When the phone is busy, hang up.

It can be frustrating to call someone and keep getting a busy signal. You may hang up and repeat your call over and over again and get a busy signal each time. You too sometimes get really busy. You may feel overwhelmed. This may be a signal for you, your very own busy signal, that it is time to take a breather. It is time to “hang up the phone” and just relax for a little bit. When you come back to what you were doing, you will feel more refreshed and better able to “dial out” into your work and everything else you do.

Have a great day and a wonderful week-end and take time to hang up the phone and “chillax.” You are a difference maker.


Maryln

Woohoo!!

I am so excited! I spoke to Corwin Press, the publisher of my newest book, The One Stop Guide to RTI: Academic and Behavioral Interventions (K-12), and it is selling, selling, selling! My other book they published, How to Handle the Hard to Handle Student (K-5) is also doing well. It gave me a “Woohoo” moment. I felt so great!!!

Everyone needs “Woohoo” moments. Look for those moments as you teach today. You do not have to sell books to get them. Instead, those “Woohoo” moments can be found in little and big things. A co-worker or parent may say something nice. A student may have a breakthrough in learning something new. There may be a beautiful sunset tonight, or there may even be the first snow of the season. See how many “Woohoo” moments you can get. The thing about having “Woohoo” moments is that once you have one, everything else looks great too, and you get more. They are contagious to you and to those around you including your students.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

P.S. You can order my books at our store http://www.teacherboutique.com or from Corwin Press.

It’s about them, not you.

When students behave inappropriately, it sometimes has nothing at all to do with your classroom or your teaching. It is instead a reflection of what is happening within the student. Children will act out for many reasons. They act out when their parents are going through a divorce. They act out when there is family illness. They act out when there has been a death or other loss in the family. They act out when there is abuse. They act out because they have no words to describe what is happening. They just know that there is a huge problem and they have to express themselves in some way.

The important thing for you to remember is that this is about them, not you. However, this does have a direct impact on your classroom, and you still have to be able to teach. Take time to connect with students who behave inappropriately. The more you connect, the less you will need to correct.

Have a great day.

Maryln

PS ~ Do you have students who act out? Would you like to bring a day of learning how to connect and handle these students? Call 1-800-374-2291 to discuss your options today. Mention today’s thought of the day, and receive a special gift when you book a day of learning for your team.

Should students be allowed to skip and move ahead?

Many parents want their children to move up in classes, skip Kindergarten, or skip grades. They often think their children are gifted. Some may or may not be gifted. The point is that when children skip up, a whole new set of issues can develop. There can be social and emotional problems from doing this. I am curious what you think about this. I have a new survey beginning at www.atiseminars.org so that you can make your voice heard.

It is my belief that all factors need to be taken into account when children are moved up. Is the child truly prepared emotionally? Is the student’s maturity on the same level as other students? Would the student be more successful in a lower or higher class? Every student is unique. Every student is different. All of these factors need to be taken into consideration.

Have a great day. I hope to hear from you about this topic.

Maryln

Learning something new can be like taking baby steps.

When babies first start walking, they walk a few steps and fall down. They sometimes get right back up and try again with their families cheering them on. Sometimes, they get discouraged and stop trying for awhile. Eventually, they get back up and try again. Then the magic day happens when they walk across the room.

It’s the same thing with students when they are learning something new. They too need to be cheered on to continue when they “fall down.” They too need your patience when they get discouraged.

Have a great day encouraging and supporting your students. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

PS – We would love to come to you to do training for your school. Go to http://www.atiseminars.org/ and click on "Staff Development/Keynotes" at the top of the page to get details.