Updated Blog-Guide to New Year's Resolutions

As we approach the New Year, I am taking time to reflect on the past year and look forward to 2017. I know that this time of year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions. This can be a positive exercise to focus on areas of our life we would like to improve and make a new start. Many of us have tried this in the past and have not been successful. It is easy to quickly give up on these resolutions when they don’t come easy and we haven’t made an action plan. But, here are some ideas that may help those of us trying to make 2017 a better year.

In the past, I have made resolutions, sometimes more successfully than others. After seeing what works with me and trying with my 4^th graders, we have developed an action plan that helps us and it may work for others also. Try it, we really don't have anything to lose. 

First we take time to reflect on 6 areas we may want to change:

1. Spiritual
2. Family
3. Professional (for 4^th graders-Education)
4. Physical and Health
5. Fun
6. Financial (4^th graders set goals in 3 areas for money: 1. To save, 2. To give, 3. To spend)

We choose one or two areas to work on. Then, we write actions to take to make these resolutions come true. Next, we pick a partner, a friend or family member, that we can check in with daily at the beginning and then weekly and monthly to see how we are doing and stay accountable. We put the resolutions as goals on a piece of paper and put it somewhere we see it often, like on our refrigerator, in our lockers, or on our desks. Finally, we check in every month to see how we are doing on reaching these goals. Looking long term, we even write a letter to ourselves to be opened at the end of the school year, restating the goals and giving encouragement to keep trying if we haven’t achieved these goals yet.

There are many reasons for giving up on these goals, like we may feel we don’t have the time and energy. But, remember that they can be very small goals, like a spiritual goal could be to do a verbal gratitude list at one red light we stop at each day. If we make a reminder to put in our car or make someone we drive with our partner in the goal, it makes it easier to do. Some of my students and friends have done this and say that it can really help add something positive to a stressful commute. It is interesting, for 4^th graders, most goals are things like: making new friends, getting better grades, or being kinder to siblings. Those are great goals.

Once, someone asked why we have to make these resolutions formal, why not just try to be more loving or get in better shape physically? I like both ideas. But, I know that for me, informal resolutions don't seem to work as well because it is easier to give up on them. Also, it is easy to lose those goals in our busy lives if we don’t write them down, make a simple action plan, or check our progress.

Resolutions do not need to be too big or overwhelming and I would recommend choosing one or two to start with. One year, my goal was to wake up 10 minutes early to spend doing yoga, praying, and meditating. This one was easy to keep because I found that it helped me get through the day with a smile. I expanded on that and now wake up 30 minutes early and actually look forward to starting the day that way.

Another year, the goal was even smaller, but just as important. When I got in my car, before I turned the ignition, I would take a few deep breaths and just try to get into the present moment.This really helped, but I kept forgetting to do it in my busy day. So, here I readjusted my action plan and put a reminder in my car on my speedometer. That helped and I enjoyed a new moment of quiet peace interjected into my busy and hectic days.

Sometimes, our goals may even surpass what we envision. Since I was eighteen years old, I have played guitar. But, I was self-taught and I wanted to learn to play better. So, ten years ago, I made a goal to learn to play guitar better and take formal lessons. My action plan was to visit some local music stores and find a guitar teacher, then spend 30 minutes a day practicing, I did that and now I actually teach guitar and started a after-school music program at my school. Even more astonishing, for the past few year, with the help of my dear friend Erik, we performed as a guitar duo around Atlanta and had a blast. We have a new gig coming up in February and as we jammed to get ready for it, we both realized how we have grown as musicians and friends, far surpassing my initial goal. An extra bonus is that we have added our musical friend Seth to the mix. Playing double-bass adds a new dimension to our sound.

Other times, our goals and resolutions are not met or may come more slowly. Here, we should not beat ourselves up, but refocus, adjust the goals and keep trying. If the goal isn't that important any more, let it go and move on to other things. Celebrate the little victories and look for progress, not perfection. You can do this. Have a fantastic year in 2017 and STAY GRATEFUL! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thanks for all the love and support!!!

Quote to end blog:

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” - Hereclitus

Gratitude in Spanish-Como empezar un Diario de Gratitud

Como empezar un Diario de Gratitud

Gratitude es una gran herramienta spiritual y un diario de agradecimiento es un camino fácil para aplicarlo en nuestras vidas y las de nuestros estudiantes. Lo importante en proponérselo y hacerlo un hábito, parte de nuestras vidas. Los Estudios han demostrado que posiblemente es más importante buscar dentro de cada individuo el nivel de gratitud más que enfocarse en el número de gratitudes por día.

Este un un ejemplo:

1. Gracias por ________________________________________________________ porque____________________________________________________________

2. Gracias por ________________________________________________________ porque____________________________________________________________

3. Gracias por ________________________________________________________ porque____________________________________________________________


Empieza encribiendo una lista corta en el pizarrón para que los alumnos puedas iniciar. Diles que pueden “usar” una de las gratitudes de la lista, si es que tienen algún problema en como iniciar su lista. Los ejemplos pueden incluir los siguiente: Estoy agradecido por...

* Por sentir el amor abundante en nuestras vidas
* Estar saludable
* Por mis amigos, nuevas y viejas amistades
* Estar vivo
* Por tener comida y ropa que vestir


Con todas las actividades de agradecimiento, podemos sugerir que los estudiantes sean lo más específico que se pueda y buscar los beneficios que proporcionas las gracias recibidas. Por ejemplo, en lugar de escribir “Gracias por el almuerzo,” los estudiantes pueden escribir, “Gracias por los jitomates y la lechuga de mi ensalada y la gente que hizo esto possible, desde el granjero, el camión de entrega, la tienda de los productos, y gracias a mis padres quienes trabajaron y gastaron su dinero para comprarlos,” o “Gracias por el almuerzo tan saludable hecho por manos amorosas y por el tiempo y esfuerzo que dedicaron para prepararlo, porque las comida le da fuerza a nuestros cuerpos y el amor alimenta nuestras almas.”

Podemos incluso escribir, “Gracias por todas las situaciones inesperadas/desagradables/malas/ que me pasan por que me ayudan a crecer en diferentes aspectos.” Podemos estar agradecidos por cosas que parecen malas en el momento, son lecciones de las cuales aprendemos de ellas y nos brindan nuevas oportunidades para seguir adelante. Son lecciones de valor, sabiduría, persistencia, y fortitud.

Si queremos realmente retar a nuestros estudiantes, preguntales si ellos estan agradecidos por las tares o por los quehaceres que realizan diariamente. Este reto les permite a los estudiantes apreciar todas las cosas buenas que la tarea proporciona. ( les ayuda a aprender y a prepararse para la vida).

Si se te olvida escribir en tu diario de gratitud por algún tiempo, no te preocupes, solamente empieza otra vez y siente los beneficions que trae en nuestras vidas. Difunde y disfruta tus gratitudes (bendiciones).

Greater Good's-How to Stop the Culture of Complaining in Schools

Recently, the Greater Good Science Center from U. C. Berkeley, posted an adaptation from my book. Check it out at this link, How To Stop the Culture of Complaining in Schools.

Take the 21-day Gratitude Challenge from Greater Good 

Also, check out this Gratitude Activity on Greater Good's website.

Greater Good has so many compelling articles and useful tools. Sign up to get on their email list.

Empowering Excellence: Strategies for Life Taking Learning and Life to the Next Level

A guest post by Kathy Stacy and Nichole Dalzell

Does your child or the children you work with have a difficult time starting and finishing homework? Have they ever thought they would get a good grade on a test or project but have been disappointed? Do you ever wonder where all their study time goes?  According to the Brown ADD Scales Manual “When executive skills are not working effectively, a child, regardless of their  cognitive abilities, can experience significant problems in many aspects of learning, getting work done, social functioning, and self-esteem.” Executive functions skills help us decide what to pay attention to in our lives and are  increasingly important aspect of every child's education especially in today's high-tech, fast paced world.

These skills cover a wide range of processes such as prioritizing, planning, organizing, managing time, goal setting, maintaining sustained attention, being flexible and accessing working memory.  Each of these skills stands on its own as well as partnering with others to form a suite of learned behaviors that carry us successfully into adulthood.  From our experience working with students, families and teachers we have found the three most prevalent needs to be in areas of time management, accessing and honing working memory, and planning and prioritizing.

1. It’s About Time:
Time management is an essential executive function skill that allows students to develop efficiency in how they begin tasks and stay on track until the task is completed.  Honing this skill allows students to properly estimate how long a task will take to complete and gives them the ability to create accurate schedules that allow for realistic follow through.  It is essential for parents and teachers to explicitly provide children with strategies that help them estimate and understand time, adhere to deadlines, manage technology distractions, and improve the use of calendar/agenda systems.

2. If Only I Could Remember:
Working memory allows children to hold information in their minds while performing complex tasks.  It affords them a chance to examine their current situation in light of past experiences and decide how they might perform better.  When effective note taking and study strategies are clearly taught, modeled and reflected upon children understand the importance of using these strategies across a variety of disciplines to be successful in and out of the classroom. 

3. What Are You Going To Do and When Are You Going To Do It?
The executive functioning skill of planning and prioritizing gives students a “road map” to reach a goal or complete a task.  It involves being able to recognize what is important, focus on that task first and move forward with a plan of action.  Students need  an understanding of how they can  independently impose structure and order on ideas.  Several strategies that might prove beneficial are: calendaring systems, chunking long term assignments, monitoring progress and goal setting.

Regardless of academic experience- students can employ strategies to make school work easier and allow them to earn better grades. The key is to learn a few strategies well and practice them until they become second nature! Practicing these strategies, systems, and routines Empowers students for Excellence.  According to Richard Guare, PhD, author of Smart, but Scattered, "It's never too early or too late to help your child develop the skills for success. Learn how to build these skills and stay on track all year long and throughout your life."

Empowering Excellence, LLC offers customized webinars, one-on-one student sessions and group workshops on executive functioning skills to both parents and school faculties to help their students tackle schoolwork and life more efficiently and effectively. 

Teacher staff development opportunities:
Our staff development training is designed to assist teachers in understanding and implementing instructional approaches and techniques to support the development of executive functioning skills in their classroom. In this workshop, we will illustrate what executive functioning deficits look like in the classroom and offer specific techniques for addressing those weaknesses that affect student performance.

Individualized coaching:
Executive functions let people plan, organize and complete tasks. Some of the most important skills a child needs are not taught in school. As academic coaches, we look at these important set of skills and develop a plan to address weaknesses that can affect a child's everyday life.
We help students build strategies to address their Executive Function weaknesses.
Helping the student to:

• Understand how to manage their time, study smarter, plan for tests, and design learning strategies tailored just for them.

• Break assignments down into workable “chunks,” and use technological and visual aids that keep them more organized.

• Manage their workspace and materials, keep up with assignments, and be proactive on long term projects.

Kathy and Nichole are skilled educators with a combined 35 years of experience. They are committed to empowering students to unlock their academic potential and gain the tools necessary for success not only today, but for a lifetime. Their passion is helping students study smarter, not harder by developing the Executive Functioning Skills needed for LIFE! 
Visit us on the web at www.empoweringexcellence.org

A Teacher's Treasure Box

The school year is well under way and things are going great for me overall with so much to be grateful for in my classroom. But I am also struggling with some new challenges. That is something probably every educator can say. Nothing will ever be perfect and if we ever achieved perfection, something would change. However, these facts keep the craft of teaching exciting and propel us to constantly adjust, refine, and grow in our quest as educators.

Recently, I was a bit overwhelmed and I dipped into my teacher “Treasure Box” where I store my keepsakes that remind me of the rewards of teaching, the letters and notes from students and parents, expressing their thanks and deep appreciation. These letters explicitly demonstrate that all the hours of toil are worth it and the seeds I am planting are taking root, spreading out and hopefully reshaping our world. Some of these letters are especially poignant when they come from students who are moving on to high school and college.

I came across the following note that I received last year and was reminded of the gifts that students give us and the spiritual nourishment we receive, when we are open to it. Here it is:

Gratitude Letter to Mr. Griffith

Mr. Griffith,

            First off, I want to say thank you. I am going into high school in a few months and I will also be moving to a new state. You were my first teacher at a new school when I came to your class in 4^th grade and you have helped me tremendously. Although in the beginning I had many struggles, you helped me through everything. When I came close to giving up, you wouldn’t let me. Because of this, I persevered through the end of 8^th grade.

            Having come from a school beforehand where things were much easier, there were times when I almost came home and said, “I can’t do this anymore.” I didn’t give up because I always remembered your perseverance and gratitude. Even when you weren’t anywhere to be found, you have helped me through difficult times. I came to your school completely new and had no friends here. Soon, I’ll be going through something very similar and I will make sure to always remember what you have done for me.

            It’s been four years now since I left your classroom and I have not forgotten to bring gratitude with me. Although I have lost track of daily gratitude entries, I always come up with as many things as I can when I am feeling stressed. This helps me tremendously. I have been blessed to have had you as a teacher. What you have given me is a gift, a gift that I could never thank you enough for.

Thank you,

Tim

Here is a quote to end the blog:

"Good teaching is an act of hospitality toward the young, and hospitality is always an act that benefits the host even more than the guest." - Parker Palmer

Owen's Gratitude Presentation on YouTube

Check out my latest presentation on Gratitude on YouTube at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43pB4o1LEFI

Gratitude Helps Marriages

Research has confirmed that practicing gratitude activities, like writing a gratitude list, strengthens all of our relationships. Now, a compelling study reports that gratitude can improve our relationships with our spouses or partners.

At the University of Georgia, close to us here in Atlanta, researchers found that couples who expressed gratitude for their spouse enjoyed better marriages. Approximately five-hundred married couples took part in this study that looked at their communication style, financial well-being and how frequently they expressed gratitude to each other. These expressions of gratitude were the most consistent predictor of a high quality of marriage. The study reported, “Couples who express gratitude for each other during good times are buffered from the withering effects of lousy times.”   

Furthermore, Ted Futris, an associate professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia said, "We found that feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last."

According to lead author, Allen Barton, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Georgia's Center for Family Research, saying "thank you" to your partner is so potent that couples who make it a habit are less affected by other marital stress. Barton goes on to say, "It goes to show the power of ‘thank you’…Even if a couple is experiencing distress and difficulty in other areas, gratitude in the relationship can help promote positive marital outcomes."

Furthermore, Barton said, "Emerging findings, however, lend support for gratitude in romantic relationships — including that of perceiving spousal gratitude — to alter the effects of financial distress and negative partner behaviors on individuals' marital quality."

In addition, Barton writes, "One longitudinal study, for example, demonstrated increases in both partners' grateful mood by having one spouse keep a daily gratitude journal or overtly expressing greater amounts of gratitude to their spouse."

The authors of the study note that conflict in any relationship is inevitable but gratitude can ameliorate the negative effects of conflict. Furtis said, "All couples have disagreements and argue and, when couples are stressed, they are likely to have more arguments. What distinguishes the marriages that last from those that don't is not how often they argue, but how they argue and how they treat each other on a daily basis."

Improving Your Marriage with Gratitude

As I have researched gratitude and applied it in my life, I have found many new areas where it works. One area that it seems to work extremely well in is in the area of strengthening social bonds and relationships, especially marriages.

Gratitude can be a powerful tool to help couples connect and learn to communicate in a positive manner, enabling them break negative communication patterns in their relationships. By taking time to express gratitude to your partner, either face-to-face or writing it down, you will help improve your relationship. Today, with all our modern means of communicating, it is easier than ever to send a quick text or email to our partners and find novel ways to express your appreciation.

When I started practicing some gratitude activities in my life, I asked a close friend who had a happy and healthy marriage how he did it. He said, “Every morning, when I get out of bed and see my wife sleeping, I think of three things I am grateful for about her.” 

Even more interesting was the fact that he said that practicing gratitude changed his marriage, but his wife stayed the same. What changed, at least initially, was the way he viewed her, through the new lens of gratitude. Immediately, I tried this and it worked. When I woke up, I would look at my wife and think of three things I was grateful for about her, like her intelligence, her humor, or her unconditional love. Quickly it did improve our relationship and created more love, laughter, and intimacy. 

I also started keeping a written gratitude journal about things I was grateful for about her. From that, I would write her gratitude letters as well as telling her, in an authentic way, all the things that I appreciated about her. Like all gratitude activities, some days are easier than others, but, persevere-it will pay off.

For me, gratitude opened up a new communication with a positive spin that had us talking more than ever to each other. Of course, it wasn’t a cure all, but others who have tried this attest that it does help.

So, try improving your relationship or marriage with a little gratitude. Daily, simply think of three things you are grateful for about your spouse or partner, write them down and express them. Try it for two weeks and watch the quality of your relationship and life improve.

Owen was on Teacher's Lounge Podcast

Recently, I was interviewed on the Teacher's Lounge Podcast. It is interesting to see how much things have progressed since I was interviewed by them two years ago.

Check it out at:

http://teachersloungeshow.blogspot.com/2016/08/back-to-school-gratitude.html

Seven Questions to Reignite your Teaching Passion and Purpose

Guest post by Robert Ward 

All teachers must find or rediscover their passion for educating and nurturing children because their personal and professional sense of excitement, pleasure, and purpose is just as vital for their students as it is for themselves.

No one can argue that academic learning is a crucial goal of teaching, but educators, parents, and the public are now also embracing the importance of social and emotional learning. Yet we all must go one step further- or deeper- and equally accept the profound impact of soulful learning.


Meaning is magnetic! Passion is powerful! Charisma is contagious!

If you want to engage your students, you yourself must be engaged. Your students will be entranced by and feed off of your sincere passions. Your specific passions may never become your students’ passions, but you will have nevertheless provided them with three vital life lessons:
 
* A passionate, purpose-driven life is the only life worth leading.
* When a person chooses a path full of self-expression, creativity, and meaning, wonderful opportunities arise, doors open, and adventures await.
* One’s passions should be openly and generously shared with others because what each individual offers is a glorious gift that benefits and inspires others.


If you want to maintain a rewarding career in education that lasts thirty years or more, you must be deeply invested in what happens in your classroom. Please abundantly give the gifts of inspiration and creativity to your students because it is within these avenues of exploration that children dare to dream, invest fully, and achieve their potential.


The following questions will assist you in reinvigorating your teacher passion so that joy, fulfillment, and meaning become the nourishing foundations of your day.

1. What is it about the subject/s that I teach that connects with my core values and beliefs?
2. What aspects of my curriculum are particularly exciting and interesting to me?
3. What beauty, artistry, wisdom, or wonder am I compelled to impart to my students?
4. Why have I chosen to devote my professional life to this field of study? What longing does it fulfill in me?
5. What is sustaining and revitalizing about what I teach and about teaching itself?
6. Am I ever learning something new that is useful, important, and intriguing, both to me as a professional and to me as a person?
7. What qualities do I personally bring to the table that make my particular instruction uniquely valuable to those I teach?


You must be coming up with some very compelling answers to these questions because if not, you are probably going through the motions and merely collecting a paycheck. Neither of these results are much good for your life as a teacher—and with the amount of time you spend in the classroom, this is a major part of your life!—nor for your students’ lives and education.


If you yourself cannot articulate why what you teach in general, as well as why each specific lesson matters—both to you personally and to your students—then how are you expecting to sustain your students’ interests, let alone your own?




Robert Ward is a dedicated educator who has taught English at middle schools in Los Angeles for twenty-three years. He is also the author of two powerful books for teachers, and Rowman and Littlefield will publish his next book, A Teacher’s Inside Advice to Parents, in November 2016. Contact Robert via his website: http://www.rewardingeducation.com/ 


This article is adapted from chapter 9: Engendering Fascination in The Firm, Fair, Fascinating Facilitator.

Click on the following link for information on purchasing Robert’s two teacher books directly from the publisher at a 40% discount through 9/30/16:
https://rewardingeducation.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/two-powerful-books-for-

Gratitude Quiz plus Owen's Gratitude Presentation

Check out Greater Good's Gratitude Quiz at:

Gratitude Quiz

It is short, only 20 questions and has resources and links when it gives the results.

Also, I gave a Gratitude Presentation recently and it is now on You Tube.

Access it at this link:

Owen Griffith's Gratitude Presentation

Knock-Out Burn-Out

Henry James said the two sweetest words in the English language were “summer afternoon.” For educators, perhaps the sweetest words are “summer break.” This is the time of year many of us recharge our batteries as we vacation and take time with family and friends.

But what about those of us who are contemplating not returning to the classroom in the fall and becoming part of that sad statistic that half of all teachers quit in the first five years. Or what about those of us who are dreading getting back in the classroom because even after summer break, we will still feel burned-out?

Can we recapture the energy and enthusiasm that brought us into the classroom and help our colleagues when they start to get discouraged? Yes, we can become revitalized and help others keep growing through the roller coaster ride of the school year by becoming aware of what leads to burn-out and then becoming more resilient as we add some of the following tools to our teacher's tool-kit.

What is “Burn-Out?”

According to a top burn-out researcher, Carol Maslach, “Burn-out is more than feeling blue. It is a chronic state of being out of sync at work and can be a significant problem for educators. People feel constantly overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted. Teachers may try to get away from it for a while, but when they come back, it is as bad as ever…Burn-out is loss of enthusiasm. The original passion to teacher has faded or gone away completely. Teaching feels like a burden and a chore. Instead of doing their best, they do the bare minimum.”

Here's a link to take the Burnout Self-Test from the Maslach Burnout Inventory for yourself:

https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/soim_abbreviated_maslach_burnout_inventory.pdf

Five Steps to Knock-Out Burn-Out

Step #1) Reach out for Help

Even though burn-out makes us feel isolated, we are not alone. Reach out to mentors, trusted colleagues, administrators, counselors, and friends to start getting help and support, and don't be afraid to get professional help. We can help others who are experiencing the same thing and create networks of colleagues and friends. A study by Figley (2012) shows that we can heal from “compassion fatigue” before it becomes full burn-out.

Step #2. Be Grateful-Look for the Positive

Research (Emmons, Froh, Bono) shows that practicing gratitude helps restore our energy. Gratitude is much more than a pleasant emotion; it is a potent action. Start to practice gratitude: write a gratitude letter to a colleague, or make a gratitude list about things in your classroom and life. Do it on a daily basis for two weeks and watch your classroom become brighter.

Step #3) Develop a Growth Mindset

Research by Dr. Carol Dweck affirms that applying growth mindset activities helps teachers avoid burnout and also helps students achieve in the classroom.  Dweck tells us that praising the process versus praising intelligence “may involve commending effort, strategies, focus, persistence in the face of difficulty, and willingness to take on challenges.” She gives some helpful examples in this article:

 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/

Step #4) Help Others

In the classroom and in the world, when we help others in big and small ways, we are helping ourselves stay rejuvenated all year. By partaking in altruistic actions, we open ourselves to the profound joy of giving freely as we focus on others and not on ourselves. Write or call a parent and tell them something about their student that you are proud of. Find a student that is struggling and sincerely complement them for something they are doing well. Altruistic giving has been shown to increase positive neurotransmitters in the giver, receiver, and anyone observing the act of giving. People who volunteer or care for others consistently are happier and less depressed. In her book, Raising Happiness, Dr. Christine Carter writes about the “Helper’s High” we get when we give of ourselves.

https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Happiness-Simple-Happier-Parents/dp/0345515625

Step #5) Have Fun in the Classroom

Humor is a powerful way to stay fresh and rejuvenated throughout the long school year. Although life can be serious, we can temper that with a sense of humor about situations in the classrooms. We can learn to laugh at ourselves in stressful situations and keep some balance and positive perspective.

Sometimes when I am in survival mode, I forget that teaching can be fun. So, I start every day off with a riddle. Not only is this fun, but it helps students think outside the box. Sharing jokes, brief stories, brain teasers, etc., only takes a minute and can easily be aligned to the day’s topic.

Make time to connect with students, like standing at the door at the beginning and ending of class and simply shaking their hand and telling them something you appreciate about them.

Get Through the School Year with a Smile

These suggestions may seem daunting, but we don’t have to try everything at once. Take some time to reflect this summer and make a plan to try the easiest of these tips to get unstuck and feel refreshed. Then, try something else from the list to revitalize and keep out of burn-out mode. If something doesn’t work, remember that one mistake is not a failure but a step in learning. Keep trying and reach out for help. We can do this! We can get through the year with a smile.

Poetry-Education and Gratitude

Henry James said the two sweetest words in the English language were “summer afternoon.” For educators, the two sweetest words may be a little different, “summer break.” We are at the end of the school year when we all need a break. 

Here a couple poems, the first about education and the second about gratitude. Enjoy both and enjoy summer! 

Lift Off (excerpt)

- Donovan Livingston, ''Lift Off', (student speaker at Harvard Graduate School of Education 2016 Convocation Exercises)

"Education is no equalizer —

Rather, it is the sleep that precedes the American Dream.

So wake up — wake up! Lift your voices

Until you’ve patched every hole in a child’s broken sky.

Wake up every child so they know of celestial potential.

I’ve been a Black hole in the classroom for far too long;

Absorbing everything, without allowing my light escape.

But those days are done. I belong among the stars.

And so do you. And so do they.

Together, we can inspire galaxies of greatness

For generations to come.

No, sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning.

Lift off. Education is no equalizer —

Rather, it is the sleep that precedes the American Dream.

So wake up — wake up! Lift your voices

Until you’ve patched every hole in a child’s broken sky.

Wake up every child so they know of their celestial potential.

I’ve been a Black hole in the classroom for far too long;

Absorbing everything, without allowing my light escape.

But those days are done. I belong among the stars.

And so do you. And so do they.

Together, we can inspire galaxies of greatness

For generations to come.

No, sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning.

Lift off."

   Full Text & Video... http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/16/05/lift

Messenger
by Mary Oliver


My work is loving the world.

Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—

          equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
 

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
          keep my mind on what matters,

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be
          astonished.

The phoebe, the delphinium.

The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,



which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

          and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy

          to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is

          that we live forever.