A New Summer Brings New Adventures

Image found here.

The summer break has brought rain in abundance.  The smell in the air is wonderful and very much welcomed.  It brings on the encouragement of something new.  It suggests change.  It makes you want to get outside and enjoy life.  It is the spring weather I usually miss out on inside the walls of a classroom... so I truly am enjoying the cool, fresh, clean air as I breathe in and embark on summer adventures:

1.  Adventure #1- Extreme Sports: My husband has been encouraging me to participate in some of his favorite hobbies, which have allowed me to experience feeling like a kid again.  Driving a Toyota through a MUD BOG or riding in the back of a monster truck are thrilling moments everyone should experience at least once in their life.  The mud, dust, and minor bruises are completely worth it.  But there is nothing more exhilarating than riding a Drift Trike (oversized customized tricycle with PVC on the back tires) down a long hill at 30 MPH.  Definitely brought me back to my days, as a kid, riding my motorcycle though the mountain air... These adventures are surely just the start of an exciting summer!

2.  Adventure #2- Feet to the Pavement:  My daughter is now old enough and has the stamina to run with me.  Running/walking, listening to music and chatting is the perfect adventure to experience alongside her as we both mentally and emotionally prepare for her journey as a middle schooler. ;)

3.  Adventure #3- Grant Award:  Ann and I spent time recently planning for the expenditure of our technology grant, awarded to us at the end of May.  We wrote the grant over a year and a half ago, so the celebratory assembly was truly a surprise.  Planning for the "Multiage Minutes University" has been an inspiring process.  This will definitely be an adventure that helps us to enhance, and in some ways recreate, our learning environment.  

4.  Adventure #4- New MAC BOOK!!: Tonight has brought forth a big adventure... digging my way through a new device.  One that has been well worth the wait.  First came the iPhones, next an iPod for my daughter.  I was hooked.  An iFanatic!  Then my iPad followed (along with iPads in use in the classroom).  Now I am the proud owner of a Mac Book.  A perfect addition to the iFamily :)

5.  Adventure #5- GLAD Training:  I have wanted to experience GLAD Training for several years, and recently Ann and I were able to jump at the opportunity to commit to training this summer.  Many visitors/observers to our classroom have made comments assuming we are, so we definitely feel as though the GLAD strategies will fit our brain-based philosophy and style as teachers.  This adventure is sure to provide new inspiration as we move into the new school year, much like Arts Impact did for us this past year.

Adventures are not moments that are necessarily planned out, but should be welcomed with arms wide open.  You can never pinpoint what to expect exactly, but what fun would unfold if you could?  Embracing the change, chance and risk within each new adventure sparks growth to an exponential power.  The benefits may appear immediately or have a longterm affect; irregardless they are each worthy in their own way. Allow yourself a moment to be free and seek out the adventures that await you.

~Celina

My One Little Word for 2013

A New Year always begins with a gusto of goals, promises, endeavors, challenges, resolutions, etc. When Ann introduced me to Ali Edwards' One Little Word (OLW) last January I was struck by the simplicity of choosing one word to encompass, or rather summarize, the achievement one hoped for in the new year. After participating with OLW during 2012, I realized the deep impact one word could have and was impressed with how a word could positively change your personal character. INSPIRE brought me opportunities, conversations, knowledge, ideas, and a plethora of possibilities. From all the inspiration that I encountered and shared during 2012, I was able to change my mindset as a learner and approach my professional journey with eyes wide open.

Incredible Us

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As we returned to school yesterday from our spring break, we dove into our third and final theme:  SOAR.  Our students began the year working hard building their own unique STRUCTURE for learning and developing a plan of relevant personal goals.  In the winter, they were courageous as they began to BLOOM.  Students were excelling in their goals, and continued to raise the bar for themselves.  Now they are ready to celebrate their growth and SOAR.

Yesterday we began decorating our classroom with inspiration to encourage us all to SOAR.  They worked individually to decorate a star that represented their personal goals and aspirations for the remainder of the school year.  In teams they developed banners for the windows to inspire others in our school community to SOAR.  We reestablished routines and rituals to help us SOAR to success.  And above all, students reevaluated their personal goals to SOAR to new achievements. 

Today our school Social Worker and her amazing Intern came in and shared a beautiful story, “Incredible You”, written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.  They share in our desire for students to believe they can SOAR to new heights and celebrate their amazing achievements.  The book explains 10 ways to let your greatness shine through, which was a perfect tie-in to our theme.  As I thought about each of these, I connected them with the overarching philosophies that Ann and I remind each other of daily; the words of wisdom we truly live by.

1.       Share the Good:  Attempt to inspire others, and seek out inspiration around us.

2.       Find What You Love:  Be passionate and never allow fear to guide us. 

3.       You are Filled with Love:  Extend our compassion and empathy to others.

4.       Find a Quiet Place Inside:  Be mindful and find ways to calm our thoughts to process clearly.

5.       Make Today Great:  Live in the moment and treasure the day we are standing in.

6.       Change Your Thoughts to Good:  Recognize the good and presume the best.

7.       Take Care of Yourself:  We must be healthy and happy to support others.

8.       Picture What You Want:  Honor our vision.

9.       Everyone is Special, Especially You:  Take time to celebrate ourselves and our students.

10.   Good Thoughts Give You Energy:  Thrive on positivity, novelty, and humor.

Ann and I model our Building Blocks to Success (Work Hard, Be Courageous, Celebrate Growth) for our students every day, and these 10 ways allowed me to reflect on how even as adults we must allow our greatness to shine through.  As we work hard, courage is necessary to help us celebrate our own personal growth.  We must soak up our moments of greatness and be careful to not minimize the work we have accomplished.  Every goal reached is a stepping stone on our personal journey, and valuing our own personal successes gives us the momentum to keep going through the ups and the downs. 

Ann and I attribute our incredibility to our students.  They inspire us often and give us the courage to keep going each and every day.  They help us believe.   Incredible Me… Incredible You… Incredible Us… 

~Celina

And the Rockstar Award Goes to...

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What a week!  I had a lot of so called “downtime” due to the circumstances at home, but seriously there was NO mental break.  I am ending the week actually more tired than most and I only made it to work 1.5 days out of 5.  So that is why my AMAZING, GENUINE, INSPIRATIONAL teaching partner is receiving the Rockstar Award!  Ann totally rocked the week:

·         She faced each day with resilience

·         She was calm in the face of unpredictability

·         She juggled 50 students, the needs of colleagues, and parent concerns with care

·         She welcomed 3 guest teachers into our classroom (2 of which had never subbed for us before)

·         She maintained her humor amidst the changes in routine

·         She attended 2 trainings, finding inspiration and courage

·         She assisted me in preparing for our first observation of several in the days to come

·         She put into practice a new routine to meet students social/emotional needs

·         She mentored our university student and a new teacher throughout the week

·         She mothered my daughter through the stress she was facing

·         She lesson planned on her own, creating engaging lessons and activities to meet students’ needs

…but most of all, with all of this on her plate she maintained her contact with me through texts, photos, emails, tweets, and phone conversations.  She kept me up to date, but also was a dear friend showing empathy for my personal situations. 

I am so very thankful...Everyone give her a shout out please!  She deserves it.

~Celina