My #OneWord2025 is PRAY

How many of you make lists? How many of you check off the items on your to-do lists?  Over the past few years I have kept daily checklists in my bullet journal that include reading my Bible, doing a 2 minute plank, praying, reading, walking, and writing. I would like to say that I have been consistent without fail over the last year in all of these areas, but I have not. Along the way I have missed one or another item on my list by day's end. 

The one area that I have struggled with more than the others has been prayer. The majority of the time I have been able to check it off my list by the end of the day. But I have not been satisfied with the depth or quality of my prayers. Many nights I spend a minute or two talking to God right before I fall asleep, just to say I got it done. That shouldn't be the motivation for my prayers. 

While Christmas shopping for books for my family, I came across a couple of books that I picked up for myself. Pocket Prayers: 40 Simple Prayers That Bring Peace and Rest by Max Lucado and 10 Minutes to Powerful Prayer by Stormie OMartian. I also have a few other books by OMartian on the topic of prayer that I plan to revisit throughout the year to come. So with these books in hand for support, I am choosing PRAY as my #OneWord2025 . 

I just finished reading One Word that will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page. I have chosen #oneword for the past several years, but this is the first time I have read the book. I went through the process of asking myself three questions. What do I need?  What's in my way? What needs to go?

I realize I need a closer relationship with God.  I also realize I need a closer relationship with my husband. Out of all the things I need, these two are the most important. Both can be accomplished through prayer.

The things that are in my way are merely excuses, but I considered them anyway.  I live in a world where I allow myself to be distracted by my television, my computer, social media and my phone. I allow these things to become the noise in my life that keeps me from noticing or spending time with my husband and my God. Not setting a limit on these time wasters enables me to get lost down a rabbit hole of distractions that steals time away from the two most important relationships of my life.

What needs to go is my unregulated time spent on things that steal time away from these important relationships.  I need to be more disciplined in how I spend my time throughout the day. Many years ago I heard a song called "Love is Spelled Time". I believe that we make time for those things that are important to us. How I spend my time needs to demonstrate who is important to me.

Pray verb

1  to ask earnestly: beg

2  to address God with adoration, confession, pleading, or thanksgiving

The acronym PRAY is a prayer framework that can guide anyone through prayer:

P - Pause, Praise

R - Repent, Recite, Rejoice

A - Ask

Y - Yield

My plan is to:     1. Spend daily, dedicated time in prayer to God.

                           2. Pray for my husband.

                           3.  Spend daily, dedicated time with my husband.

                           4.  Read about prayer in the Bible, and other books 

                                on the subject of Prayer.

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." ~Max Lucado

Notice My #OneWord2024

We live in a very distracted world where we are used to having our attention grabbed by our phones, computers, TVs, etc. Our children grow up feeling the need to be entertained every minute of the day.  We function with divided attention daily under the name of "multitasking" and are proud of it.

I am claiming "Notice" as my #oneword in 2024. I don't want to continue living a distracted life missing out on sunsets, rich personal relationships, and fulfilling work experiences. I want to actively take steps to pay close attention to the people and things around me. I am investing my time and attention in noticing what and who is important in my life.

What will you notice in this new year?

Learning from Reflection

"We do not learn from experience...we learn from reflecting on experience." ~John Dewey 

I chose Reflect as my #oneword for this past year.  This is the time of the year that most of us reflect, or look back over our year in order to determine our level of success in reaching our goals or resolutions.  My intent with this #oneword was to reflect on my personal, professional, and family life through my daily writing. I tracked my writing consistency in my bullet journal along with several other daily goals. Most of the time my writing consisted of the events of my day and included a sentence about "Good Things" and a sentence about "Room for Improvement". I found that just including those two elements made my writing more reflective.  I do feel that I could have taken my reflection deeper if I had circled back and reread my writing at the end of each week or month. 

What have I gained through my #oneword2023? I have gained a daily writing habit through consistency that I would not have been motivated to do otherwise. What will I change in the coming year? I want to be able to translate that consistency in writing in my journal to writing with more frequency in my blog.

Reflection opens the door to change in habits, mindset, and actions. What door did you open this past year?

My #OneWord2023 Reflect

 

At the end of summer I purchased my first vehicle in my name alone. This is my first vehicle to have a back-up camera and digital display. It is necessary to have a view of what is behind you in order to back the vehicle into a position where you can drive in the direction you want to go. But having learned to drive a long time ago, I still turn to look behind me and use my side and rear view mirrors for all angles of view. I don't know if I'll ever get used to having or using that back-up camera, but I'm glad I have the option.

"Reflection. Looking back so that the view looking forward is even clearer." ~Unknown

Looking back is something most of us do at the end of a year or the beginning of the next. We look back at our past resolutions and goals to determine our level of success in reaching them.  We reflect on the exceptional experiences we have had as well as the not so exceptional.  

One of my favorite quotes is "We do not learn from experience...we learn from reflecting on experience." ~John Dewey.  I have decided that I need to reflect on my experiences more consistently than I have in the past. REFLECT will be my #oneword2023. 

Reflect: verb, 1. (of a surface or body) throw back (heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it; (of a mirror or shiny surface) show an image of; embody, or represent (something) in a faithful or appropriate way. 2. think deeply or carefully about. 3. (of an action or situation) bring credit or discredit to the relevant parties.

I hope to reflect through my daily writing; to reflect on my day, my teaching, my relationships with students and other educators. Looking back and thinking deeply about them in order to continue in the direction that I want to go as an educator. I also want to reflect on my home, my family, and personal friendships. Looking back in order to redirect and balance my personal life. 

And lastly I want to reflect, or represent in a faithful or appropriate way, the light of Christ in me. I want others to be able to recognize the difference He has made, and continues to make in my life on a daily basis. 

What is your #oneword ?

Action Creates Change

I am glad I have moved away from New Year's resolutions.  I was never successful at staying committed to my goals even when I wrote them down. If I had been more strategic in breaking my goals down into measurable steps and set up an accountability system, I might have seen more success.  Committing to choosing a #oneword for the last six years has been much more helpful to me as I focus on one word that guides my thoughts and decisions for the year.

My #oneword2022 , ACT , was not only about commitment, but more importantly following through with my commitments. I wanted my actions to speak for what I believe, for my goals, and for who I am.  

How well did my actions speak for my goals, my beliefs, and myself this year?

• I met my 2022 Reading Goal of 40 books that I set on Goodreads.
• I attended #TCEA22 on my own dime since it was close by this year.
• I attended #TCCA22 and introduced my daughter-in-law to her first educational conference.
• I set and tracked five daily goals consistently beginning June 1st through to the end of this year.
• I successfully met my five daily goals of Bible reading, two minute plank, Procreate quote creation, walking, and writing.
• I presented two different after-school technology PD sessions for teachers to attend voluntarily.

What did not go as well as I had hoped?

• I began reading several professional PD books and stalled out.
• I did not blog as much as I would have liked.
• I did not control my blood sugar as well as I had hoped.
• I did not spend as much time with my husband as I needed.

I feel that because my #oneword was ACT, I was empowered to set those daily, personal goals for myself in June. Because I had committed to action, I was motivated to track and meet those goals on a daily basis, even if it meant staying up late to get it done. I changed my routines in order to be successful in meeting those goals. 

My #oneword inspired me, reminded me to take action which in turn helped me to create change in my habits and myself. Simon Sinek said it well when he said, "Words may inspire but only action creates change."

The Importance of a Name

 How important is a name?

A name is one of the first things couples think about when they find out they are expecting a baby.  We name our children after family members, or other people who are important to us.  Names have meaning and we associate names with certain qualities or traits based on people that we have met throughout our lives.

A question was posed in our #4OCFpln group last week: "Would you rather somebody call you by the wrong first name or call you by the wrong last name?" How many of us have a first or last name that often gets mispronounced? I'll admit that my last name is many times a topic for discussion when I first meet someone, but for the most part, it's not an issue. Mispronunciation aside, I am often mistaken for our school librarian by our students because of our hair color and hairstyles. I thought it was just a kid thing, except one of our teachers who is new to our campus this year has made the same mistake more than once. It makes me smile to be compared to our sweet and gracious Mrs. Fowler.

I will not fault anyone for making a mistake in remembering my name, because I know how hard it can be for me to have everyone's name on the tip of my tongue. As a Reading specialist, I see around 60 different students in one day, and around 90 different students in a week. I carry with me a ring of cards each containing a class roll for each period I have during the day. I tell my students I will do my best to learn their names, but I also explain that I have around 90 student names rolling around in my head and any one of them is likely to pop out at the wrong time! 

I really admire another Reading teacher with whom I work. She stands in the hallway each morning to monitor and greet students as they come in the building for the day. I am amazed at how many times she calls students by their name, and gets hugs for the recognition. Students make a connection with her that lasts throughout their years on our campus, and longer! Our students will never forget Mrs. Odneal (or Mrs. Oatmeal to many of them!).

As I stood in the hallway this morning monitoring and greeting students on the other end of the campus, I spent my time telling students "Good morning!", "How are you this morning?", and "Have a good day today!" As I remembered a student's name, I made an effort to include it in my greeting. One little boy must have noticed, because as he passed me by, he looked back over his shoulder and told me "My name is Joseph." and continued on his way. Judging by the way he took the time to share his name with me, I would say that his name is pretty important to him! 

My #OneWord2022 ACT

Procrastination is one of the words that comes to mind as I reflect on my previous year, especially as I review my #OneWord2021 post. Being intentional was my focus last year. My intent in many areas of my life may have been good, but procrastination reared it's ugly head and I did not confront it!

"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" may sound harsh, but it paints a picture of how intentions must be backed by actions. 

Act: to do something; exert force or energy; be employed or operative; to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter.

"Actions speak louder than words."  Saying that I am going to be intentional doesn't mean much if it is not followed up by action.  So I am following up last year's #OneWord with the word ACT.  I want my actions to speak for what I believe, for my goals, and for who I am.

Drinking From a Water Hose

When summer time is upon us, I relish the opportunity to participate in professional development of my own choosing. In fact, I consider myself a lifelong learner.  My husband laughs at me when I ask a question that he can't answer, because my response is to "google" it.  My family had a set of encyclopedias when I was growing up.  I loved to browse the volumes looking at the pictures, reading the captions, and pausing to read any entry that caught my interest.  While this was not a bad way to occupy my time, my mother would often tell me to go outside and play.

I started this summer signing up for any free online PD that I came across, provided it would be useful for my Reading RTI classes.  Even a couple of paid conferences ended up on my calendar because I could not pass up the excellent learning opportunities.  The aforementioned calendar began to fill up quickly and I found myself having to check it frequently to make sure I didn't miss a thing!  When I began logging each and every conference, webinar, and workshop, I realized that more than half of my summer days contained at least one one-hour training.  I am scheduled to participate in an online workshop on my three and a half hour drive to my grandson's First Birthday party!  When is the amount of PD too much?

I don't think my mother had a problem with me reading the encyclopedias at our house.  That was why they bought them!  She knew that I needed more than information and knowledge for me to learn and grow.  I needed sunshine, friends, exercise, and fun.  This seems to be a balance that I struggle to maintain.  

Am I getting sunshine this summer?  Yes!  I am actually starting my weekdays with at least a two-mile walk.  So sunshine and exercise, check and check! Am I spending time with friends and family?  I eat at least two meals a day with my husband at the kitchen table.  I see church friends every Sunday and Wednesday.  I talk with my PLN on Voxer weekly.  My daughter-in-law and my grandsons came down for a few days to visit.  So family and friends, check and check.  Am I having fun?  Would you call recreational reading, shopping online, and sketchnoting fun?  So fun, check!  If all of these elements are present, why does it feel out of balance?

Looking back at my list of summer PD experiences, I am realizing I don't remember them all.  I took notes, interacted with the presenters and attendees, and saved my certificates, so I know that valuable information was shared.  So much was shared, in fact, that my memory is a little overwhelmed.  What I am beginning to understand is that I need to go back and pick just one take-away from each experience.  One thing that I can try, apply, or modify.  Armed with that list, I don't have to remember everything I 'learned' over the summer.  I can take the best of what I heard, saw, and experienced to make next school year more impactful for my students.

Kinda like drinking from a water hose when I was a kid. You only drink what you need and the rest is extra! 

My #OneWord2021 #Intentional

Looking over my last blog post, which was a year ago, I am disappointed in myself for not actively blogging this past year.  My desire with my #OneWord2020 was to be very thoughtful and reflective.  There is no evidence that this happened on my blog.

I could give any number of reasons for the lack of posts: a disruption in my normal everyday routines, a disruption in life in general, a decision to renovate a good portion of my house. None of these reasons would be the true.  The truth would be that I did not make it a priority.

I have learned over the years that no matter what is going on in our lives, we tend to carve out time for those things which are important to us. Getting up early to spend time in God's Word, making sure there is enough gas in the car to travel to a conference, scheduling vacation time to go visit family, staying up late and losing sleep to watch a movie or finish a good book.  None of these things happen by accident. You have to be intentional. 

If I really want to be reflective through blogging, I need to set aside time weekly, make an appointment with myself to sit down and write.  Whether with pen and paper or digitally, just write.  

Intentional was one of the words I thought about choosing for 2020.  It is a word I hear often from my director in my home-based business.  She has reminded me many times that a goal without a plan is just a dream.  I need to plan for those things that are important to me, those things that I want to make a priority in my life.  Just wanting them will not guarantee they will happen.

Things I need to be intentional with: my prayer life, exercise, time with my husband & family, reading books, blogging, my home-based business.  Making a plan and putting it into writing is just the beginning of my being intentional.  I also need to share my plan with someone to give myself an accountability partner.  Joy Kirr has often tagged me in reminders to blog and I appreciate her support and encouragement!  This blog post is the start of a new year and a new #oneword for me.  And I intend to be very #Intentional with it! #OneWord2021

My #OneWord2020 THINK

think 
vt. 1. to form or have in the mind 
     2. to judge; consider 
     3. to believe; surmise; expect
     4. to determine, work out, etc. by reasoning 
     5. to intend
vi. 1. to use the mind; reflect or reason 
     2. to have an opinion, belief, judgment, etc.
     3. to remember 
     4. to consider or be considerate 
     5. to invent; conceive of
synonyms (not used above) muse, ponder, contemplate, deliberate, resolve, meditate, imagine
                    ~ Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Concise Edition


This time of year is traditionally a time to Think.  To reflect on the year that is coming to a close; what went well, and what did not.   To consider all the dreams, experiences, and possibilities the new year will hold.  The New Year holds joy for me because, just like every Monday, it is a fresh start!  The start of a week, a month, a new school year, or a new calendar year, all are fresh starts!  Everyone can benefit from a fresh start!

I have chosen a #OneWord for the last three years. 
When I chose the word THINK for my #OneWord2020, the first thing that came to mind was the acronym that educators and students alike probably see around their schools on a daily basis:

Before you Speak: THINK.
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?

James 1:19b "...But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."

If we are taking the time to THINK before we speak, then we will be slower to respond!  We need to consider our words carefully and the impact they will make once they have been spoken.  Just like toothpaste cannot be put back when it has been squeezed from the tube, our words cannot be retrieved once they have left our lips.

Philippians 4:8  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

When my boys were younger, I tried to frequently remind them that what they filled their minds with would show up in their words and actions.  Whether it was TV shows they watched, books they read, games they played, or friends they surrounded themselves with, my simple reminder to them was "garbage in, garbage out".

"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny."  ~Lao Tzu

Keeping in mind the definitions and the quotes above, I want to spend more time thinking this year.

          * to reflect on my experiences and learning in order to grow.
          * to determine what course of action would benefit others.
          * to imagine the possibilities for my students. The What If....
          * to consider my words and actions Before I speak or act. To consider others.
          * to believe in myself, my family, my students, my colleagues.
          * to intend to make this a great year for me, my family, my students, my colleagues.

I would love to hear your thoughts on your #OneWord2020! When we share our thoughts, we are Better Together!

Moving Forward with Diligence

My third year of #OneWord is coming to a close. My #OneWord2019 , DILIGENCE , was about saying no as much as it was about saying yes. Giving constant and earnest effort. Prioritizing those things which I need to do well. 

Was I diligent in being diligent? What did I do well? 

• I wrote more blog posts this year.
• I read more books this year. 
• I let go of some Twitter chats in order to spend more time with my husband.
• I attended #TCEA19 this year and shared my learning with my district staff.
• I presented at #ISTE19 as part of a panel with my #4OCFpln.
• I read and studied about #sketchnoting and shared my learning with others.
• I was fairly consistent in walking and keeping up with my step goals.

What did not go as well as I had hoped?

• I was not as consistent as I wanted to be in my blogging.
• I set a reading goal which I have not met.
• I struggled at times to disconnect from technology in order to maintain a life balance.
• I struggled to be consistent with working out.

Despite not reaching a few of the goals I had set for myself, my #OneWord set the stage for growth that might not have otherwise occurred.  I published more posts this year than in previous years because I was trying to blog consistently.  I read more nonfiction books this year as a result of setting a reading goal for myself.  I attended two major educational conferences this year in an effort to support my colleagues better. 

The growth I have seen in myself this year is partly due to my #OneWord focus on Diligence, and partly due to the support of my #PLN.  Without my accountability partners in my #PLN, I would not have been inspired to blog more consistently.  Without the encouragement of my amazing #4OCFpln, I would not have set a reading goal or attended a major conference halfway across the country!  Although my #OneWord for next year will change, Diligence will continue to be a part of my mindset moving forward!

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.  Great works are performed 
     not by strength, but perseverance.  ~ Samuel Johnson

Fingerprints

"Who are your EduHeroes?" The question was asked.  Who has made an important impression on me that has affected the course of my educational life in some form or fashion?  I could go for the easy answer and give the names of several authors whose books I have read, whose Keynote speeches have inspired me, but can I honestly say that they have had the deepest impression on me?

Everyone leaves fingerprints wherever they go. Doors, phones, tables, chairs.  But have you ever thought that you leave fingerprints on people, as well?  Maybe not an actual fingerprint that can be dusted like you see on crime movies, but a fingerprint just the same.  The smiles, words, interactions, and relationships that we have with other people on a daily basis leave an impression even if we are not aware of it!

A smile for a teacher that might be having a hard day, a hug for a student that is needing a comforting touch, a note of encouragement for a coworker that is having personal struggles, a suggestion to try something that they haven't tried before, a listening ear for a friend that needs to get their words out so that they can think clearly.  These are the fingerprints that can leave the biggest impression when shared on a regular basis.  The deepest impressions become bonds that can continue to support and uplift even after the initial contact is no longer present.

The EduHeroes that have left their imprint on my educational life include people like Carol Gunnels (@gunnels5G) who encouraged me to get on Twitter for Professional Development.  Although originally hesitant, I made the leap and soon made connections through Twitter chats.  The contacts that I had on Twitter helped me grow my professional reading library, learn about educational conferences and Edcamps, and extend my learning to Voxer!

I joined a Voxer book study on The Four O'Clock Faculty by Rich Czyz (@RACzyz) led by Matthew Larson (@mlarson_nj) and Ricardo Garcia (@rokstar19).  The connections that I made through this book study were so incredible that at the end of the book study, no one wanted to leave! I talk on a daily basis with educators from all across the United States, from all levels of teaching (classroom, coach, specialists, administrators).  Hearing the perspectives of others encourages me to examine my own beliefs, understandings, and my Why. This group, the #4OCFpln, has become, in a sense, a family. 

This family has not only bonded together to encourage, grow, and support each other, but we have also made an effort to share our beliefs and our learning with others on Twitter, Voxer, Instagram, Periscope, Facebook, etc.  Some of us had an opportunity to share our story with others at #ISTE19 in Philadelphia this past summer.

So when people ask me who are my EduHeroes, I would say they are the people that have made an indelible imprint on my educational life. Their fingerprints on my life have brought me to the path I am on today as a connected educator. And for that I am truly grateful!

Who has left their fingerprint on you?

Student Voice Deserves to Be Heard

It has been a goal of mine to move toward a more student centered classroom.  A room where students have more voice and choice.  A room where they feel the freedom to speak their mind and be taken seriously.

Many of the 3rd-5th students that come to me for Reading Intervention a couple of times a week are already at the point in their school career that they act like they don't care, because it is easier than admitting that they don't know, or that they need help.  They feel defeated and they compensate by being a distraction to the teacher and other students so that no one will notice what they consider to be a weakness.  These students need their voices to be heard just as much as the other students that seem to be more successful.

One of the students on my class list this year has already been particularly challenging for our school staff.  I prepared for him by having a personal chat with him before my classes began meeting.  I asked him, "What do you want me to know about you?"  I gave him the opportunity to share about himself and his personal challenges.  He made me aware of how he demonstrates his anger and some of his coping mechanisms.  We agreed on a plan of action if his anger became an issue, and I came away feeling great about the conversation.

What was not addressed was his tendency to talk over others, interrupt, and make negative comments which was evident in the very first class period he attended.  I have several students with those same tendencies and it makes teaching very challenging.  Keeping in mind that I want to give students more voice and choice, I plan on putting the ball in their court.  I will put the problem out there for them to discuss and come up with a solution.  If the solution comes from them, they will have more ownership in the implementation.  I plan on having prepared questions to prime the pump of discussion, like:

How can your voice be heard?
What kind of response is helpful to you?
How can we learn from each other?

Whatever the outcome of the discussion, there are a few things that I want my students to understand this year:

You are important to me.
Your voice deserves to be heard.

Knowing Your Why

"Knowing your why is essential when attending an educational conference.  What is your "why" for this year's conference?  What are you hoping to learn?"

This was one of the questions that dropped in the #isteten chat earlier this week.  #Isteten is not a chat that I normally participate in, but I jumped in at the invitation of a friend.  I quickly dropped in my response, which was "To help my #4OCFpln family share the message about taking charge of your own PD! Secondary, to connect face to face with my #PLN." 

To be honest, my initial 'why' was just to be connecting face to face with a group of educators that has impacted me greatly in the last year and a half.  I am not a technology teacher.  Some people might question why I would even want to go to a technology conference like ISTE.  I believe I can learn something from any conference I attend, but I would not be attending ISTE if it wasn't for my #4OCFpln. 

We had discussed the possibility of submitting a proposal for a session at ISTE.  When the deadline for proposals came around, one of us stepped up and submitted a proposal for a panel presentation on Taking Charge of your own PD.  (Thank you @leachteach4 for doing that for us!)  All of us were thrilled when we heard that our proposal had been accepted!  I knew at that moment, I wanted to be there!  With no funding from my school, I paid for my conference fee, housing, and travel expenses, because this was important to me.

And then this question of "why" comes up in this #isteten chat.  I have become very familiar with the question "What is your 'why'?" because it comes up in our #4OCFpln chats every week!  (Thank you for bringing us back to our "why" @emercedlearning !)  It has also come up in a book study I am participating in with #2menandabook, Divergent EDU by Mandy Froehlich.  She says that teachers need a why and then references a video on YouTube, Know Your Why by Michael Jr. (2017).  If you have not seen this video, take a few minutes to view it.  I promise you it will be worth it!  My favorite quote from this video, which Mandy uses in her book is as follows:
"When you know your why your what has more impact because you're walking in and toward your purpose."

I truly want "To help my #4OCFpln family share the message about taking charge of your own PD!".  But looking back at the original question, I did not answer the last part, "What are you hoping to learn?"  I am hoping to learn how I can more effectively implement the use of tools with which I am already familiar.  If I learn about new tools while I'm there, that will be a bonus!

Do you know your 'why'?

Keep Sharing Your Passions!

Stumbling and sliding down the riverbank, I followed a small crowd of people all intent on keeping up with the man dressed in khakis, boots, and a floppy hat.  His purpose was singular, to share his passion for hunting arrowheads and other artifacts.

The rubber boots that I had tucked my jeans into made my steps awkward.  I struggled to catch up with the leader of the group as he began to disappear around a bend, his excitement increasing the pace of every step.  I managed somehow to keep my eyes both on the water in front of me and the general direction of the group as they crossed the riverbed.  The once clear water, made muddy by the foot traffic, hid rocks, ledges, and holes that I anxiously watched for wanting to avoid an unceremonious dunking in the cool water.  The fear of missing out hastened my steps and resulted in a rushing cool sensation as I stepped off a ledge into water deeper than my boots.  With heavier steps, I continued moving upstream hoping that we would soon arrive 'there'.

Our guide settled on an area roughly 100 yards upstream that was made shallow from the deposits of gravel, rock, and other debris.  As I got closer I could hear him talking to whomever would listen of the history of this river, the artifacts that had been found here, and what we could expect to find today.  He patiently answered questions as he walked slowly, head down, scanning the ground in front of him.  It wasn't long before he bent down and picked up a rock that turned out to be an arrowhead with the tip broken off.  He explained that he had seen the blade edge  sticking up out of the rocks which is how they often land.  His decades of arrowhead hunting experience had trained his eyes to notice things that other people would overlook, and often do!  He handed the find to a child and continued walking, talking, and looking.

Choosing an area within earshot, I began to look carefully at the ground before me.  Lots of gravel peppered with shale, river rocks, sticks, with the occasional glass, bones, and other debris.  Several times I reached out to what I thought might be an arrowhead only to be disappointed by a sharp edged rock.  Moving slowly as I searched, I overheard some excitement as our leader identified a shark's tooth.  The small group around him leaned in for a look as he continued to talk about the history of this area.  Another child was awarded the find as our guide resumed his hunt.

After a time of staring at the ground, occasionally depositing interesting rocks in my pockets, I began to look around me at the others that were on this hunt.  Several young children were occupied with digging in the riverbed with shovel and bucket.  One teenager could be seen sitting in the water swishing the water around him.  A mother was documenting the day by taking pictures with her phone.  A few young people were collecting sticks they found by the wayside and one was carrying an interesting piece of driftwood.  Overall, most were walking with head down, scanning the ground for the next find.

At the end of our hunt, we were going home with shells, bones, driftwood, rocks, shark's teeth, petrified wood, and pretty rocks.  The prize of the morning was a second arrowhead, also found by our guide who kept this one for himself.

On the way home I considered what our leader had accomplished by sharing his passion for hunting arrowheads and artifacts.   Did everyone find an arrowhead today? No. He was the only one who actually located any arrowheads.  Did everyone find some type of artifact? No. Some went home with dinosaur vertebrae and shark's teeth, but most went home with rocks, shells, and sticks.  Will everyone become an arrowhead enthusiast because of this trip? No.  Some might return for another try at an arrowhead find, but most will move on to something with which they think they can be more successful.  Why would someone take the time to share their passion with so little return on their investment?

At the end of this day, his return on investment may appear to be small, but it will take years to determine the depth of his impact.  Someone shared their passion with him decades ago, and that impact was felt on this day!

The next time you are sharing your passion with others, don't be discouraged by an apparent lack of interest.  Consider that if you have influenced just one person, your impact can be more far reaching than you know!  Keep sharing your passions!

P.S. Our passionate arrowhead hunting guide shares his passion on his YouTube channel, as well.  His alias is Indiana Smith.  Click here for an example of one of his arrowhead hunting adventures!

Falling in Love with Books

"Mrs. Isham! I just fell in love with one of your books!"  Nothing sounds sweeter to a Reading Teacher's ears!

I would love more than anything to create the perfect parameters to repeat that scenario over and over again on a daily basis.  What was present in this instance that was the catalyst that brought about this type of reaction in my student?

Lots of books. A wide variety of genres, authors, and reading levels.

Free choice.  Students allowed to self-select the books they wanted to read.

Time to read.  Time during school for students to get lost in a book.

Model reader.  A teacher that models an active reading life.  This year, as I have every year, I read aloud to my students.  When students are reading in my class, I am also reading.  I have also started posting the covers of the books I am currently reading outside my classroom door. 

When I finish a book, the cover is moved to the cabinet door inside my classroom, which is a running list of books that I have read this year.  I have also posted a reading goal of how many books I want to read this year.

I will continue to provide my students with large library of books, free book choice, time to read, and a model reader in myself.

My goal for my students is for them to become life-long readers.  What better way to do that than to fall in love with books? 

Accepting a compliment

Have you ever refused a gift? Something that is given freely to honor you?

That is exactly what you are doing when you deflect or dismiss a compliment directed towards you. 

I grew up watching my mother work outside the home, sew clothes for her daughters (as well as friends and family on the side), teach Sunday School, and cook.  Whatever she did, she did well! Except for accepting compliments.  It was not uncommon for her to receive compliments on her cooking, sewing, and her teaching.  It was just as likely for her to deflect or dismiss the compliments given to her as though they weren't deserved.  I was delighted that others saw what a talented mother that I had, but frustrated that she didn't see herself that way.

Recently I have found myself doing the exact same thing my mother did when she received compliments.  Dismissing the value placed on my acts, deflecting the honor given to me as a gift.  Even though it is something that I am learning that I struggle with, I feel that accepting a compliment gracefully is something we all need to know how to do.  It honors both the giver and and the gift.

It has been said "It is better to give than receive," but I feel like everyone is on the receiving end when a something is given, especially when the gift given is a compliment.

Sharing the Learning!

Love Isn't Love Until You Give It Away...

Would the same apply to Learning?  Learning isn't Learning until you give it away?

I recently had the opportunity to attend the TCEA Conference (Texas Computer Education Association) in San Antonio for the first time.  Let me state....I am NOT a computer/technology teacher.  When my principal asked me if I was interested in attending, my first question was, "why me?"  "Is the computer teacher not able to go?"  My principal explained that they want different people each year to have an opportunity to go.  She continued by saying, "I know that you will bring back what you learn and share with others."  I was honored that she saw this in me, so of course my answer was, "YES!!"

Five of us had an opportunity to get to know each other better over the course of four days as we drove to San Antonio and shared rooms in a hotel on the Riverwalk.  Three teachers and two technology directors each with a different perspective of learning and technology.  I felt like a parched and thirsty person trying to drink from a swift moving river.  I drank in as much as I could and let the rest wash over me as I enjoyed the atmosphere.

I also took advantage of the opportunity to meet up with some of my #4OCFpln whom I have never met in person!  A few of us met up one morning for breakfast and fellowship.  Later that evening, a larger group of us met up for dinner on the Riverwalk.  We did not feel like strangers at all!  It was just a continuation of the conversations we have everyday on Voxer!

I was thankful for the opportunity to attend such a rich learning experience and couldn't wait to share my learning with others!  A coworker and I put together a Wakelet of presentations and notes that we collected from the sessions which we had attended, and set a date to share what we had experienced.  We offered a voluntary, after school PD session that teachers could sign up for if they were interested.  Technology Tidbits from TCEA was the title and a tasting was what we offered.  We briefly touched on some of the tools we had learned about and asked for feedback on what they would like to learn more about.  We had seventeen people that chose to stay for an hour after school to hear what we were excited to share.

The night before, I spent time reviewing the tools I would be speaking about.  I know from experience that one way to cement student learning is to have them teach what they have learned to others!  Being able to share my learning with others would not only benefit them, but me, as well.  It also brought back a little bit of the excitement I felt when attending those sessions in TCEA.

I feel that I get more out of new learning when I share my learning with others.  So, to me.....

Learning isn't learning until you give it away.

Making the Most of My Time

This is one of the busiest times of the year for me, and despite that, I am participating in two book studies on Voxer this month.  We make time for those things that we want to do most.  But what if we want to do #allthethings?  

I am constantly looking for time to squeeze in #allthethings.  I listen to Voxer chats and messages in the morning before my family gets up, on my ride to and from school, and during my lunchtime when I eat in my room.  With my book studies, I will read during class when my students are reading, and in the evening at home when my family is busy with other things.  I try to pick a few Twitter chats to participate in that don't take too much time away from my family.  Blogging is another thing I want to make time for on a regular basis.  "Finding the time" is happenstance, "making the time" is intentional.  I want to be intentional.

"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."  ~William Penn

My most unstructured time is in the evening after dinner and on the weekends.  I will not deny that I find time for TV and movies.  What I need to do when I find myself flipping channels, is to turn off the TV or walk away and use my time more productively. That is time that can be redeemed.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 
     making the most of your time,   Ephesians 5:15-16a

Redeeming that time won't necessarily make it easier to get started putting words on the page.  I have a journal that I intended to write in at the end of each day, while the day's events were fresh in my mind.  As I have not been successful at making that a habit, I need to rework that idea.  I think that I will start opening my blog page at the beginning of each school day, leaving it easily accessible to quickly jot down ideas and thoughts as they come my way.  Even if I have not written anything by the time I am ready to shut down my computer, my page will be open to write a quick thought before I log out.  I can save those thoughts as drafts, or a starting point to use when I make time to blog on the weekend.

I now have a plan to "make time" for blogging this week!  What will you "make time" for this week?

My #OneWord2019 Diligence

Diligence
     noun
1.  constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
2.  the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.
3.  care; caution.
(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/diligence)

This will be my third year to choose #OneWord to guide or direct my year.  REACH was my #OneWord2017 and it exemplified a year of reaching beyond my comfort zone to where real learning occurs.

This past year I chose RELATIONSHIPS which was perfect for 2018 considering I developed some pretty impactful relationships through the #4OCFpln .  Through these relationships in this group I have read many books and my Wishlist on Amazon has grown immeasurably.  The number of blog posts I have written and shared has more than doubled.  I have participated in and moderated more Twitter chats.  Sharing my learning through professional development training has become my norm even to the extent of sharing outside my district.

In and amongst #allthethings that I have done this past year, I have realized that I have focused on quantity and not quality.  So this year I have chosen Diligence as my #OneWord2019.  Constant and earnest effort should be applied to almost everything that I do.

     Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.  Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Persistent exertion of body or mind are embodied in the words  "with all your might".  I know to be truly diligent in whatever I do, I will need to prioritize and even say no to some things.

     Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life.  
     Proverbs 4:23

Saying no to some things will cause FOMO (fear of missing out), but in the end I will have more time to give to the tasks to which I have said yes. I will have the satisfaction of being more effective with my time.

     Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 
     making the most of your time,   Ephesians 5:15-16a

Using my time wisely will enable me to (hopefully) better balance home, health, school, and church.  A good balance will help me work on my relationships with others.

     Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need 
     to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

Diligence will help me stand unashamed not only before God, but my family, friends, coworkers, students, and myself.  The care and caution I will give to each task should impact many in my circle of influence.

     Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.  Great works are performed 
     not by strength, but perseverance.  ~ Samuel Johnson

Recognition for great works is not my goal in being diligent this year.
My goals are to:

• be selective in the tasks I choose
• give constant and earnest effort
• make the most of my time
• produce effective results
• be a positive influence on others

I can't wait to see what can be accomplished through Diligence this year!

What's your #OneWord?