I hope all of you find good energy on this Monday morning. The content of today’s blog is posting five of my favorite quotes that hopefully guide you as you begin your week. They may serve as a great reminder or possibly provide you some direction as you plan for productive experiences. Hopefully , one of these will be helpful . Read more
Happy Monday Moanin to all of you. As the school year begins to wind down, many students feel pressure and anxiety. Whether it is a deadline for an assignment or an upcoming science fair project being due, the end of the year can be a struggle for many learners. In January , I wrote a blog on what students appreciated about their teachers. During late April and early May, learners need their teachers to teach in the same way that was on that January 2013 list. Below is the blog from January. Read more
Good morning to all of you wonderful educators on this chilly Spring 2013 Monday moanin. The spring is a challenging time for students to stay focused on their studies. You know, who is kidding who, it is difficult for adults to stay focused also. As a result ,now is a great time to revisit , refocus, and share with each other some instructional best practices that will help keep the learner focused on learning and not on the distractions of springtime. Listed below are some reminders that may help. Teachers, you may want to consider the following reminders and suggestions: Read more
I wish all of you a happy April Monday Moanin. Noted University of Pennsylvania psychologist , author and researcher Martin Seligman defines a courageous person” as someone who doesn’t shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty , or pain.” For many educators and leaders it is a challenge to act with courage given the scrutiny and negative attention on public education. It is common for some leaders to become less confident and act with caution. The goal is to fight through the caution and lead others with courage. However, do all courageous decisions have to be high profile or monumental like a non-renewal or a staff discipline issue? My answer is no. Everyday decisions need to be made that do not need the school district’s legal council to be consulted. Read more
Happy Monday Moanin to all of you. I trust that you have had a restful spring break and are fired up to get back to work. It is always a challenge when you return after a long break. A good way to help with this transition is to focus on enhancing your leadership qualities. Paul Warren wrote an article on the qualities that teachers want in their principal. One of those qualities is effective communication. It is an essential skill that all principals need to have and enhance to be a productive leader. Listed below in bold are some great reminders for you to focus on over the coming weeks. Read more
Welcome to the latest edition of Monday Moanin thoughts. During last few weeks I have had the opportunity to conduct many one question interviews with learners of all ages. I was interested in finding out what did learners appreciate about their teachers. What made them successful as instructors? Here are some of the comments I received: Read more
Sorry this post is a little late on this beautiful Monday Moanin. I am not feeling stressed about it at all. I am finishing up a wonderful long weekend in Nashville visiting my son, daughter in law, and two beautiful grandchildren. It was great to get away from tweeting, blogging, and constantly looking at my iPhone. More than any other visit, I felt like I was more present and focused on just enjoying my time with them. This visit helped me begin to regain perspective and find some balance professionally and personally. It is critical during this long tunnel month of March to do just that. Read more
Please read the following archived edition of Monday Moanin thoughts. Consider focusing and enhancing your communication plan this week.
Posted in Dan’s Blog on November 7th, 2011
One more Monday to wake up to. I hope all is well in your school communities. I encourage all school leaders to focus on communication this week. Read more
Welcome to another chilly Michigan winter edition of Monday Moanin thoughts. Today we celebrate President’s Day. In recognition of our great leaders, I would like to share some quotes from several of our President’s. There thoughts are positive, motivating and encourage deeper thought . My hope is that you find them helpful as you focus on your daily work and responsibilities.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. … Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” Barack Obama
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” Bill Clinton
“Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education. “George H.W. Bush
“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. “Franklin D. Roosevelt
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. “Harry S. Truman
” I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot. “Abraham Lincoln
” Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.” Dwight D. Eisenhower
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” Ronald Reagan
Have a great week and keep finding the good stuff.
Welcome to the latest edition of Monday Moanin thoughts. I am excited to share with you two simple yet profound ideas from my mom, Rose Hickey. This past weekend we celebrated her 90th birthday. She is is still driving, visiting friends, babysitting for grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as being one of the most respectful people I know. In many of my coaching and mentoring sessions I find myself sharing many of the lessons that I have learned from her. Today, I want to share two of them.
My Mom, Rose would always remind her six sons “to make our own good time.” Instead of complaining or whining about something you don’t like or don’t want to do – find the joy. This is a Roseism I used many times as a principal. For example, to get through the countless hours of supervising the cafeteria, I would encourage staff members stop by if they had a question. It also helped me establish a fun , relaxed tone for the students during their only break of the day.
The second lesson from Rose is ” to sweep your own front porch.” I find this a powerful message. To me it means you need to take care of your own issues. Remember every one of us have challenges, both professionally and personally. It is important to focus on what you can control and stop comparing yourself to others or get distracted by their struggles. Get your own work done.
This week, in honor of Rose Hickey’s 90th, be intentional on these two thoughts. I believe it will enhance your practice. Have a great week and keep finding the good stuff.