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Bad-Mood-Breaker {Gratitude}

by Laura Parker on March 20, 2011

Bad Moods Attack.  That’s just true, and that’s just life.

And sometimes, bad moods can spread through a group of students like strep throat at the McDonald’s playplace on a Saturday.

And before you know it, the entire atmosphere of the classroom is a negative pit of complaints and whining and arguments.

And maybe it’s the full moon, or maybe it’s that rain that’s been hanging around for four days straight. Perhaps its the tests looming large {or not looming large enough} or perhaps its the break coming close {or being too far away}. Whatever the reason, bad moods can quickly destroy the learning environment. And if that happens to be the case for you, consider putting this 5-minute trick into your back pocket.

Bad-Mood-Breaker {Gratitude Drill}

1.  Stop the Class Abruptly.  It’s more fun that way.  Announce that everyone should clear their desk of everything but one piece of paper and something to write with.  {Go ahead, make them feel like you are giving a pop quiz.  They were in bad moods, after all, and probably deserve it.}

2.  Two-Minute Gratitude Drill.  Have students scribble down things that they are thankful for in that moment.  The more, the better.  Set a timer and have them write until the buzzer rings.

3.  Share.  Either have students share volunteer to share their lists, or compile a giant classroom list on the board.

4.  Continue On.  Hopefully, without all the ‘tudes.

*Alterations for younger children– If students can’t write themselves yet, circle kids up and have them call out their gratitude list while the teacher writes them all down.  Or, have students draw pictures of things they are most grateful for.

*Alterations for home– Do this around the table or in the living room.  Put the finished papers on the fridge.  Talk about them as a family.

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I find this works because primarily it shifts the focus of what is going wrong within a day, onto what has been going right.

And heaven knows, sometimes we all need a little shifting–

adults included.

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How do you deal with bad attitudes in the classroom?

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Teacher, Your Words Matter

by Laura Parker on January 20, 2011

We teachers have the power to inspire, but we also have the power to  discourage. And so often, that power is wielded with the words which come from our lips. Because, make no mistake, children hear what we are saying. And the messages we give them, matter. The following is my own accounting of a teacher’s careless words which left one of my own children in tears.


I was tucking him in for the night when he flung himself on the bed and started to cry.  The crocodile tears slid down his elementary face and nose started to sniffle.

“What’s the matter, buddy?” I asked, wondering which of his sister’s broke his Lego creation or whacked him too hard with a light saber.

“She said I couldn’t read,” he whimpered.

“Who?” I ask, mentally preparing punishment for the offending sibling.

“My teacher,” he said.  And then, the bigger blow–

“In front of the whole class.”

Oh, Man. And my mother’s heart sank, because while I understood the tears from my son, I understood her side of the story, too.

I know that the teacher was probably overwhelmed and frazzled. I know she probably had too many kids to help and not enough of her to go around.  I bet my son had already frustrated her by being out of his seat too often, and I bet he was reading slower than her schedule allowed.  She was probably distracted by finishing the lesson before the bell rang or meeting the deadline handed down from the higher-ups.  I get it.

But I know his story, too.

I know the struggle with reading we’ve had for the past three years.  I know the lack of confidence that’s been slowly creeping in. I’ve seen him compare himself with the kids in the next seat– and oftentimes come up short.  And I know the bravery it took for him to raise his hand and offer to read in front of the class.  

And I know that the careless words were a much bigger blow to his heart and esteem

than his teacher would ever know.

And, I know, too, as a parent and as a teacher, that it’s not the end of the world.  Careless things get said in life.  That’s just true, and we have to teach our kids the skills to let some words roll off their backs and not too deeply into their hearts.

And, so, that night we tried tears and talked about forgiveness and the teacher’s side.  We talked about letting things go and how brave it is to keep trying with reading, no matter what.

But the whole thing leaves me with a sobering question:

How often have I said words that leave my students sad or discouraged– maybe on a bed later that night in tears? And, while verbal-positive-perfection is not in my realm of possibility, my son’s tears that night reminded me

to be more careful.

Because, they are listening.

Question:  Do you struggle with what you say {and how you say it} to your students?  How do you control your speech in the classroom?  What has helped you in the past?

*As is often the case, to protect the privacy of my own kids, I will often change the pronouns used in stories about them.  For example, the story above is a true story, but may have been one of my daughters or my son.

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Things You Might Wanna Know

by Laura Parker on January 16, 2011

In an attempt to give you a bigger picture of the voice behind this site, I wanted to share some of my stats– some that could make their way onto a resume and others that could make their way only into a family joke or two.

 

1. Education. I received a B.S. in Middle Grades Education {with concentrations in Social Studies and English} from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. I finished in four years, while dating and getting married at the ripe age of 21.

2. Trench-Experience. I taught overseas in a private school for a year, where I taught non-native English speakers, English. I’ve also taught in North Carolina at a public middle school, and I have taught private writing classes to homeschooling students, as well. For the last ten years, in correlation with my husband’s job, I’ve worked with junior high and high school students in the community, mentoring students.

Currently, I am a mother to three elementary-aged kids, and for the past several years, I have slogged through educating them at home.  We are currently  living in a foreign country and sending them to school would mean we’re all in debt before they even get to college, thus, home they stay.  And teaching becomes more lifestyle than ever.

3. Family-Inheritance. I come from a family of teachers. My mom is a long-time teacher and currently teaches children with special learning needs in the private school setting. My mother-in-law is a career teacher for 6th graders in North Carolina, and my sister is a special education teacher in Colorado. You could say education is in my blood. And you could also say that it surrounds me at every Thanksgiving dinner conversation.

4. Moves. We have moved 12 times in 11 years. Three of those moves have been overseas. Some places we’ve called home:  tiny island of Saipan in the South Pacific, teeny apartment in New Zealand, slightly-larger apartment in North Carolina, and a home in Colorado.  I get tired just thinking about the transitions and remembering all. those. boxes.

5. The Crew. I am still in-love with my high school prom date, though I must admit we were skinnier back then. We have three children, ages 7, 5, and 3. Two girls and a boy sandwiched in the middle. They will prove to be the guinea pigs on which I will try lots of the ideas posted here, and I admit to shamefully exploited their cuteness in photos like this.

6. Other Talents. Not cooking. At all. This most definitely is not a cooking blog with recipe ideas. Really, I screw up brownies out of the box, and I feed my kids cereal for dinner at least once {okay, twice} a week.

7. Other Interests.  I love to write, obviously, and have written articles for online sites such as RELEVANT MAGAZINE {on the problem of prostitution in Asia} and {IN}Courage {on birthdays and angry missionaries}, as well as the collective at Blissfully Domestic {on parenting and such}. I also love to read, workout {you should see me Zumba and P90X-it in my living room}, date my husband, and hang out at coffeeshops like a yuppie with my laptop.

8.  Faith.  This is not a Christian or faith-based blog, but, yes, I am a Christian. I will not be talking about my faith in this space, but feel free to read about how my faith affects my life over at my personal blog, aLifeOverseas.Com .

9.  Thailand, What?!? I know, I know- random.  Our family does, indeed, live in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  My husband directs a Humanitarian Foundation here, where he manages a Home for Impoverished Girls, develops poverty-reduction projects in the surrounding villages, and works to fight human trafficking.  We’ve only been here about a year.  {I know, que Mother-Theresea-Soundtrack. } It’s really not as glamorous as it sounds, as I am learning that hacking out a life overseas is more grit than anything else.  You can read about ladies being mean to the New Girl and my struggles with culture shock, here.

10. I Care. I care about the hearts and characters of the next generation, and I care about teachers who are doing the noble work of educating. I care about living authentically in the real-world while writing meaningfully in the online one.  I care deeply about the orphaned and the poor and the cast-out.  I value romancing my husband, mothering my children, and living my spirituality.

I care about you.  About them.  About us.

And I know you do, too.

Feel free to check out my personal blog, where I write quite-candidly about life in SouthEast Asia– squatty potties and all.

Your Turn.  What are three facts I Might Wanna Know about YOU?  Leave a comment and introduce yourself.

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Inspired Teacher {And It Begins}

by Laura Parker on January 15, 2011

Welcome to Inspired Teacher.Net. From the jungles of Thailand, let me say thanks for stopping by.

I am beginning this site because I recognize the value of you, teachers, in our world.

I understand that daily life in the trenches of education can leave you battered and discouraged and weary, and I know that sometimes the daily grind clouds the vision we all began with– when we wanted to be Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds.  Or Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society.  Or like Gene Hackman in Hoosiers.

We all had a little Mother-Theresa-Wanna-Be in us during the early years when we dreamed of loving the individual child into betterness.

But, then, reality has typically hit us at some point along the road.  And typically it has hit us,  hard.

And grades pile up, and principals hand down mandates we can’t figure out.  Co-workers are back-biting and the curriculum changes, again.  Parents lie about their child’s homework, the state says we have to give another test, and, then, we open up the paycheck.

And we shake our heads, and we ask ourselves why we chose this profession in the first place.

And I’ve been there before, too.  I get it. Teaching is hard work– hard work that often goes unrecognized and devalued.

I‘ve logged a few years in the trenches of education and I, too, have had the stars stripped from my eyes.

I, too, have needed some inspiration.

I hope this site can become that for you, too, my fellow teacher.  Whether you are teaching your own kids at home or someone else’s kids at school, I hope Inspired Teacher is a place you can stop by to

refresh your vision,

get new ideas on things that matter, and

walk away more encouraged than when you came.

Because you, and the job you are doing, is incredibly important.

From one teacher to another, thank you for choosing to use your hands to shape the next generation for the better.


Want to get involved?

Consider subscribing to Inspired Teacher’s feed to have a notification of new posts sent to your email inbox or to be read in a Reader.

Send this link to your teaching friends. {Really, would you?}

Comment when I ask a question to enter the conversation among other educators.

Follow Inspired Teacher on Twitter: @INSPIREDTCHRS

Stop by weekly for new ideas for Character Education lessons to use in your class or home and for encouragement designed for those in the trenches {ah-hem, that’d be you.}  At this time, Inspired Teacher is primarily geared towards Elementary students {though many of the ideas could be adjusted for Middle-School students, as well}.

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