Get UP Teacher...You Matter!

It’s a Wednesday in February. The alarm rings at 5:30 am. It’s 34 degrees outside, raining, and pitch black. Your body is warm and doesn’t want to wake from its slumber. As you force yourself into consciousness, your mind begins to race. It says things like, “Just 10 more minutes of sleep”, “I’m not sure if I can handle those kids today”, “Do I have the energy to do this?” Yet, you force your feet onto the cold floor, wipe the gunk from your eyes, and head to the bathroom to prepare for another day. Sound familiar?

Some days, it is hard to get out of bed, especially when it is cold, dark, and you have been doing the job with the same kids for half-the school year. It can feel like the same thing day in and day out. The truly great thing about teaching though is we have the opportunity each day to change the ordinary into the extraordinary! We are never stuck if we choose not to be and can make a kid’s day bright, sunny and exciting.

Hopefully what gets you out of bed isn’t the thought of one more day getting through the grind; it is knowing that if you choose to today, you CAN and WILL make a positive impact on a child's life. We need YOU teacher more than ever to get-up and be there for our kids as role models and leaders. In a society where so much negativity dominates the news and social media, we can be that spark that inspires greatness in someone. Never forget the power of your actions and words.

So I challenge you, when you aren’t feeling the most motivated and things are getting stale, it may be time to hit that recharge button. We all need it from time to time. Follow these tips to get yourself back on track to being an AWESOME educator! Your students deserve your best everyday.

1. Keep a folder of positive emails, notes, and cards from students. When you need a reminder of why you do this job, look there first.
2. Listen to educational podcasts or TED Talks on the way to work. Terrific for inspiration and new idea generation. Simple and easy to find.
3. Engage once a week in an educational Twitter chat. Build your PLN and learn from other innovators in your content area.
4. Ask a colleague whom you respect to eat lunch together one day and collaborate on ideas.
5. Read a new book that challenges your thinking.
6. Keep an idea journal. Write in it a few times a week when a great idea pops into your head! Also good for mental health and growth.
7. If feasible, find a conference to attend that interests you. I find going to conferences allows me to re-tool and add to my bag of tricks.
8. LAUGH! It reduces stress, burns calories, and makes you more enjoyable to be around.

*Check out my Donatelli EdZone YouTube Channel for teacher tech and classroom tips to get you ready for each week!

Five Things We Need To STOP Doing In 2015

As a new year approaches, many of us will think about goals we want to accomplish, things we want to improve, and how to be better than last year. As I reflect on 2014, I believe there are five essential things we can do as humans in 2015 to make our world and country a better place for ourselves and others.

1. Stop wasting so much time on your phone: Sometimes I think back to a time when man existed in nature, had to explore to find new things, hunt to eat, told stories for entertainment. Now, we sit on our phones and play games, text, tweet, etc. We check it every minute to see what notification we will get next. It is as addicting to some as heroin and nicotine. So much of our humanity continues to get sucked from us every time we waste hours on our devices. I am not saying they are all bad because I enjoy my technology to communicate and learn, but limit it. Read a book before bed. Put it away during dinner. Enjoy a nice walk without it strapped to your hand. Have a deep conversation with someone. Are you a slave to your own device?

VIDEO: Live life the real way and look up!

2. Stop the racism, hate, and killing in our country: History is for us to learn from and we haven't learned very well. Currently in America, we are almost at a civil war with each other over race once again. We are acting like we did 50 years ago and it is leading to nothing but anger, hate, and killing. What makes America great is that all races; White, Black, Latino, Jews, Muslim, Indians, can live freely amongst each other and have the same opportunity to succeed. We need to stop pointing fingers and come together as a country and support each other. Follow the laws put in place, do your part, and treat each others fairly and with respect and things will work out well for all!

SONG & VIDEO: This land is your land & my land

3. Stop thinking about yourself so much: Yes, you are priority number one but happiness doesn't come from thinking about yourself all the time. Much of happiness is derived from helping others and giving back. Go volunteer this year. Spend more time with your family. Tutor. Life is fragile and you never know what someone is going through. When you ask how someone is doing, genuinely  mean it and listen. Call an old friend you haven't talked to in a while. Notice the world around you and help it!

VIDEO: Caring for each other

4. Stop being complacent: This year, I believe I fell victim to a disease called "complacency". I am now married, have a house, and have a terrific job. All things I worked very hard to get. But now that I have them, I find it easy to be satisfied in life. We need to stop being satisfied with where we are and continue to grow and improve ourselves! Wherever you are in life, learn a new skill, practice your networking/speaking skills, work on a new hobby, and aspire to be more! This year, I plan to stop wasting time on non-essential things and work harder on me and my relationships.

VIDEO: How costly is complacency inspiration speech by Coach Sean Payton

5. Stop making excuses why you can't change things: We fear change and many of us hate it. We make excuses all the time why we can't workout, why we can't find time to read, why we can't eat better or go to church more. Whatever it is in 2015 you want to accomplish, STOP making excuses and write your goals down. Start with one small thing you want to work on and change. It takes at least 30 days for a new habit to stick. Track your progress through a journal. Whatever it is you want to accomplish in 2015, the mind and body can achieve!

VIDEO: CHANGE

-RD

Midway Teachers: Get Energized to Finish Strong!

Congratulations TEACHERS! You have made it through the first half of the 2013-2014 school year. Hopefully you had a lot of fun, grew as a person, and felt like you made a difference! As we reach this midway point, it can be tough to be as motivated as you were back in August to give your best for your students everyday. Sometimes you feel tired, unmotivated, feel in a rut, run out of creativity, etc. It happens to even the best! I wanted to share some ideas with you that will hopefully provide that motivation and energy to finish the year stronger than you started it. Below is a list things you can do right now to ENERGIZE your thoughts and CREATIVITY for the rest of the school year. Please feel free to add more and always remember why you teach and why you went into the profession. Your students will not remember what you taught them, but they will forever remember how you made them feel...

1. Take a period or two to observe other teachers in your building. I know time is precious as a teacher but it is refreshing to see what others are doing. Who knows, you may have some fun and learn something new you could use in your classroom? It doesn't matter if you have been teaching for 5 years or 20, you can always learn a new trick! 
   
2. Do something fun with the people you work with. As a teacher, especially in a larger district, it is hard to get out and really build relationships with other teachers. Get people together for a dinner one night, ask people to do a Mudd Run, take a trip somewhere. It is relaxing and enjoyable to do something fun with other people you work with! If not the people you work with, join an organization and meet new people that you can build a positive network around.
3. Join Twitter and get involved in a Twitter Chat for educators. Each week, there are over 100 different education chats happening on Twitter where professionals talk and discuss all topics in education. CLICK HERE for a list of all the chats, dates, and times. I am amazed at all the wonderful ideas that are shared and relationships that can be built!
   
4. Go to a conference OR take a class. As you read this, I am sure some of you are yelling at me. Conferences are a great way to meet new people, network, and learn. I am very much looking forward to presenting and attending the PETE & C conference in Hershey, PA in February. Secondly, taking classes can be tedious due to the amount of time we have in a day, but continuing to learn new things is rewarding. It inspires us to get better! Taking a class doesn't just have to be education related; it can be cooking, fitness, learning how to do something new, etc.
5. READ!!! It is easy to come home after work, eat dinner, and plop down on the couch and watch TV. The most successful people in this world read everyday. Feed your brain. It is just as important as taking care of your body. You are what you think and put into your mind! CLICK HERE for a list of the best education books to read. 
6. Call your students parents with positive phone calls. How many of us actually do this? Parents love it and you will feel good about doing it. I challenge you to call five parents a week with a positive phone call. It will make you feel great about what you do.
   
7.  EXERCISE!!! If you aren't exercising at least a 3-5 times a week, you are doing your students a disservice. That sounds unfair but the more you exercise, the more energy and creativity you will have to give to them and your family. I am not going to tell you what to do or how to do it, but as Nike's slogan states, "JUST DO IT."

Thank you for all you do. Teaching is a hard job but a job where you get to impact lives everyday. It is all in your attitude and outlook! Get better everyday and never rest until your good is better and your better is best...

-Rob Donatelli
@DTown_MrD

The Challenge Is YOU: Bring ON 2014!

Another year has come and passed. 2013 was full of awesome experiences and challenges for myself. I finished my first year of teaching, got engaged, bought a house, and landed my dream job at my alma mater. It was a lot of steps in one year but steps that have made me into a better, more well rounded person.

As a new year approaches, I always try and reflect on what do I want to accomplish/get better at? My goal for 2014 is to challenge myself to go where I have never gone before. To be bold, daring, and willing to challenge my mind and body in ways they have never been. We has humans have an innate ability to want to stay the same. We are creatures of habit. 2014 for me is all about breaking the habit and challenging myself to be my best. We never get time back in life. Make the most of today so you have no regrets tomorrow!

My challenge to myself is in three core areas: fitness & health, relationship, and education. I can't prevent death, but I can sure as heck lower its odds! With getting married this summer, it is important to work on the most important relationship I have in life, my wife. Lastly, wisdom in life only comes from experience and learning. I look to enrich my mind with classes and experiences that will make me a stronger and wiser person in the mind.

What are you doing to challenge yourself in 2014? Did you make a plan? Goals? Remember, we either get better or worse each day, the choice is yours!  To a happy and healthy 2014! 

-Rob D