Don’t Run Out

In Fill before empty from Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin shares

“When the cost of topping off your battery is less than the catastrophic risk of running out of juice, it pays to add to your reserves.”

This is so important for teachers! We can’t help our students if we don’t take care of ourselves. Too many times I have seen young teachers work through lunch, spend their evenings grading papers, and working through the weekend. As each day goes by, their energy reserves get lower and lower until they get totally burned out. No wonder so many new teachers leave the teaching field and move on to other careers.

I think we need to impress this onto those just entering the teaching field. They are so gung ho and want to do the best they can so they think that by working harder, they can make it happen. Sometimes only time and experience will help you become the best teacher you can be. Everyone needs to work smarter and not harder.

I believe those that stay in the teaching field have learned to do this. They have learned time management and have balance in their lives. New teachers don’t automatically know this and have to learn this.

When I meet with any teacher in the education courses that I teach, I encourage them to get a hobby or find an activity that they like to do. Start an exercise routine that they can follow. Do something creative. Schedule in time to do fun things on a regular basis. Make sure they spend time with their families. Don’t let their work keep them from watching their children grow up. Don’t sacrifice their families for their careers.

I tell teachers to think about what they are teaching and don’t give busy work to students, especially if it has to be graded. Find ways that students can self-check their work. Have students create things that show off their understanding of new knowledge. This knowledge is applied to creating something. Use rubrics to grade projects.

I encourage new teachers to develop an organizational system. This may take some extra time in the beginning but once they find a system that works, it will make their life easier.

New teachers need to be prepared and not run behind. Staying ahead of the game is vital to being effective. I encourage teachers to make sure they have their necessary materials for a lesson at least 2 days in advance. This allows them to find out if they have missed anything they have forgotten. It’s better than to gather materials the same day of the lesson only to find out that they have forgotten something.

I encourage new teachers to find a mentor and develop a support system. This is important when they are feeling down and discouraged.

All of these things will help them fill their energy reserves. When they need to recharge their batteries, they will always have something there to dip into. Don’t let the energy reserves ever get depleted!

How do you fill your energy reserves? Please share.

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

Hurricane Preparedness

During hurricane season, it is important to be prepared. You hope you won’t need to use this information but it is good to have.

According to AARP, you need a “Go” bag with these things:

“1. Basic electronics - Pack an extra phone charger in case you’re fortunate enough to have electricity, and a portable battery pack in case you’re not. Also stash a long-lasting LED flashlight. Pack a small hand-cranked or battery-operated AM/FM radio (with extra batteries).

2. Personal needs - While getting ready for a typical day, list every toiletry you use, then buy a travel-size version of each. Pack backup eyeglasses, as well as a first-aid kit, baby wipes and a multipurpose tool with a knife and can opener.

3. Clothing - Pack a few days’ worth. Include layers you can add or remove, plus lightweight rain gear and waterproof boots.

4. Your meds - Pack about three days’ worth of each of your prescriptions, which should last until you can get to a pharmacy that’s open. If you need larger items, such as an oxygen tank, make sure you have a portable version.

5. The perfect bag - Think small and portable. A backpack is ideal, but a lightweight suitcase with wheels will also do. Just remember, you may literally be running with it.

6. Paperwork - Fill a zip-top waterproof bag with photocopies of your birth certificate; driver’s license; Social Security and Medicare cards; power of attorney and will; any marriage, adoption or naturalization certificates; proof of address; insurance, medical and immunization records; and information about your credit and ATM cards.

7. Food and drink - Bottled water is essential. Granola or energy bars are great because they are small and filling, and they come in a variety of flavors.

8. Cash - In addition to enough money for a few days, include small bills and a roll of quarters. If you need to buy something out of a vending machine, you don’t want to start asking equally desperate strangers for change.”

According to the American Red Cross in “What Do You Need in a Survival Kit?”, they suggest the following:

“At a minimum, you should have the basic supplies listed below:

·      Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)

·      Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)

·      Flashlight 

·      Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

·      Extra batteries 

·      Deluxe family first aid kit

·      Medications (7-day supply) and medical items

·      Multi-purpose tool

·      Sanitation and personal hygiene items

·      Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

·      Cell phone with chargers 

·      Family and emergency contact information

·      Extra cash

·      Emergency blanket

·      Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit:

·      Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)

·      Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)

·      Games and activities for children

·      Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)

·      Two-way radios

·      Extra set of car keys and house keys

·      Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your survival kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:

·      Whistle

·      N95 or surgical masks

·      Matches

·      Rain gear

·      Towels

·      Work gloves

·      Tools/supplies for securing your home

·      Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes

·      Plastic sheeting

·      Duct tape

·      Scissors

·      Household liquid bleach

·      Entertainment items

·      Blankets or sleeping bags”

What would you add to your emergency survival kit? Please share?

Photo by Sun Lingyan on Unsplash

Preparation

In The Process of Success from  Cool Cat Teacher Blog by coolcatteacher@gmail.com, Victoria A Davis, Cool Cat Teacher, shares,

“Champions are made during the preparation process. The true work happens not at the state or national game – although that is very hard – most of the work happens before.”

It is all about the preparation.

We prepare for bad weather when we had the weather forecast. We keep a spare tire in the car and jumper cables in cease of an emergency. We have a savings account with money in it in case some emergency comes up.

The same thing applies in the classroom. Effective teachers are prepared.

Lesson plans are prepared in advance. Materials and supplies are gathered in advance. Contingencies are well thought out and prepared for in advance. Students are even told in advance what to expect and what is expected from them.

Sometimes things happen and I seem to fly by the seat of my pants but actually, many things I do are done from previous experiences. I have tried things that have worked in similar situations so I believe they will work in this situation.

My best lessons are the ones that I’m well prepared for. If I see that students are understanding the concepts faster and better than expected, I can move forward because I’ve prepared for the next step. This will keep students from being bored while I continue to teach something I already understand. If students are struggling with the concepts, I have an alternate activity that might help them understand things better along with extra practice activities for them. This keeps them from getting too frustrated.

I know that I get nervous if an administrator comes to observe me so I also plan ahead for that situation. I prepare my class for this possibility too by letting them know that I tend to get a little nervous and may change up the lesson a little bit. I have a script prepared so I can make sure I do all of the things I normally do but may forget due to my nervousness. I also have a regular routine posted in the front of the room to help my students and myself follow the procedures that I normally do in my classroom.

If I am unexpectedly called out of the classroom or if I’m absent due to an emergency, I have 3 days of emergency lesson plans ready for the substitute. I update these at least once a month to make sure no procedures, roster, or schedule changes have happened. I also update these immediately after I return back to school.

I don’t wait until something happens to wish I had prepared for in advance. I hope sometimes that I won’t need these advance preparations but at least I have them if I need them.

What do you do to prepare in advance? Please share!