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! 

Planning for Growth & Gratitude During Coronavirus

Since March of 2020 in the United States, many lives and routines have been flipped upside down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our new normal is anything but normal. People have been getting sick with the virus as it spreads across our country and world, businesses have been shutting down with people losing jobs, kids are missing out on sports seasons and friendships, and parents are now having to confront the reality that schools and daycares are closed until who knows when. Parents who are still lucky enough to be working from the safety of their homes are also having to figure out how to be a full time online productive worker while serving as teacher to their kids at home!

Now, maybe more than ever is a time for self-reflection, growth, and to focus on what is really important in life. As William Ernest said in his poem Invictus, "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." OWN each day and use this time of uncertainty to grow in various areas. The inches we do consistently well each day add up to the miles later in life! Don't expect things to happen or change without a PLAN! 

On Sundays, I take 30 minutes to plan out my week in my journal reflecting on how I want to grow, lead, focus on gratitude, and reflect on what I need to accomplish. There are a lot of different approaches to doing this from other experts but this is what works for me and I wanted to share it with you. If you like it, GREAT, DOWNLOAD THE FREE WEEKLY PLANNING FORM and use it as you see fit. If not, I still encourage you to find ways to grow and reflect during this challenging time.

If you do use the planner, let me know in the comments how it went for you after the first week. Together, we are stronger for those we serve. Stay positive and remember that each day "we have the POWER to control our attitudes, effort, and actions!" - Jon Gordon 

WEEKLY PLANNER FOR GROWTH & GRATITUDE (GOOGLE FORM)

Directions: 

1. Open the weekly planner link and MAKE A COPY of the Google Doc.
2. Set the date for the week you want to complete it for. 
3. It is broken down into three sections:
• What things am I doing to grow and change this week? 
• What am I looking forward to this week and grateful for?
• What do I need to accomplish this week? 
4. See my examples to get you started. Delete and make your own
5. At the end of the week, reflect on your growth and positives. Also, note anything that you learned or want to change for next week. 
6. REPEAT and have fun!

Five Little Things We Do As Educators That Make a BIG Difference

Throughout the school day, educators wear a lot of hats and make a ton of decisions. They plan, welcome students, bring energy and creativity to their teaching, collaborate, act as mediators and counselors, and teach life lessons through tough conversations and discipline. In all of the noise that makes up a school day, it can be easy to get distracted from the things that make the BIGGEST difference in our students' lives. I believe with all of my heart that when educators take time to do these little things daily, they often make amazing differences in their students' lives and learning. Students/kids NOTICE the little things! Do you do these already? If so, great! If not, how could you add one, a few, or all of these to your daily routine?

1. Greet students at the door! As they walk into your classroom, look them in the eye, shake their hand, say their name, and ask them a question! (Ex: Tell me one positive going on in your life). You will be shocked at how hard it is for some to think of a positive happening in their life. It's easy to sit at your desk between periods and check emails. It is tough to be consistent with welcoming every class, every student, and every day. This sets the tone for the entire class!

2. Constantly work to build relationships through frequent check-ins and questions. Again, it's easy to just ask how students are doing and get the same old response, "Good." It takes hard work to ask questions about their likes, interests, passions, and hobbies. When students are working on projects or in teams, I will frequently move around the room and spend time asking students about their lives, how they are feeling, and what they are looking forward to. The more we get them to think about the positives going on in their lives, the better!

3. Offer meaningful feedback as much as possible. Instead of just giving grades on tests, papers, and projects, do you take time to offer feedback? Do students reflect on their learning? How do they use feedback to learn and grow? This takes a lot of time but if done correctly, can help students develop and foster a growth mindset.

4. Get students active in their work. Is there a place for lecture? Sure. Should you lecture everyday/every period? NO! The more we get our students active in their work socializing, debating, collaborating, and offering feedback to each other, the more students learn and grow. 

5. Laugh, play, and bring LOVE to the classroom. When I'm struggling as a teacher or not feeling motivated, I ask myself these questions; when was the last time I laughed with students and played? How did I speak life and hope into my students? I truly believe learning, laughter, play, and fun go hand in hand. Students know when you care and are excited. They also know when you are going through the motions. Tell your students they matter and you care a lot. They can't hear it enough! 

FINAL THOUGHT: Is it hard to do the little things right everyday? Absolutely. Some days I greet students at the door, some days I get distracted. Some days I do a great job of getting students active, some days I talk to darn much. We GROW and make a BIG difference by reflecting daily/weekly on our craft. Keep making a BIG difference because the work is too important! 

5 Day Bell Pump Ups

There are a variety of ways to begin a class as a teacher. Some welcome students, go over the objective(s) for the day, maybe even play a quick game before teaching content while others have students complete a task on the board and then dive into instruction. Both of these are great instructional strategies which I use in my classroom. This year though, I am looking to add something more/different to the beginning of my classes to get students in the right mindset to learn and have fun! 

I have found that when I take an extra minute or two at the beginning of class to tell a joke, share an inspirational video clip/quote, have students focus on their breathe for a few counts, tell an interesting story/news fact, or play a fun song, it helps students better ease into my class and refocus away from all of the other distractions going on in their lives. 

Each day in my class this year will have a theme to it which I will share with students the first week of school. If you are interested in trying this with me this year, I have provided a few resources to help you get started. Content is very important but so should making the learning environment a place that is positive, relevant, and inspiring! 

Motivational Monday (Inspirational video clip OR quote)

Video Clips:

• 8 Inspirational Videos You Can Watch in 5 Minutes or Less

Quotes: 

• 30 Inspiring Quotes for Students

Calm Tuesday (2-3 minutes of meditation using the Calm app) 

• FREE access to Calm for teachers!

Happy Wednesday (Joke or fun story)

• Funny School Jokes

Brainy Thursday (Brain teaser OR business news story) 

Brain Teasers:

• 100 Brain Teasers for Kids & Adults

Business/Technology News: 

• Mashable (Entertainment, Tech, Apps, Business, Science)

Fun Friday (Dance music/Line dance)

• 9 Awesome Dances to Teach Your kids

3 Simple Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Classroom

Mindfulness is defined as a "mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique." 

Today, students are as distracted as they have ever been by their technology, cell phones, and social media. It is hard for them to be aware of how they are feeling and their environment because they rarely take time to stop, breathe, and be happy without having to check or do something. When we as humans are aware of our senses and how we feel, we are more productive and are able to better deal with stress and anxiety. 

Here are three simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into your classroom this school year to give students a break and get refocused. 

• Finger Breathing: You trace the five fingers of one hand with the index finger of the other. The in breathe goes up the side of the finger and the out breathe goes down. Do all five then reverse directions. 

• 3 Deep Breaths: This is a great way to reset in the middle of the day.  It is also a great way to realize how shallow you had been breathing and where you were carrying tension and anxiety. Breathe in slowly for 3 seconds, hold, and release for 3 seconds. 

• 5 Sense Check-in: Look at something new in the room you are in and then listen intently for sounds. What sensations does your skin and body feel? Breathe deep through your nose. Are there any scents? Are there any tastes in the mouth? This is a great way to pause and re-center your attention in the present moment. 

If you or your students are having a hard time dealing with emotions, stress, anxiety, etc. I encourage you to check-out the apps Calm and Headspace. They are free and very helpful with teaching the basics of mindfulness. 

How to Make School SUCK LESS for Secondary Students

Last year, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute conducted a survey in regards to how engaged high school students felt while attending school. Over half stated they didn't feel engaged in classes and 42% said they don't see the value in the school work they are asked to do. In another national survey done by Indiana University which surveyed 81,000 students across 26 states in the Midwest, 73% said they didn't like school!

Education, technology, and society has evolved and changed a lot over the past few decades. What worked with students in 2000 doesn't necessarily work in 2018. Showing a movie or video clip used to be cool. Now it's second rate to social media and games on the phone. School should be a place of learning first, but it should also challenge, engage, be relatable, and fun for students.  

Here are five reminders of ways to make school SUCK LESS for students while they learn and grow.

1. Let Kids Talk: If you ask students what is the number one thing they like the most about attending school, they will usually say "seeing friends and socializing." Yet, many times as teachers we forget this, or don't realize how we can use it to our advantage. Learning should be social and collaborative. In the working world, people collaborate to solve problems all of the time. If we are talking to our students 80-90% of the time throughout class, are they engaged and bored? This doesn't always mean presentations. One simple example is if you have a question for students, instead of them raising their hands individually, use a whiteboard and ask them in a group of 3-4 to brainstorm their answers and write them down. They can then quickly hold up and share what they discussed.

2. 180 Tricks In Your Bag: During my student teaching experience eight years ago, I'll never forget what the science teacher across the hall said to me when I asked him what advice he had for me as a new teacher. He said "always make sure you have 180 tricks in your bag." Not knowing what that meant I asked him to explain. "Each school year there are about 180 educational days you get with your students. Are you keeping them guessing and excited about what you're teaching them or are you using the same trick over and over? If your only trick is to lecture and show a movie, students will be bored of you and your class very quickly. Change it up all the time and keep them guessing." Use stories, webquests, Skype videos, podcasts, Piktocharts, presentations, debates, ThinkLinks, video projects, genius hours, and have students create, make, and share things as much as possible! 

3. Connect Learning to Life: One of Abraham Lincoln's greatest strengths as a leader and president was that he was a master story teller. If he wanted to get a point across to one of his generals about something he wanted them to do, he wouldn't directly tell them but rather use real-life examples and stories to get his point across. As educators, how often do we relate our content to what is current in our world? Do students believe that what they are learning helps them grow as a person? Do we share current events and tie that into our curriculum?

4. Move & Play: KIDS SIT ALL DAY LONG. I REPEAT, KIDS SIT ALL DAY LONG. Folks, sitting is exhausting. When I am forced to sit all day long at an in-service I dread it because it is tiring! Just because there isn't a recess in middle and high school, doesn't mean we shouldn't let students move and play! Use daily brain breaks, have them take a walk and discuss an idea, buy whiffleballs and let them throw them back and forth for a minute, make them play each other in rock, paper, scissors. When we get the blood moving, it re-energizes us as humans to press on and learn more. 

5. Care & Ask: Lastly, students are having are very hard time today dealing with life. Personally, I think it is the constant connection to each other through social media, bullying through these mediums, and students not getting outside as much as they used to. They need us to care and ask everyday! Is this tiring and tough?  Yes, but remember, students will always work harder for teachers who they know love and care about them than the ones that don't.

Ultimately, making school suck less is up to you as a teacher. The attitude and energy you bring each day many times determines how students feel about you and your class. Continue to bring it even on the days you don't feel like it! Thanks for being awesome!