is that I would be a difference maker, that the students I teach, the teachers I support, and the families I serve would know my heart's goal is to be a positive influence in the lives I touch. Sadly, we can be difference makers negatively as well. My goal for this year is to get "ME" out of the equation and to focus on the tasks, needs, and people before me. My goal is that I would teach, lead, react, and listen with an open mind and discerning heart. It's asking a lot of myself sometimes because my nature is to feel threatened, hurt, or protective of the things I do professionally when challenged. This year I will strive to be a positive difference maker. Will you?