"Out of clutter, find simplicity." ~Albert Einstein
As I was reflecting on our work this week at UTE, I thought of all the many details of the week that we, as educators, had to navigate while still keeping our focus. When I came across the above quote, I knew what my message must be. Our jobs are simple, with many complexities surrounding what we do. We are simply charged with making sure students progress in all areas. There is not another thing we are asked to do. But, every good educator knows how difficult that can be based on many factors. So, this weeks blog will be simplistic, not cluttered, and cut straight to the chase.Simple Words:
These are the words, you picked from our mission statement during a faculty meeting as standouts.
Make all your decisions based on the words above and we will be successful! The link below has some great ideas about using word clouds instructionally.
Karen T. is a tiger on the roll! She has already been using word clouds in her classroom. Check them out in the hallway outside her room!
Simple Duty:
Please take advantage of the opportunity to make real life connections to the presidential election and the importance of voting in democracies. The following sources may help you with your planning.
Simply PLC:
Weekly PLCs should focus solely on answering the following 4 questions. If we have gotten away from them, take this opprotunity to refocus.
1. What do we want our students to know?
2. How will we know if they know it?
3. What will we do for those who don't learn it?
4. What will we do for those who already know it?
Can't get any simpler than that!
Simple Blessings:
Teaching
Our work is hard, but rewarding.
Our time is long, but precious.
Our stress is high, but relative.
Our impact is small, but mighty!
Thank you Lord for all these blessings!
~S. Justice
Please watch the video below to put our work at UTE into perspective.
Simply the Best:
Thanks to each of you and the wonderful work you do for our students and community! Have a wonderful week and remember how YOU impact the lives you touch!
I have been trying very hard to find the simplicity over the last few weeks. I have decided I am making everything harder than it has to be and I am working hard to make it simple and fun! I love the word cloud maker on ABCYA.com and am going to try to incorporate it somehow in preschool. I even tried it with just letters and it worked so I may start out making letter clouds for my room :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe the students could help you find words that start with each letter. Then you could have a Wordle for each letter. They could even look for the words in books. Just a thought.
DeleteSimplicity. As I have grown and evolved as person, teacher, mother, friend, I have come to realize the value and freedom of simplifying my life. Surround yourself with positive people , those that bring us joy in our every day simple lives. Love. It doesn't get any simpler than that, if we aren't acting out of love then we shouldn't do it. These are my truths that I know, I love my church, family, friends/coworkers, students and job. You know what...they love me too. KISS( keep it simple silly) 100 people , that was a very thought evoking video. I keep thinking we are so blessed and I asked myself , if I was stuck here with only 100people, who would I choose? Who would you ? Would you pick the person that gives up, the one that says " it's too hard" , " what's in it for me?","I don't want to", "why do we have to", I will let you answer that. I know names that are on my list, because they are the people who encouraged me when I was down, believed in me when I didn't , made me laugh until my guts hurt, shared their fears, the ones I have cried with, and those who cried with me in my darkest hours. Life is simple, we are the ones that make it difficult.
ReplyDeleteI better be on that list!
DeleteI think simplicity is a key. I wish this idea could spread to higher powers that be in the education system. It seems they try to make everything more difficult than it needs to be on educators. Monica, you are a wonderful teacher. I know you feel you have been thrown into a whirlwind, but remember, after the storm there is always a rainbow! I had seen the video 100 people before. It is very thought provoking. If we were part of that 100 people what part would we play?? I liked Shawn's statement about being blessed. If God woke you up this morning and you were able to clothe yourself and drive to work, you are richly blessed and most take that for granted. We knelt beside the bed of our best friend to have prayer last night because he was too weak to set up. If you go to bed with that vision in your mind, you don't take as many things for granted anymore.
ReplyDeleteSimplicity says it all. We accomplish more with less stress in our lives and time to enjoy all the little things that make our journey in life worth wild.
ReplyDeleteThrough all the stress, and trying to accomplish all goals, we must step back and take a minute to realize how blessed we truly are. I have seen the video before but, it was just as opening today as before and a reminder that I was blessed to have crackers for lunch when some have nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard for me to realize that I am very blessed with good health, a great family, and really everything I have ever wanted. Truly I want for very little, I am happy with my life. The hard part for me is simplifying it so that it doesn't drive everyone around me crazy. I know that I bring a lot of clutter on myself but it seems that is just how my life is right now. I am working to simplify as much as possible but, as Heath's Grandmother said, "Clutter makes some people feel safe." I feel that the older I get the more I come to realize that things don't need to be complicated to be effective. Keep It Simple Stupid, I like it! Do ya think that could be my mission statement?
ReplyDeleteJust kidding!
Sorry meant Keep it Simple Silly.
DeleteThe 100 People video reminded me of a song that I hear at church, “Every day that I live, I am blessed. When I wake up in the morning, till I lay my head to rest, I am blessed." I truly feel this in my heart, not only personally but professionally as well. When I look back over the last twenty-seven years ,I think what a true blessing is to have known so many wonderful children, parents and coworkers.
ReplyDeleteAs for simplifying, well that is just something I need to work on. I am still a work in progress. :)
The 100 People video really puts into perspective how fortunate we are. We do need to remember that it is important to keep things simple. But considering everything we put into our purpose for being here the complexity of each child weighs on us. Let us remember what is important and stick to it for the sake of our students.
ReplyDeleteKaren, Christie, and Marta
Wow. The 100 people really was powerful! I am truly blessed and I know that, but sometimes we are so busy with the crazy whirlwind our lives are in that we forget. We need to pause more often and remember how great God is to us. I must be his favorite , because He is really good to me!
ReplyDelete