Veterans Day has a special meaning to me. My grandfather, George Hayzler, served in World War II and was involved in D-Day. I remember him telling me stories about his time in the war and even showed me some of the medals he earned, including a Purple Heart. My best friend growing up as a child, Tom Baldwin, served the Navy proudly upon high school graduation to just last year when he retired. My wife's grandfather, Anthony Mongiello, also served in World War II and was always so proud to share his stories because he cared so deeply about our country. They continue to be heroes to me for the sacrifices they made because they believed so strongly in making a positive difference. They were called into service and did it with every ounce of their being. In researching about Veterans Day, I came across an interview with Jeffrey Courter from Chicago, Illinois. He had served his country as a Marine, a Navy Reservist and an Army National Guardsman. When talking about his time of service I was struck by the comments he said about his time in Afghanistan. “My deployment to Afghanistan changed me in many ways. It opened my eyes to poverty, oppression, and human need. I saw children standing barefoot in snow. I saw old villagers afraid of terror. I saw families of Americans providing toys, school supplies and clothing to poor Afghans. I saw bravery, kindness, and evil up close. I saw suffering on a scale I had never encountered before. People asked me whether I made a difference being deployed there. I would say, “A very small difference, but if everyone makes a very small difference, in time it will make a large difference. Service is the gift we give to the world. It’s what makes us human. It is also what gives our lives meaning. Serving my country is part of serving humanity.” What difference can I make? It's a question that I ask myself a lot. We are called into service each and every day working with students. We believe in what we do. There are days where I walk out of school and say, "Did I make a difference?" However, as Jeffrey Courter reminds us, "even if I made a small difference, and everyone on the staff did the same, in time it will make a huge difference." Right now, our school is a great place and every time each of us makes a small difference, it makes the school even greater. Each morning when that alarm goes off, you get out of bed and put your feet on the floor not sure if you can make a difference, change your mindset because you WILL make a difference! Imagine the possibilities that await your students!
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I had the opportunity to present to a group of 8th graders in another district this week about our high school Academy program and at the end of the presentation their counselor walked up and said, "Wow, you are high energy, you had those kids engaged the whole time!" After I said thank you and got back to my car I reflected on what she said. The more I thought about it, "Isn't that our job?"
As administrators and teachers WE are responsible for the energy we bring into the room. Yes, the students are responsible too, but if we aren't energetic, passionate and engaging, how can we expect our students to be? Students are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for. They know when a teacher or an administrator is just going through the motions or aren't connected to a particular lesson. We've all been there. It happens. However, the students know too. I may not be all jacked up to talk about SGOs or standardized test data but the energy that I bring is not based around those topics. It is based on what those topics are about.......student success. The energy that we bring into the school and into the classroom must be centered on every student, every day, whatever it takes. (Thanks Jimmy Casas!) I know it is hard. I know that the students may not be motivated. I know that some are missing work. I know that there is grading to do. "I can't possibly have all this energy you are talking about Rich." Yes you do. It's inside of you. It's why you are a teacher. If it were easy, everyone would be a teacher. As you prepare for the next day, next week or even the next teaching period, bring so much energy into the room that you don't need light to illuminate it. Work will always be there. There are a zillion things that I have going on too, but there is nothing more important than igniting a fire of learning in a student.....and if the other things we have to get done are important for student learning, they will get done too. Bringing positive energy into our school and classrooms is our job. In fact, it is our responsibility. While the weather still feels like summer, this past Monday signified the first day of the fall season. The quote above is a reminder for me of the opportunities that this season brings. It is an opportunity for us to let go....to try new things.....to be willing for the "newness" of the school year to take hold and make way for exciting things for our students.
I am always humbled and honored to have the opportunity to work with our future. Below is the graduation speech I gave to the PV Class of 2019. Thanks to David Geurin, author of "Future Driven" for the inspiration.
Good Evening Dr. Winning, Members of the Board of Education, Dr. Scelso, Mr. Seborowski, Pequannock Administrators, community dignitaries, Pequannock Valley School faculty and staff, parents, family members, friends, and members of the PV Class of 2019. Here we are, gathered together in a beautiful air-conditioned auditorium (Thank you Dr. Scelso), to celebrate the accomplishments of some very talented young men and women. We are here to share in the joy, the excitement, the enthusiasm and the energy that I have had the pleasure of witnessing in the hallways and classrooms of PV School for the past three years. Now parents and family members, I don’t know about you but over the past several weeks in preparing for our 8th grade activities I found myself asking, "Where is the time going?” It seems like yesterday we were all sweating together in the 6th grade hallway at summer orientation as the students were decorating lockers with wallpaper, chandeliers, lights and shelves ready to embark together on a journey into their future…..and now…..here they sit in blue and gold caps and gowns and their lockers empty....…..The future is here….”Where is the time going?....The time is here…..Their time is now. The journey that has been the last three years for the PV Class of 2019 reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite novels, ‘"The Lord of the Rings,” that says, “It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” The young men and women that sit behind me have gone on quite a journey over the past three years… Whether it was in the classroom as one of the first classes to be part of our 1:1 Chromebook program, being active participants in our STOMP OUT BULLYING initiatives, winning county championships, raising awareness for sustainability, building a school garden, being recognized for community service, earning Superior ratings at music festivals, collaborating with your peers on house days, designing your own TED talks in Social Studies or leading fundraising efforts, you represented Golden Panther Pride with your individuality, your intelligence, your determination, your character, your passion, your talent…….your Drive. One of the many things I will remember about this group is that you challenged me to be better Principal. You are learning at such a rapid rate. You have knowledge and skills with technology that amaze us everyday. You are doing things in classrooms that to be honest, your parents and I were probably doing in high school…. You made me think about how we could make sure we are preparing you for your future. You challenged me to learn. So I did the only logical thing I could think of….no, I didn’t ask Amazon Alexa “How to Make School Better?” I did the the “old fashioned way.. ...I opened up some books and started reading. A book that I picked up was called Future Driven: Will Your Students Thrive In an Unpredictable World.” The book encouraged me to make sure that you were ready for not just what you need to do in the classroom, but what you need to do to be successful in your life. The author, David Geurin, gave some simple advice…..advice that I would like to share with you tonight as “our future.” The advice is……... Be ready… Be ready to serve. The actor, Jim Carrey, in a graduation speech to college students asked them two questions. “How will you serve the world? What does the world need that your talents can provide?” “Come on Mr. Hayzler….we are only in 8th grade. I’m still developing my talents.” My answer to you is very simple. “How can you help serve the world?” Follow your heart. Rely on the things that PV has taught you. Go out into the world and transform it with your love, your kindness, your intelligence, your creativity, your courage, your passion. Be ready to empathize. Not everyone has the same experiences that you have had. Not everyone has been fortunate to live in a great community, go to schools where your teachers care for you and desire to see you succeed. Embrace the opportunity that you will have as you move on to high school and beyond. Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place. Be ready to be an engaged citizen Get off your cell phones. Communicate face-to-face with people. The greatest ability we have as people is to develop relationships. Talk, laugh, work together…..get involved. Be ready to think. The world needs thinkers….they need doers. You have so much at fingertips that will give you information. Use it to change the world for the better. Think about ways to do things differently...to think smarter….and harder .than anyone else. Be ready to take risks….Risk takers set goals and in spite of all obstacles do everything in their power to successfully attain them. Taking risks means making mistakes and having an understanding that in order to succeed you have to be willing to accept the fact that you may fail. As NBA player Michael Jordan states, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” Be ready to be an Upstander, not a Bystander. It is tough growing up in the world today. We have to be in this together to make the world a better place. Strong people stand up for themselves….stronger people stand up for others. Be ready to dream. Set goals and when you reach them….go further. Have the courage to take a chance on yourself or for something you feel is right. I have watched many of you pursue things you were passionate about. Whether it was a project, a school rule, a sport, an activity…..you took a chance. In the words of Walt Disney “All our dreams can come true...if we have the courage to pursue them." Finally….Be ready to create hope...Don’t ever believe that you can’t make a difference. It is our hopes that shape our future. I have watched you for the past three years make a positive difference at PV and you have left a hope in all of us for a brighter tomorrow through your accomplishments together. You have lived our motto of "Knowledge. Spirit. Promise" with a Future Driven Mentality … You have made school better for all of us. So….as the door to PV closes and you step out onto the road, it doesn’t matter where you get swept off to. Use what you learned at PV. Explore...Think...Discover….Hope.......Dream…...Live Your Excellence……..and …...Be Ready…..We believe in you. Congratulations! This blog post was inspired by a Twitter post by Rich Czyz, author of "Four O'Clock Faculty." Thanks Rich for the inspiration! Are my grades in? Did I turn in my PDP? Do I have my Safe Schools training certificates printed out? Did I call parents of students who failed for the year? Is everything labeled for the custodians? Did I save all my work to my Google Drive? Did I take down my bulletin boards? Is all student work returned? It's a mad dash to get all of the items on the end of year checklist done so that when the last bell rings, summer can officially begin. But what about the "real" checklist? What about the "end of year" checklist that requires attention paid to the biggest responsibility we have as educators? Before the last days of school are over did you remember to treat students as individuals? Did you give students opportunities to reflect on mistakes as part of the learning process? Did you let students take chances? Did you empower students to take control of their learning? Did you inspire your students to be better people? Did you teach students to ask questions? Did you do everything you could? What if this was the "end of year" checklist that was required to be completed in order to leave for summer vacation? How many of the checkboxes would you be able to to check off? If you still have a chance to check off some boxes this week, which checklist will you use? As we come to the conclusion of the standardized testing portion of our year, it got me thinking about all the great things we do with our students. Unfortunately for the past two weeks our students have had a very linear approach to learning. "Open up your chromebooks, enter your testing ticket username and password, answer the questions that appear on your screen. You have 60 minutes." While the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) does give an example of what our students "should have" learned, it is certainly not the end all-be all of what they did learn. Our students are much more than a test.....and learning is much more messy than an exam on a computer. I love the picture represented above. Weston Kieschnick, author of Bold School, tweeted out the picture this week. As teachers, administrators and parents we all want our students moving from point A to point B as quickly and as successfully as possible. However, we all must realize that learning doesn't work that way. In fact, it shouldn't work that way. Learning should be messy. It should involve loops, twists, turns, dips, curves and yes...more loops. It's like five rules of dodgeball.....dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. (I hope you all get the Dodgeball movie reference). Learning takes time. It isn't often demonstrated in 45, 60 or 90 minutes.
As we finish up the school year, I hope you reflect on the "messy" year your students had. I also hope you reflect on your learning this year as a teacher or administrator. Hopefully you find out that your path and the path of your students was very much the same...…We should all be learning and growing together....and it can get messy! I am very proud of how the students did for the past two weeks on the NJSLA. They worked hard and gave their best. Now it is time to get back to making a mess! "Do you want to be great?" It's a very interesting question to think about. I'm sure the typical answer would be..."Of course I want to be great." The question that I have is "How do you measure greatness?" Do you measure greatness by an evaluation score? My answer is no. Do you measure greatness by an SGO or PDP? My answer is no. Do you measure greatness by a series of lesson plans? My answer is no. While all of those things contribute to the effectiveness of a teacher, Dave Burgess states in his book "Teach Like a Pirate" that "A teacher’s impact can only be measured through generations, not through a single test." Too often we lose sight of what is important about our jobs. We have the opportunity to shape the lives of young adults. At an elementary school, or middle school level (where I am) we often don't see their success as students move on into high school and beyond so we tend to live in the "now." However, sometimes we are fortunate to hear from a former student or hear about a success that one of them has had later in life. Defining greatness is difficult.
However, the great thing about teaching is that you don’t have to figure it all out before you begin. Greatness evolves. We are working with students who can be molded, shaped, encouraged, cared for, nurtured and dare I say it....loved. Each day we get to make an impact with them. There will be good days. There will be bad days. But with each new day we learn more and more about our students and ways that we can reach them. While yes, we have things like SGO's, PDP's, evaluations, lesson plans, and grade books, each one of those things, in some way, are focused on ensuring that we are being great for our students. With greatness comes accountability, responsibility, determination, grit, perseverance and a relentless pursuit of making a positive difference in students. It takes work. We have to be willing to look inside ourselves (like the picture above) and decide if we are willing to grow...willing to go the extra mile. We have to spend time building relationships, challenging ourselves and those around us, to make schools great for kids. It begins with us. The path to greatness is not easily traveled. If it was, everyone would take it. Robert Frost said it best when he said he took the road less traveled and it made all the difference. Do you want to be great? The road lies ahead..... This year my staff and I are reading "Teach Like a Pirate" by Dave Burgess as we explore ways to creatively engage our students in the learning process. Below are reflections that I sent out to my staff during our study of the Instructional "PIRATE" Hooks. Each week these reflections were designed to push each other to learn, to grow, to reflect on how we can be better for our students and for ourselves! This is Part II of my "Teach Like a Pirate" Reflection. Thanks to Dave Burgess for pushing our thinking and helping us find our "Inner Pirates!" Are You Plugged In? "Much of your success as an educator has to do with your attitude towards teaching and towards kids. The rest of your success is based on your willingness to relentlessly search for what engages students in the classroom and then having the guts to do it.." This quote stood out to me as I started reading about instructional hooks and integrating them into the classroom. The remainder of our book study will focus on how creative you can be in designing lessons for your students. I expect it to be challenging. I expect it to be frustrating. I expect there to be questions about how these hooks can apply to your instruction. I expect you to think that Dave Burgess might be out of his mind. However, I also expect that we all, at the very least, reflect on how it MAY benefit your class. The Kinesthetic Hook can really have major effects on the success of our students. How often do you let students move around in your classroom? Or how many times do you actually take students out of your room? Do you have lessons that you plan where students could move around and do not? Stepping outside of your comfort zone may surprise you with what you find out about your students. You might even surprise yourself about how creative you can really be. Get moving......Teach Like a Pirate. Long Live the Arts "We have unbelievably talented kids sitting in front of us and many are starving for the opportunity to display their creativity." Are you taking advantage of those opportunities? I remember a lesson I did as a teacher when I taught a unit on Career Planning with my high school students in my Life Management Class. We were doing job interviewing skills and students were permitted to interview for any job they wished that was tied to their college major or future career path. The students would dress up and interview with me. One student decided to interview for a Broadway production and proceeded to belt out a song from "Cats." The stunned faces on the rest of the students in my class were followed by applause and murmurs of "wow, that was awesome," "I didn't know she could sing like that," and "woah." Not only was it one of the highlights of my career but it was one that I talk about whenever I run into the former student in town. What was even more remarkable was that the student happened to be blind. You never know what can happen when you "hook" students in through creative ways like art, music and theater. It may be outside of your comfort zone but it is right in your students' wheelhouse. Awaken the joy of creative expression....you will be surprised with the results.....Teach Like a Pirate. What's In It For Me? "What are we learning this for?" It's a question that I always encouraged my students to ask me when I taught a lesson. While sometimes we don't always have the answer that they want (or care) to hear, there are times when we can link what we are teaching to real world experiences, student interests or moments of inspiration. It is when we can do the latter where we make great strides with our students. When there is some autonomy and choice in their learning you will often find students more passionate, more energized and more willing to collaborate. In the lessons I was able to see this week there were high levels of engagement because students were "hooked in," able to make their own decisions, guide their own learning and reach outcomes through collaboration with their peers or their teacher. Teachers brought their own passions of games, movement, areas of content and hobbies and created lessons that sparked student learning.Can this be an everyday thing? Who knows. What I do know is that when students can see that learning can happen in different ways, in different spaces through different perspectives, instead of asking "What's In It for Me?" they are more likely to ask "When can we start?" Teach Like A Pirate...…. What's In It For Me? (PART II) It's a question that as an educator we may not always think about because we are dedicated to our students. However, the students are the answer to that question. We have the ability to motivate and inspire student every day. We have the unique opportunity to create lessons that provide students with knowledge, skills and perspectives that will help them be successful not just in your classroom, but in their lives. Associating what we teach with the world around us, with our own personal experiences, and with their interests can bring lessons to new places they have never been to before. As we get deeper into our study of Instructional Hooks you may still be thinking, "What's in it for me? I'm comfortable teaching how I am teaching. What I'm doing works for me and I don't have time to do all of this "Pirate" stuff." In a keynote address at Techspo this week I heard a quote that got me thinking...."The love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness." So ask yourself, "What's in for me?"..........GREATNESS. Teach Like a Pirate....... Stand and Deliver We have had the opportunity to hear from some great speakers over the past several years. Jack Berkemeyer, Alice Keeler, Jimmy Casas, Joe Sanfelippo and Weston Kieschnick all brought different ideas, thoughts and messages to inspire us to keep moving forward....to keep making a difference. Each person, in their own way, drew us in with stories, kinesthetic activities, upcoming technology practices or teasers for what was to come during the day. Each speaker brought energy, enthusiasm and a passion for their message to a large audience of people who for some, were looking to learn, for others may be have been indifferent and for others...maybe wondering, "can't I just be somewhere else right now." It didn't matter who they were speaking to. They believed in their message and they were ready to share it with you. It is the same way for you as a teacher. You may not realize it but you are a keynote speaker every day. You are delivering a message for your students. Whether it is a story, an activity, a set up for the next day or creating a buzz that gains interests from your students, you are looking to spread a message in your classrooms every day. As educators, we can either embrace that we are "public speakers"..intentional about making a difference in students or we can continue to say "I don't like to speak in front of audiences because it makes me nervous." Like our keynote speakers, do you bring energy, enthusiasm and a passion for your message? Is what you are doing memorable? Yes, students need to be in your classrooms every day. But what if you needed to sell tickets to your lessons? Would anyone show up? Stand and Deliver.......Teach Like A Pirate. Advanced Tactics The implementation of the 1:1 Chromebook program has had its benefits (and drawbacks) over the past several years. (Drawbacks...yes...I said it.). Whether you knew it or not, you have been utilizing #tlap hooks for the past several years through the "techno wiz" hook. We have been able to create paperless activities, capitalize on our students' knowledge of technology by integrating different projects, connecting students to the world that lies outside your classroom. We have utilized breakout-edu activities in some classrooms, QR codes for scavenger hunts and some of us are seeing the power that social media has in branding our classrooms. We have seen engagement levels rise in certain areas of our curriculum that were once "uneventful." Some of "less tech savvy" have dipped your toes in the water and have taken risks and have seen the reward that can happen. However, we must remember that technology is a tool. We must not become so dependent on it that we forget that it is not the ONLY tool we should be using. The drawback to technology is that it can tend to take over a classroom. We must continue to focus on designing solid outcomes guided by our curriculum (treasure map). Our expertise in instructional strategies must continue to direct us (compass) as we navigate the outcomes we are looking to accomplish with our students. Tools like technology can help us reach our destination but ultimately it is up to us as PIRATE educators to continue to learn "advanced tactics" as we provide uncommon experiences for our students. Advanced tactics like technology are great....but teachers are better........Teach Like a Pirate. Around the Edges "Students will do amazing things if you can design a class and environment that is positive and empowering." This quote by Dave in the final hooks in the book is a great reminder that no matter how much time you spend planning how you are going to "hook" students in, the most important thing is building trust, respect, responsibility and accountability.....a place where students feel supported, encouraged and celebrated. The final hooks of the book really extend learning beyond the walls of the classroom and encourage creating experiences that build the school connections that are critical. Whether it is a contest, a mnemonic hook, or a challenge hook, we have the opportunity to encourage students to raise and fulfill the potential that they have burning inside of them. After all, we can all be PIRATES full of... Passion Inspiration Action Responsibility Tenacity Energy I hope that you enjoyed reflecting on the various ways we can engage students in learning. I look forward to seeing the Pirate Hooks in Action! Don't be afraid to take risks, raise the sails and chart a course for success. Your students are waiting......TEACH LIKE A PIRATE! Work Like a Captain, Play Like a Pirate I'm sure some of you are thinking that education is getting crazy and that it sounds like we should be entertainers rather than teachers. While I know that our book study has been about student engagement and making the classroom exciting for students, it is also my hope that it is understood that the ideas in this book and the strategies/tools that I share with you are all ways in which we can CHOOSE to educate our students. There is no "one way" to do it. What I do know is that we have to teach the students that are in front of us. Those students are changing. They are coming to us with different stories, with different skills, with different passions. with different experiences. As much as we want them to adapt and learn the routines of our classrooms, the content of our course and wisdom that we can bestow, we must also understand that they are kids. They are going to make mistakes, they are going to challenge us, they are going to try to "just get by." But they are also going to learn, they are also going to grow. They may fail once, twice, three times..... we must be there to support them......sink or swim. Why? Because we made a CHOICE......a CHOICE to make a difference in the lives of our future. This is the journey we have set sail on. The ocean changes day to day just like instruction may have to. Use your compass that has guided many of you for years but don't be afraid to chart new courses every once and a while. You never know where the wind might take you...….. TEACH LIKE A PIRATE. This year my staff and I are reading Teach Like a Pirate" by Dave Burgess as we explore ways to creatively engage our students in the learning process. Below are reflections that I sent out to my staff at the conclusion of each week of reading together. They are personal reflections, challenges and observations as we learn and grow together! Thanks to Dave Burgess for pushing our thinking and helping us find our "Inner Pirates!" THE PASSION CHAPTER This chapter tugged at my heartstrings...(Passion...heartstrings....get it?) in regards to the fact that I had to admit to myself that I was not passionate about everything I taught or everything that I may do as a Principal. Seeing it in writing by someone else helped me realize that I am not alone. I like to be passionate about everything but is it truly possible? Defining my content passion, professional passion and personal passion (and actually writing it down) focuses my energy and enables me to be "on fire" whenever I am around students, staff and parents. If you haven't written your passions down, I would encourage you to do so. On page 6 I liked the line, "....it is crucial to make the commitment to change your perspective and consistently focus on your professional passion........to include it in every lesson that I teach with what I call life changing lessons (LCLs).....they allow me to consistently bring it." Even on days like today where we are tired after Back to School Night, how did we "bring it" it today? Were we tired and mailed it in or were you filled with a passionate fire of enthusiasm about your lesson where you would be willing to have students come from miles around to watch you burn? Your answer matters.... to our students and to our community. They are counting on us....Teach Like a Pirate THE IMMERSION CHAPTER Well, the opening of the chapter certainly peaked my interest! As Dave mentioned when he spoke with us on Tuesday, hooking people into a chapter by his first few sentences got my mind thinking about how we can do that in our classrooms. Perhaps having signs outside our door that spark a message to students that get them excited about coming into the classroom for a lesson much like Dave started off this chapter would be pretty interesting. What if the sign was a question about what happened to a character in the book you are reading or "Danger: Hands on Experiment Happening Here..." It creates an atmosphere for learning and sets the stage for excitement, curiosity and wonder. I enjoyed the lifeguard vs. swimmer analogy. It is easy to want to have a few minutes to yourself to catch your breath when students are working collaboratively. However, you tend to miss out on little details, teachable moments, and relationship building if you are not "all in" on a lesson. You only get students for 60 minutes a day. I may only get one interaction with a particular student on a given day. We need to make the most of that time and be immersed in the moment. Our kids are depending on us....Teach Like A Pirate. THE RAPPORT CHAPTER Rapport is a critical aspect of a successful classroom. Being a month into school we are starting to learn a lot about the students....what their strengths are, their areas of growth and hopefully even what they are passionate about on a personal level and on a learning level. The quote that made me think a little bit happened in the last part of the chapter. Dave said, "I'm selling education....a life altering product that can transform the human spirit and literally change the world one student at a time........at the very least I want the most difficult and stubborn student in my class to leave with an open mind and say to themselves, "OK, maybe this guy is on to something." A question to think about is, "Do you think about how your most difficult or stubborn student feels about your class?" While the answer might not be the one you want to hear, it is an important one to consider. Thinking about the response, would your instructional strategies change for that student?.........Teach Like a Pirate. THE ASK AND ANALYZE CHAPTER (In three parts) This chapter comes at the perfect time. We are all feeling overwhelmed as the start of the school year is in the rearview mirror and the excitement and energy has been replaced with a feeling that seems to happen every October but is tucked away in the brain in the area of "things I want to forget." As the fall approaches, is the time when we want our creative juices to flow. Now that we know more about our students and what they are capable of......now that we are into our curriculum a bit.....now that we had the opportunity to get some "hands on" professional development at the start of the year. This chapter reminds us that regardless how how creative we may be, it comes down to asking the right questions of ourselves.
ASK AND ANALYZE (PART II) Where do you get your creative ideas? Sometimes I do my best thinking on my drive to work, getting ready in the morning or even when I'm up in the middle of the night. However, with the million things running through my head sometimes I forget to write down those ideas and I miss out on opportunities. This portion of the Ask and Analyze chapter was another one that got me thinking about how important it is to jump on creative ideas when I have them. (Don't be the guy who misses out on two boats and a helicopter.) Read page 45 for the reference. What plans do you have in place to capture your creative ideas? Do you keep a journal of ideas? Do you take notes on a cell phone? Do you use Google Keep? (If you don't know Google Keep, I can help you!) Do you keep a folder in your Google Drive and call in "Creative Ideas" and just drop things in that you find for later lessons? The same organization and creativity that we expect from our students is something that we should model ourselves. If you find yourself saying, "I'm not creative," it isn't because of lack of trying. It may just require a little organization.......Teach Like a Pirate. ASK AND ANALYZE PART III My first year of teaching was not great. I would constantly go home and question what I was doing. I knew they days that I had great lessons but they seemed few and far between from the lessons that had me banging my head against the wall. As I reflected on my first year I began to realize that many of the lessons that the kids enjoyed and the ones that I enjoyed teaching were the ones that involved risk taking, either by me or the students. The ones that didn't go so well were ones that were "safe" because I wanted to make sure I covered the material. I wasn't letting my creativity and "creative alchemy" take over my lesson planning because I was hyper focused on "is this the day the Principal walks in? I have to make sure I look like know what I'm doing." I teach and lead best when I infuse my passions into what I'm doing. I enjoy reading, public speaking, sports, music and the list goes on. I have started (yes, there is still a long way to go) incorporating these things into my leadership style. Whether it is our faculty meetings, Professional Development workshops, weekly newsletters, inspirational quotes or coaching techniques, each one of my passions has a profound influence on who I am as an educator. Some of my passions I am good at....others I am not. Heck, I walked around town on Halloween as a Pirate this year. Talk about not comfortable.... How are you venturing outside your area of expertise and then bringing it into the classroom? Are you asking more of yourself or are you pulling into your parking spot and saying...."It's Friday...time to give an assessment." Your answer matters.......Teach Like a Pirate THE TRANSFORMATION CHAPTER Have you ever considered what it would be like to follow a student around for the day? I actually may try it this year. (It's a "thing" on Twitter.) We often get caught up in the 60 minutes we may have with that student and forget that they have six other teachers during the day with six other subjects. How do you make yourself stand out? What lengths do you go through to make sure you successfully deliver a "remarkable" lesson? I know what some of you may be thinking. Rich has no idea what it is like. The kids aren't doing homework, some don't study and the parents don't support us. I can't do these "remarkable" lessons if the kids don't give the effort. My answer is...if you never do a "remarkable" lesson, will your class be remembered? If you never try it, you will never know. We didn't go into teaching to be "average." We all went into teaching to make a difference. Soon you will be reminded of your 5 words you wanted students to say about your class at the end of the year. What direction is your GPS headed? As we head into the last letter in the Pirate Acronym (Enthusiasm) I hope you have been reflecting on your journey as a teacher. This weekend I had the opportunity to attend EdCamp NJ in New Brunswick with over 400 educators from across the state. It was a humbling experience as I listened to some amazing presenters and even had a chance to present myself. I continue to look inside myself to see how I can learn and grow as an educator. I can be more passionate, I can immerse myself more in what is best for students, I constantly seek to build rapport with my students, staff and community, asking questions, and analyzing myself along the way to ensure that I am doing everything I can to continue to transform myself into something bigger. I know that "Teach Like a Pirate" may not be for everyone. But, if it gets you to reflect on yourself and where you want to go, you may just find yourself pushing yourself to places you have never been.....with a little bit of ENTHUSIASM!......Teach Like a Pirate! THE ENTHUSIASM CHAPTER "Our mission is to teach in such a way that who we are as human beings has a more powerful and lasting effect on students than what we say." This chapter has special meaning this week when I think about Lynn Connelly. Although I only worked with her for two years I will remember her for being a great person....for her spirit and all around tremendous personality. She was always full of passion, always making your smile or laugh. Her personality could fill up a room. She loved her job. She loved her students. She loved her friends and family. Right up until her retirement she was enthusiastic about making a difference. She was a dear friend to many and will be sorely missed by those who knew her. Through the good days and bad days that we have in the classroom, how do you want to be remembered? For me, I would hope people would remember my passion, my desire to make a difference, my love for learning and my desire to do whatever it takes to help students and staff achieve success. More importantly, that I loved what I did and that it showed in every facet of my being. In reading the "Enthusiasm" chapter, it reminded me that it's okay that every day you may not be "enthusiastic" but if you change the focus of your attention, think about your professional passions and be willing to light yourself on fire with enthusiasm, you carry a light that can shine brightly in the dark and make your classroom great for your students and your colleagues. Whether you have been teaching for three months or 30 years, bring the enthusiasm and let your students receive your joy.....Teach Like a PIrate. Part II and III Reflections of Teach Like a Pirate to come! I wrote this speech in honor of our Veterans for our school's annual Veterans Day Flag Ceremony held on November 12, 2018
"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This quote by President John F. Kennedy during his inauguration address is one of the most famous quotes in our nation’s history. At the time of his speech, it was a call to action. It was a challenge made to every American to contribute in some way to make our country better. Today as you know is Veterans Day. It is a day in which we recognize, celebrate and honor, the men and women who answered that call…..the call to serve…the call to be bigger than themselves and represent our country as a member of the armed forces. The importance of service is a vital part of a person’s character. It helps to define who we are a person, a school, a community, a town, a state, and a country. The decision to serve means that you are making a choice. A choice to make a difference. To take up a cause and enrich the lives of others. The Veterans that join us today made a choice….a choice to set aside their personal ambitions and dreams to protect the lives of their fellow Americans and the freedoms that we hold dear. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Today I think of my childhood friend, United States Senior Chief Thomas Baldwin who in May retired after 20 years and 9 months serving our country. I remember when I was 18 years old and ready to head off to college and Tom pulled into the driveway of my parent’s house to say goodbye. He was heading off to basic training and did not know when we would see him again. I was so proud of him but so scared at the same time. I remember giving him a big hug and yes, even shedding a few tears because neither one of us quite knew what the future would hold. Over the next 21 years he served our country proudly. The sacrifices he made were many. He would spend months at sea far away from shore, over time he missed family holidays, birthday parties, and seeing his children grow up for periods of time. In fact, he even lived in a different state then his family toward the end of his service so his children could stay in their schools. He is a man of integrity, honor, loyalty and American pride. I’m honored and humbled to call him my friend and so proud of all he has accomplished. Thankfully he has rejoined his family and has started his life as a civilian. His service made a difference. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. In preparing my speech today I came across an interview with Jeffrey Courter from Chicago, Illinois. He had served his country as a Marine, a Navy Reservist and an Army National Guardsman. When talking about his time of service I was struck by the comments he said about his time in Afghanistan. “My deployment to Afghanistan changed me in many ways. It opened my eyes to poverty, oppression, and human need. I saw children standing barefoot in snow. I saw old villagers afraid of terror. I saw families of Americans providing toys, school supplies and clothing to poor Afghans. I saw bravery, kindness, and evil up close. I saw suffering on a scale I had never encountered before. People asked me whether I made a difference being deployed there. I would say, “A very small difference, but if everyone makes a very small difference, in time it will make a large difference. Service is the gift we give to the world. It’s what makes us human. It is also what gives our lives meaning. Serving my country is part of serving humanity.” Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to hear from our veterans about their service to our country. I want you to pay attention, not just to what they are saying but how they are saying it. I want you to notice the passion, honor, conviction and pride in how they speak. For some, they have recently finished their terms of service while others served proudly many years ago. The veterans that sit before you today have served in Vietnam, Korea, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan and peace keeping missions throughout the world. They fought proudly with their brothers and sisters against some of the world’s most dangerous enemies. They all made sacrifices like my friend Tom.. They all have stories like Jeffrey Courter. They made a difference.. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. My challenge to all of us here today is “What difference are you making?” It is a very important time in our country where we are in need of leaders. We are in need of people, whether you are a student or a senior citizen, who are willing to follow their passion, that “thing” that gets that fire burning inside of you that you can wait to spread to others. There are so many ways that we can serve. For the students…get involved. Serve your community, get involved in a service project, be a student tutor, read to elementary students, design bulletin boards around the school, donate food to a local food pantry, join the boy scouts or girl scouts, be a leader on Student Council or one of our clubs, be part of a local youth group, help out at the Boys and Girls Club. For those of us in the community, be a mentor to a student, be a guest speaker in a school, donate your time at the library, if you are talented and can make a blanket for the homeless or organize a fundraiser, it helps make us stronger as a person, a school, a town, a state and a country. We need to make it a life-time commitment to help others. It can’t be a one time thing. Today we recognize those who were willing to sacrifice their lives…..and some did….so that we can be here….today….standing in the sunshine….. Through service, we participate in our shared commitment to create a "more perfect union." As Robert Kennedy said, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice he send forth a ripple of hope." That is the power of service…..Ask not what our country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. November 11th is certainly a special day each year. Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. It was 11:00 in the morning, on the 11th day, on the 11th month……One hundred years ago yesterday……tired and weary, members of Battery E, 11th Field Artillery marched onto an empty battlefield, loaded a round into their favorite canon nicknamed “Calamity Jane” and fired a “closing” shot signifying the end of World War I. 100 years = 36,500 days, 100 years = 876,000 hours, 100 years = 52,560,000 minutes. There have been millions of men and women who have served our country since that time. Today we thank you….we honor you and celebrate you for what you did for our country. In closing, I would like to end with a poem that I found this weekend on Instagram. It was posted and narrated by movie star, Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known by fans of the WWE as “The Rock," a strong supporter of the armed forces. We look back at 100 years with honor in our eyes.. From the ocean to the desert and beyond the farthest skies We thank the men and women that stand up for our rights Walking into battle, morning, day and night. A nation on their shoulders every single day For your peace and safety We will always pray And although you may be far from home Never feel alone Because in our hearts And in our minds You will always roam Gratitude to the hardest workers Is What We Have to Give To Show Respect for the Freedom With Which We All Live Thank you Veterans for your sacrifice, your service and your commitment in helping make our country the land of the free and the home of the brave! Pequannock Valley School salutes you! |
Richard M. HayzlerA life long educator and current Principal of Pequannock Township High School in NJ, Rich is excited to share his ideas and thoughts about education and how we can change the world for our students and our staff. Currently Reading
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