Using Lyrics to Inspire Students

As educators, we are always looking to find new and creative ways to inspire our students to learn the content we want them to learn. I noticed at the beginning of the school year how many students were walking through the halls and into class with earbuds in listening to music. Music has a way with all of us in some form or another. With many teens, they use it to motivate and calm them throughout the day. So, instead of doing the same project I have done in entrepreneurship the fast four years on "the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs," I decided to harness the power of lyrics to drive the lesson home!

HERE is the assignment that I created for the students. Feel free to download and use!

I first started the lesson off by sharing how lyrics have empowered and motivated me over the years using songs by Eminem, Linken Park, and the Foo Fighters (Clean versions of course)! Next, students took time to research five songs that they believe relate to them as a person and showcase their entrepreneurial characteristics. I then had them pick one of those songs and write down the lyrics that resonated with them the most. Lastly, students presented their songs and read their lyrics. 

Myself and the students had a ton of fun with this activity. They loved sharing how lyrics relate to them and their entrepreneurial traits! Many of them even discovered new artists that they never knew about before. WOW! There are always new and engaging ways to teach students about your content. Sometimes, all you have to do is notice where your students are and meet them halfway! If you try this activity, please let me know how it goes by commenting below or tweeting me @DTown_MrD.

Building Capacity Within Those We Serve

When one thinks of leadership in a school, they usually associate the term with a person that possesses a position of power. True, someone like a principal of a school is a leader with a title. They are responsible for those they supervise, carrying out the mission of the organization, motivating the troops, and creating a shared vision and culture for the school. If they are really great, they also find time to work as an instructional coach and make those they serve around them better. But with principals being as busy as they are today, if they aren't finding the time to build capacity in those they serve then who is inspiring educators to model a growth mindset consistently?

In my opinion, one of the biggest areas lacking in teacher professional development is teachers having someone act as a coach or mentor to improve them as educators. Professional development is powerful when educators seek it out on social media or it is done correctly within the limited time given during a school year, but learning is a continuous process in order for it to be effective. So if principals aren't able to find the time to work closer with their teachers, then who should?

If one looks close enough around a school, leaders are everywhere and they come in all forms! "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are a leader." -John Quincy Adams. We need lead teachers, department chairs, curriculum directors, tech coaches, and those who are pioneering to help all educators grow in our buildings. It is a shared experience! When everyone in an organization is learning and growing together, there is no limit to what schools can do for kids.

Here are a few ways everyone can help each other build capacity within a building and be better for the children we serve:

1.  Make sure that everyone understands the POWER of Twitter. There are still a ton of educators who don't know what a Twitter chat is and how impactful they can be. Not to mention there are hundreds of them throughout the week and weekends. Also, schools should have a hashtag where all educators in that building can share and collaborate. Wouldn't it be neat instead of a faculty meeting from 3 till 4 it was done in a chat format? Imagine how much learning could and would happen!
2. Build more time into schedules that forces educators to share with others. Often, we get so locked into our own classrooms that we have no clue what is going on great in others rooms. Sharing is caring! Educators should to go visit five other teachers throughout the school year and discus/reflect on it. Also, don't be scared to ask each other what amazing things you are doing in your classrooms and share.
3. Conduct peer evaluations. For those that are tenured, evaluations happen once every three years. If we want to help each other become better teachers, why not evaluate and give feedback to each other in a positive format? If my department is five people, we all take turns going into each other's classrooms and evaluate our strengths and things we could improve.
4. Create a book study group where educators in your school pick a book each month, read it and discuss it. Or, have a bi-weekly tech/hot education topic meet-up somewhere off campus. It is healthy to get together with your peers and discuss ideas in a fun way. 
5. Reinforce the positives. They are so many positives happening within our school that they sometimes get overlooked by the negatives. Whenever and whereveer, share the positives because they make us proud to work in education and want to keep bettering ourselves for our students. We all have something to be grateful for during the good and bad times!

Have something to add? Please comment below or share. Remember, the more we help each other become better educators, the more powerful our instruction becomes for those we serve!

The Small Ways We Build Lasting Relationships In Education

My mentor said to me at our last meeting, "The only true measure of greatness is consistency." If we as educators and administrative leaders want to be great, we need to do the small things consistently each day. This quote applies directly to one of the most important functions of education and life, relationships. In education, we must not forget that we are in the business of building relationships, serving others, and creating pathways that inspire success. 

It is easy to fall into the "same-old" trap. We start the year strong, but after two months we forget to do some of the things that make our students love having us as their leader. This post is meant to serve as a reminder of the small things you can do each day to inspire others and build lasting relationships.

1. Smile & Greet: One of the simplest ways to brighten anyone's day and mood is with a smile. Do you sit behind your desk as students walk into your classroom/school or are you at the door welcoming them with a big happy grin? Student's notice when you are excited to see and teach them! BE VISIBLE and PRESENT.
2. Ask questions that don't require one word answers: How often do we ask our students and teachers how are they doing and they respond with a uninformative "GOOD?" If we want to build stronger relationships and get to know those we work with better, we must ask better questions and listen more than we speak. HERE are 101 fun and engaging questions to ask people to spark a better conversation.
3. Drop notes and compliment: When students and teachers are caught doing something positive, write and drop them a small note. Your words of acknowledgement and encouragement may mean more than you will ever know.
4. Listen and care: As educators, we are multitaskers. We have an amazing ability to listen to a student's question while doing three other things at the same time. Are we really listening or are we going through the motions? It is OK to stop what you are doing for a minute, turn to the person, make eye-contact, smile, and genuinely listen to what they have to say. This builds trust and respect.
5. Laugh and tell stories: One of the best ways we learn and grow from each other is through authentic stories. How often do you use story telling with your students or staff? The more we laugh with each other and use storytelling as a part of the way we communicate, the stronger relationships we will form with those we serve.

These seem like simple tasks that educators and administrators should do each day as good instructional practice and leadership, but if we have a ton of things to grade and hundreds of emails to answer, they are the first to go out the window. Never forget, it is the small things that are done consistently each day that inspire greatness. Are you doing these in your classroom and school? Dare to be above the status quo!

Episode #25: ToonDoo & Speed Presentations

On this weeks segment of the Donatelli Edzone, learn how you can use ToonDoo to create innovative comic strips, help students imrpove their communication skills with speed presentations, and laugh/be inspired with a joke & quote!

If you liked this weeks video, please subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. Thank you!  

Episode #24: Piktochart & Multiple Intelligences

On this weeks segment of the Donatelli Edzone, learn how you can use Piktochart to make visually stimulating infographics, get a better grasp of multple intelligences, and laugh/be inspired with a joke & quote!

If you liked this weeks video, please subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. Thank you! 

Episode #23: Google Keep & Behavior Modeling

On this weeks segment of the Donatelli Edzone, learn how you can use Google Keep to save notes, checklists, videos, and pictures, be an edcuator who models what they want their students to do, and laugh/be inspired with a joke & quote!

If you liked this weeks video, please subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. Thank you! 

Boogie Into Failure & Risk-Taking

As I sat reading a book at the beach while on vacation, I looked up to see one of the most natural things in the world; kids playing, failing, and learning from each other. In-front of me formed a natural tide pool from the ocean and kids from the surrounding area began to flock to it with excitement and enthusiasm. Before you knew it, there were fifteen or so kids diving into the small pool, splashing around, and trying to zip their boogie boards across the water like a sled in the snow.

The first couple of kids who tried to slide across the water standing-up fell off of their board onto their butt and failed. Even when they "failed," they laughed, shook it off, and tried again without feeling sorry for themselves. The "innovators/leaders" set the example while the other kids learned from them, saw it was "fun to fail and try," thus creating an environment of ingenuity and innovation to figure out the best ways to slide across the water without falling off the board.

Watching this take place got me thinking about some important questions we need to ask ourselves in education...

As educators, where do we encourage our learners to fail in order to learn? Is this built into our lessons and curriculum? Do we challenge them to solve problems or spoon feed them everything?

Do students learn from play or is that taken from them by the time they get to middle school? Kids, no matter what age, need to play and find joy in their learning in order to get the most out of school.

Administrators, are you leading like an innovator with a growth mindset? Are you taking risks and demonstrating to your staff that it is OK to try new things, fail, and grow from them? In schools, just like in many organizations, the 80/20 rule applies. 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. My point being that most educators are the kids on the sidelines of the pool wanting to watch and learn from the 20% of leaders and innovators. When the 80% sees something that works from the 20%, often they are willing to give it a try and learn.

Whether you are an educator or administrator, I challenge you to answer and reflect on these questions before the start of the school year. Your students and teachers deserve leaders who model innovation, creativity, and risk-taking. Boogie into the school year with a fresh and open mind!