Navigating the Seas of Education: Six Time-Tested Success Tips

Embarking on the journey of teaching is an adventure filled with challenges, triumphs, and a constant quest for growth. As a 13-year veteran in the field, I've distilled my experiences into six invaluable tips that have guided me through the ever-changing tides of education.

1. Genuine Care as the Foundation

A fundamental truth in education is that students must know you genuinely care before they can truly learn from you. Empathy forms the bridge that connects educators and students. By meeting them where they are, understanding their challenges, and showing authentic care, we lay the groundwork for meaningful learning experiences. 

2. Unwavering Belief in Every Childs Potential

Regardless of their ability, background, or upbringing, believe that ALL children can learn. A teacher's role is to nurture and cultivate the unique potential within each student. This unwavering belief sets the stage for a transformative educational journey.

3. Teaching as an Art: Acting, Storytelling, Magic, and Psychology

Teaching is a multifaceted craft that combines acting, storytelling, magic, and psychology. The best educators breathe life into their content, making it tangible and relatable. Armed with a repertoire of tricks, they inspire and motivate students in diverse ways, ensuring that learning is not just a process but an experience.

4. Embrace Lifelong Learning

Great teachers are perpetual learners. Recognizing that education is a dynamic field, they constantly seek new ways to evolve and improve. Staying abreast of changes in pedagogy, technology, and methodologies ensures that they remain effective captains guiding their students through the seas of knowledge.

5. Captain of the Ship: Efficient Classroom Leadership

Teachers are the captains of the ship, and their students are the mates on board for the educational journey. Effective classroom management and engaging activities are the compass and sails of this ship. Great teachers design efficient procedures that create a conducive environment for learning, making the educational voyage smooth and enjoyable.

6. Balancing Work and Life

In the midst of the demands of teaching, it's crucial to remember to separate work from personal life. A successful educator knows the importance of finding balance. Don't be so absorbed in the work that you forget to create a life outside the classroom. Make memories, cherish moments, and find the equilibrium that ensures both personal and professional fulfillment.

In conclusion, teaching is both an art and a responsibility. These six tips, born from 13 years of experience, serve as guiding stars for educators navigating the vast seas of education. May these insights inspire fellow teachers on their quest to make a lasting impact on the lives of their students.

Smooth sailing on your educational odyssey!

3 Ways to Stay Sharp This Summer as an Educator

In May, most educators would tell you that they can't wait for summer break. Once it arrives, many choose to travel a lot, rest, recover, read, spend time with family, take up a hobby they enjoy, etc. For others, they work to stay busy or add other income. Hopefully, it is a time to recharge and refresh before the next school year arrives. It is no secret that the past two years in education have been some of the hardest and longest. I am sure this summer is feeling pretty sweet to many this year! 

For the past eleven years, I have had a love/hate relationship with summer. The time off and vacations are wonderful, but the idle time not producing at a job gets to me towards the middle and end of it. I find it hard to have the same discipline that I have during the school year due to being out of my routine and working off a different schedule. I am sure that if you are an educator, you can somewhat relate if you aren't working full time during the summer. So, the question then begs itself, how do we relax yet stay sharp at the same time? Here are three things I am doing this summer that have really helped deal with the change in routine that keep me sharp

1. Each night before bed, I create a daily plan for the next day. I write down the things I am going to accomplish and the times I am going to do them. Things that I like to schedule are exercise, meditation, reading, prayer, activities with my kids, and writing/reading. When we write down our plan for the day before, we are more likely to stick to it and it gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment for each day. I even got a part-time job this summer helping my neighbor cut lawns 1-2 days a week which has been really good for me to keep busy. 

2. I have been trying to find 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week to challenge my brain in some way. Examples are playing chess, Tetris, Wordscapes, trivia, and completing puzzles that I bought a book for. Our brains need stimulated in challenging ways and these help me think and stay sharp throughout the week. 

3. Rediscover a passion/hobby that is relaxing to you. I like finding things on Facebook Marketplace for cheap and fixing them up. Some examples of things I have bought and fixed as a desk, lamp, nightstand, and chair. I also am getting back into writing both for the blog and weird joke ideas I have. Lastly, poetry helps me think and relax. 

I encourage you to use the remaining time left of the summer to get in shape for what the year will bring. Kids need and deserve our best. It is up to us how we take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. Have another tip for educators to stay sharp this summer? Please comment below!

Incorporating Entrepreneurship Into Any Class

I have had the privilege of teaching entrepreneurship to high school students for nine years now. It is a subject that is constantly changing and never stays the same due to the nature of problems that need solved around the world. Entrepreneurship is both exhilarating and refreshing to teach. It is way of thinking and living life. Many of the students whom I teach will never start their own business, but they will have ideas in life that could turn into legit opportunities. Companies in 2021 and beyond don't just want people who can memorize formulas or ace a 100-question test. They want problem solvers who are creative and who can turn ideas into action! All teachers, no matter what subject they teach, can incorporate entrepreneurship into their curriculum by using these three simple ideas that better increase student creativity and innovation!

1. Encourage vertical or design thinking on assignments or projects. Ask students to look at a problem, reading, project, etc. and brainstorm ways by themself or with a partner on how it can be done a different or better way. Some examples: 

History = Have students explore a new app or software that showcases the timeline of the Civil War. 

Math = Show students how to solve it two different ways and allow them to practice in that way. 

Science = Allow students to create their own experiment and find solutions to problems they care about. 

English = Provide multiple choices on how students can showcase their learning of a book or topic they learned. 

2. Idea journal. Have students set-up in Google Keep or another digital note taking app. In this digital journal, carve out time once or twice a week for students to brainstorm things that bug, annoy, pain, or problems they want to solve. If time, discuss and share how the things they brainstorm could solve problems or create new opportunities in the subject area you teach. 

3. Bring the world into class. Whatever subject you teach, you have the power to make your class current and relevant. Sometimes it can be hard for students to see the relation between solving a math problem and how it impacts their life. Find ways as a teacher to share current events, news, and stories about your subject matter with students that keep them engaged and relating to the world around them. You could use Flipgrid to have students find a current event about what is going on in the science field and have students share their findings in under a minute via video. If you are teaching a unit on short stories, encourage students to go and find a current story that inspires them and utilize that for their story. 

By challenging our students to practice creativity and innovation throughout their day, we are setting them up for what the future will ask and demand of them. The future will need problem solvers who can think outside the box and turn ideas into action! Let's continue to encourage our students to be creative and let their ideas shine bright. 

Control the Controllables

The past year and a half in education has been like that of no other I have ever seen or experienced in my lifetime. Educators, students, and administrators have had to deal with so many new variables and changes in such a short amount of time. Many in education had hoped to start this school year as normal as possible but as it looks across America, it is anything but that. Heated debates over masks, vaccines, and curriculum content have come full circle across communities and board meetings. Many are still getting sick with the virus. It is easy to feel burnt out, split, and overwhelmed by it all. We can CHOOSE to let the current circumstances we face daily bring us down and or we can RISE above it by choosing to do one thing; CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES! 

Things you and I can do and control to make a daily difference in our lives

1. ATTITUDE. Instead of saying I HAVE TO do this or that, change your mindset to I GET TO or I CHOOSE TO. The way we talk to ourselves is SUPER powerful. 

2. JOURNAL daily and reflect on your WINS from each day. 

3. Find ways to SERVE and make a DIFFERENCE in the lives of others.

4. Don't let yourself get stale. Find things that INSPIRE and MOTIVATE you inside and outside of school. This year I have been teaching myself physics and writing a novel on the side. It has been a lot of fun and a great distraction.

5. Find a mentor and meet with them once a month. We GROW when we COLLABORATE and SHARE with others!

6. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WORKOUTS. Find time to be with your thoughts, meditate, and get that heart rate up a few times a week! 

7. Take GRATITUDE walks and get out in NATURE. 

8. Find people you can LAUGH and GROW with. If they aren't at your school, find a community online, church, the gym, or take a class. 

9. Stay CONNECTED with family, friends, and peers. It can be easy to stay isolated but if you feel comfortable, make time for others. Human connection is something that we need and thrive off. 

10. SMILE more...even if it has to be through a mask right now. 

Find time to control the controllables this school year so the uncontrollables don't dominate your life. Your daily attitude and actions matter. I wish you a terrific school year whatever challenges it brings. Choose to RISE above the negativity and BRING IT!

Your Entrepreneurial Window of Opportunity is NOW!

Anytime there are problems, recessions, or pandemics in life, there are opportunities to innovate and create something new! If you have always had that IDEA in the back of your head but haven't acted on it, NOW is your window of opportunity. Many great businesses such as Uber, WhatsApp, Instagram, Pinterest, Square, Groupon, and Venmo were all started during the 2008 Great Recession. Read more about each of the companies in the article "10 Successful Startups Founded During the Great Recession of 2008."

What you will notice as you look at each of the companies is that they all SOLVED a need that wasn't being met at the time. Groupon was able to better connect businesses and brand to consumers through amazing online deals. Uber was created because two guys couldn't find a taxi on a cold night in Paris. WhatsApp was needed because more people around the world wanted to message but didn't have the same cell plans. WhatsApp enables people to send messages by only using Wi-Fi!

In the time of Covid-19, there are a lot of uncertainties. Many will wish it away and want to return to normal ASAP. Entrepreneurial minded people will take time to reflect on what is needed and capitalize on the opportunity! Check out these "16 Great Business Ideas For Fighting The Covid-19 Pandemic." Are there any that you could work with, start, or capitalize on?

There are some ideas that have been going through my head during this time that I have been thinking through such as how do I make a better version of the app Houseparty? They have done a great job providing a Zoom-like game experience to those who use it, but how could we offer more creative, innovative, digital games that connect our friends and family more often to have fun? Online shopping sales have skyrocketed; could you buy things at a cheaper price at say a Marshalls and resell online through Poshmark? What about mental health? How can we set-up better support for those not able to get the face-to-face treatment that they need? Is talking on the phone with a therapist really working for everyone? Lastly, with many restaurants still being closed to dine-in seating, how they are using social media and engaging with customers is so important. Are you able to offer your experience or expertise to any local businesses?

Anytime I have an idea I always run it through this thought process and ask myself these questions before considering pursing it as an opportunity:

1. What consumer need does it meet?
2. Do I have the resources and skills needed to create the business?
3. Can I supply the product or service at a price that will be attractive to the customer yet will be high enough to earn a profit?
4. Can I get it up and running before the window of opportunity closes?
5. Is it sustainable?
6. Will it work in my community or online?

If you want a very practical and helpful brainstorming tool, check out the Business Canvas Model. It allows you to think through any idea using a digital model to ask and answer the tough questions. What opportunity will you capitalize on during these changing times? DREAM BIG AND BE AWESOME!

10 Positives Through COVID-19

At first, both my wife and I working from home while raising a toddler was extremely challenging. Each week, we have learned how to better work together and make the best of the situation presented. We can't always choose the cards we are dealt in life, but we can always choose how we play them. After reflecting on the cards we have been dealt and played over the past two months, here are the ten best things & positives that have come from COVID-19 in my World. I would love to hear your best moments and positives from this challenging time in our lives in the comments below.

Good moments are in each day even if some days we have to look a little harder!

1. Lucky Charms: Rarely did I eat more than a yogurt and apple sauce for breakfast in the past. With having a toddler, I have really enjoyed the reconnection with marshmallow cereal as an adult. Something about those Lucky Charms are just MAGICAL :) More fun though has been had through our daily breakfasts conversations and dances! 

2. Family Connection: Both sides of my family have connected more than we ever have using Zoom. We even had a family Easter dinner over video which was crazy yet fun. By staying connected through laughter and stories, we will get through this together.

3. Arts & Crafts: I've never considered myself an "artsy" or "crafty" person. Before all of this happened, I relied on the teachers at my sons school to do arts & crafts time. It has been enjoyable each week to search Pinterest and lesson plan with my wife about what we want to do creative with our kid for the week. 

4. Family Haircuts: With hair dressers and barbershops closed during the pandemic, our family has learned how to give each other haircuts which has been a blast. My wife is really getting good at cutting my fade! I might even hire her full time!

5. Teamwork: When thrust into distance learning, our business team jumped in head-first and built the plane in the air as fast and efficient as they could. I know I said this in a previous post, but I am very blessed to have a great group of professionals to collaborate, grow, and laugh with during this time.

6. God: Having more time at home has given me more time to reflect on God's word and connect digitally with some solid mentors to continue to learn and grow how He is working through all of this. Ephesians 3:20. 

7. Creativity: I have been the most creative I have been in a long time when it has come to using my imagination! We got a electric car for my son a few weeks ago and instead of throwing the box away, I made a pirate ship out of it and we sang "We Are the Pirates" 1,000 times! We have built blanket/pillow forts, played camping outside, and have had a lot of creative adventures!

8. Parks & Hiking: With the only thing being open during the pandemic, our family has really enjoyed going to the parks to hike, walk, throw rocks into the lakes, and discover random items. Nature has been great to clear the mind and refresh the soul.

9. Not Rushing: The daily schedule before Covid-19 used to be wake up at 5:45, rush to get a shower, dressed, kid up, out the door, work, workout, get kid, make dinner, do chores, play, bed, AND then do it all over again. I have really enjoyed the flexibility of each day to not rush the mornings and enjoy my family more than ever.

10. Baby Grant: My wife and I welcomed "Grant Spencer Donatelli" into the World on April 24th, 2020 at York Hospital. Everything went as well as it could have, and we really appreciated all of the doctors and nurses who helped!

I look forward to hearing your positive(s) through this time! Take care and be safe.

Three Wins In Distance Learning

Over the past month, teachers across the world have bonded together and busted their humps in order to make distance learning work for students, parents, and themselves! I have been very lucky to have a great team of business educators to share and collaborate with through this challenging time. The term "building the plane in the air" has been thrown around a lot these past weeks by our district leaders as we all figured out how to make this new learning world happen for learners and families. This week, after a month of preparation, I finally feel like the plane is flying in the air without a lot of turbulence.

It certainly is not the same teaching behind a computer. We as educators miss the daily face to face interactions with our students. They give us energy, life, joy, and pride! Though we have had to adapt and adjust, educators continue to find ways to connect with students and provide meaningful learning opportunities during this challenging time. 

I've seen a lot of really amazing things over the past month that educators are doing for students and families to make this as smooth of a learning process as possible. I wanted to share three wins & things that have been working in my small world in regards to distance learning. 

1. Each week, our business team has been providing a "Weekly Google Form Check-In" for students to complete. SEE EXAMPLE HERE. We set them up as a "completion quiz" and ask a few questions ranging from what the kids think we are doing at home, trivia, their thoughts on this weeks topic, and if they have any needs/questions for us. The best part is we can respond to each question if we choose to and send feedback via email. It has been a great tool to have some fun while getting students thoughts and checking in on them. 

2. Google Classroom Topics have been terrific for organizing resources and work for students each week. Students appreciate the organized layout and due dates that have been set to keep them on task. See example below.

3. As we settle into this new norm of working, planning, instructing, and grading from home, creating a weekly schedule has been key for our team and myself.  The constant flow of work being turned in, emails, meetings, and preparing content/lessons for next week is daunting. Having a schedule and to-do list for each day as helped greatly. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE 

Please share what has been working for you or going well during distance learning. It is a new location on the map for many of us we will grow through it together! Take care and be well!