Confident Teaching | Be Encouraged Mothers

“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” Irish Proverb

Stressed Out K – 12 Education Series 3.3

Be Encouraged

My mother, Winifred E. Carter, is my shero. For three quarters of my life she has been a phenomenal single mother and guiding light in my life. Watching her strength and ability to endure all of our challenges has had big influence on how and why I do what I do. Be encouraged momma. You deserve the very best that life has to offer and I will do everything within my power of faith in God to channel your blessings. And I know one of those blessings you desire is to be a blessing to others. So, I write today in honor of you to all the single mothers born to teach their children.

Get Confident

For a new teacher teaching in it self soon becomes overwhelming. Each young professional new to the art has his or her own set of variables that factor into their learning and teaching experiences. The purpose of the Confident Teaching Category is to make a serious connection between the things you want to know about reducing stress within the difficult task of solving classroom problems whether at work or at home. Your confidence will take a bold stance to assure your boss, your students, and yourself that you “Got This” once settled in clearly identifying the problems, develop effective action plans, and monitor your results for staying on course.

Go Deep

While working through the writing challenges of this Stressed Out K – 12 EDU Series I’ve had to navigate through extraordinary life hardships. All of which have built my faith upon the things I hope for. Becoming all that God has created me to be is no small task, nor is it for you. And this is why. Once you set a goal that is bigger than you and attach high standards of operating along the way, all hell will come against your good pursuit. Like a football wide receiver I have to go deep in order to give my best everyday. You can do no less for those you serve day in and day out. They need you to go deep. Whether it’s in the classroom, at home, or in your place of worship, stay focused and stay confident. Let your phenomenal shine, it’s your day, it’s your time. And by the way, Happy Mother’s Day!

As always please comment and share. Are there any words of wisdom my mature mothers can pass on to young mothers or mothers to be?

This is a new series called Stressed Out K – 12 Education. Over the next several weeks we will explore classroom issues surrounding special needs, at-risk behaviors, student – teacher and teacher – parent relationships, and much more as it relates to reducing stress created from educational systems, narrow minded thinking of difficult colleagues, and the headaches from someone else’s undisciplined kids.

P.S. If you have been inspired from this article please consider leaving a comment and subscribing to the RSS feed (just below this article) to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Then encourage family and friends by sharing this blog address and invite others to subscribe so we get a chance to connect as well. Just send them to http://laroncarter.wordpress.com where they can bookmark or subscribe to the page. Feel free to direct message me on Twitter @laroncarter and @K12Live or connect on http://laroncarter.com.

Copyright © 2009 | LaRon A. Carter “The Guest Teacher”

Confident Teaching | Embracing Mission

Photo Credit by Diego Cupolo

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” Jack Kinder

Stressed Out K – 12 Education Series 3.2

Does It Make Sense?

The purpose of this blog post is to spark internal discussion into the idea of whether or not your mission statement makes sense. The mission statement shouldn’t only sound good; it must applicably address the needs of those you serve, right? If you fall short here you bound to increase your stress levels.

Does It Breathe?

Now just because you have a mission statement that makes sense for all the right reasons, it still may not make sense to those you serve. When a concept or idea is so far removed from the normal life style of those hearing what you have to say, it sounds whack. I’m specifically talking about the part that breathes high expectations into low expected outcomes. You know the win-win stuff champions are made of.

Understanding Mission Framework

Your mission statement isn’t any good to anyone if you don’t believe it. Now by some sort of slick skill sets may be a few will opt in if you’re in the game to get over. Don’t be that teacher just showing up for a paycheck. Everyone loses when a teacher loses focus of the purpose for taking the job. An effective mission statement should be tinseled with questions like:

• How do I want my classroom operation to look?
• How do my students and parents want the program to best serve them?
• How will I set-up safety systems to guard my students mentally, physically, and spiritually?
• What are my student’s strengths that I can expand on?
• How do I know if I’ve clearly identified my student’s challenges?
• What must I do to enhance my life coach and learning skill sets?
• Who are all the players needed to engage my students intellectually?
• Who are my model educators and how do I Get Lock In?
• What is my vision for my student’s exit plan?

As always please comment and share. Has this information help you in any way? Do you need help with constructing your mission statement? Would like to post a display link of your mission statement?

This is a new series called Stressed Out K – 12 Education. Over the next several weeks we will explore classroom issues surrounding special needs, at-risk behaviors, student – teacher and teacher – parent relationships, and much more as it relates to reducing stress created from educational systems, narrow minded thinking of difficult colleagues, and the headaches from someone else’s undisciplined kids.

P.S. If you have been inspired from this article please consider leaving a comment and subscribing to the RSS feed (just below this article) to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Then encourage family and friends by sharing this blog address and invite others to subscribe so we get a chance to connect as well. Just send them to http://laroncarter.wordpress.com where they can bookmark or subscribe to the page. Feel free to direct message me on Twitter @laroncarter and @K12Live or connect on http://laroncarter.com.

Copyright © 2009 | LaRon A. Carter “The Guest Teacher”

Confident Teaching | Defining Your Mission

Photo Credit by Afroswede

“High expectations are the key to everything” Sam Walton

Stressed Out K – 12 Education Series 3.1

Spell Out Your Mission

After setting the stage for high expectations in your classroom help others understand your leadership by defining exactly how your mission looks, sounds, and feels. No need to be overwhelmed with having it all together at one time. As a matter of fact take a couple of days. No way. I’m just kidding its going to take a lot more time, perhaps weeks or months of revisions. Do your homework and study how Good to Great companies have designed their mission statements.

Clear Vision is Key

The clearer you are with your mission to provide and serve the clearer your community of learners will be able to identify how their investments will pay off. And that’s exactly what you want, for them to invest into your cause. Hopefully, you’ve done your part to unselfishly and specifically identify their best academic interests based on state board curriculum objectives, culture, and family needs.

Approach and Follow Through

They may not understand how it all works, but they will buy into what you’re aiming for if you help them take the hood off. Ken Blanchard describes it as your people approaching the bowling lane with a blinder on, ball in hand, hearing all the pins crash around him, but not knowing what happened after rolling the ball. If you want your students to become better problem solvers for themselves they’re going to need clear leadership from you. Teach students to approach problems according to your mission and to follow through with fundamental basics. Keep it simple, but clear.

Smack Down Basics

When designing a mission statement that sets the stage for rock star performances include what I call smack down basics. Smack downs address the core issues that prevent you from teaching and your students from learning in a physically, spiritually, and emotionally safe environment. What is your classroom’s thermostat setting? How should your student’s feel about school? How do your students, parents, and community leaders co-exist? What about your discipline systems? Are they clearly defined in your statement? Is your vision for the future revealed in plain English? Now get to work, you can do this.

As always please comment and share. What do your old mission philosophies have to say to your new realities? Are there some classroom or school mission statement concepts that have worked for you in your teaching environment that you are willing to share?

This is a new series called Stressed Out K – 12 Education. Over the next several weeks we will explore classroom issues surrounding special needs, at-risk behaviors, student – teacher and teacher – parent relationships, and much more as it relates to reducing stress created from educational systems, narrow minded thinking of difficult colleagues, and the headaches from someone else’s undisciplined kids.

P.S. If you have been inspired from this article please consider leaving a comment and subscribing to the RSS feed (just below this article) to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Then encourage family and friends by sharing this blog address and invite others to subscribe so we get a chance to connect as well. Just send them to http://laroncarter.wordpress.com where they can bookmark or subscribe to the page. Feel free to direct message me on Twitter @laroncarter and @K12Live or connect on http://laroncarter.com.

Copyright © 2009 | LaRon A. Carter “The Guest Teacher”

Confident Teaching | Expect the Best

Photo Credit by GirlReporter

“A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.” Patricia Neal

Stressed Out K – 12 Education Series 3.0

High Expectations

One thing about effective teaching that remains consistent is the affect of designing your day around high expectations. Excellence in education comes at a high price and you hold the keys to making it happen. Nothing we’re unaware of, but sometimes it can get away from us real easy.

Stay focused on controlling the way you think about classroom situations. Lean toward optimism when others around you bring in all that negative garbage to the teacher’s lounge. You can do it. You’ve done it before right? Keep thinking the way you did when you started teaching and you’ll do just fine. Expect the best.

Above The Pavement

My career in the classroom began on the urban streets of Indianapolis, Indiana. I come from an outstanding city of commerce, sports, and hard working families that are driven to provide better for their children than what they grew up with. Yet the streets in my hood are as challenging as any major metropolitan city. And if you’re teaching in a city like mine you understand where I’m coming from. You’ve got to teach above the pavement so to say.

Geographic and economic circumstances can create a gloomy forecast for families in the hood and that may trickle over into your classroom. When you see the fog coming it’s important to stay focused on high expectations. Wrestling with low expectation has a spiritual element to it that you won’t beat down throwing elbows at. Press through the gloom on your knees praying for the leaders in your school, the families of your students, and your wisdom. I’ve said it before. In the words of my man Tavis Smiley at the end of each show, “Keep the faith” and keep it moving.

Sweet Smack Downs!

Stay out of the teachers lounge if it isn’t conducive to maintaining high expectations and unwavering student support. If my colleagues want to sit around and say a bunch of negative things about their students, their jobs, the principals, and their spouses during my lunchtime I’ve got to eat somewhere else. I love my teachers, but I love teachers with a sweet smack down mo better.

Smash The Boards

You’d think that I was Shaquelle O’Neil smashing the boards against negativity when it comes to protecting my confidence. Students do a good job cutting away at my high expectations of them without me having naysayer’s put their two cents in as well. Stay focused. Stay confident. And smack down negativity whenever you see low expectations on the rise.

As always please comment and share. Are you frustrated with colleagues having such low expectations? Why is it important to maintain high standards for your students and their families?

This is a new series called Stressed Out K – 12 Education. Over the next several weeks we will explore classroom issues surrounding special needs, at-risk behaviors, student – teacher and teacher – parent relationships, and much more as it relates to reducing stress created from educational systems, narrow minded thinking of difficult colleagues, and the headaches of some one else’s undisciplined kids.

P.S. If you have been inspired from this article please consider leaving a comment and subscribing to the RSS feed (just below this article) to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Then encourage family and friends by sharing this blog address and invite others to subscribe so we get a chance to connect as well. Just send them to http://laroncarter.wordpress.com where they can bookmark or subscribe to the page. Feel free to direct message me on Twitter @laroncarter and @K12Live or connect on http://laroncarter.com.

Copyright © 2009 | LaRon A. Carter “The Guest Teacher”