Last year several of our mentors, Franki Sibberson and Mary Lee Hahn, introduced us to #onelittleword. Instead of making grand New Year's resolutions that are never kept, we thought this would be an interesting way to rethink and focus on a new year. For 2014, Beth's word was "expand" and Rita's was "transformation". This year, we are going to chose a word again and ask our students to do the same. Here are our words and the thinking behind each.
Beth Honeycutt's #onelittleword: CONNECT
To be honest, I am borrowing my #onelittleword from Laura, one of my yoga teachers. During an intense and wonderful yoga class on Monday, December 29th, Laura asked us to focus on the word "connect" and for that to be our intention for the day. As I moved through sun salutations and warrior poses, I focused on connecting - connecting my breath to the movement, connecting one posture to another, and connecting my mind and body. It was one of the best classes for me in a while. After I left the class, the word "connect" resonated with me, and I began to think of all the ways that word applies to my life. It is a perfect #onelittleword for me to focus on in 2015!
Besides connecting in yoga class, I want to maintain strong connections with my daughters. With two teenager girls, this is a time when connections can be lost or damaged. My girls are and will be experiencing new situations with school, friends and (maybe) boys. I want to make sure that we can have open and honest conversations and maintain the strong connections that we have. Losing the ability to talk and be honest is not something that I want to happen - ever.
My connection with my husband is also a high priority in my life. Life is busy with work, soccer, basketball, friends, exercise, and school. I want to be sure that he and I connect and remain committed to each other and to our daughters. Matt and I have always been best friends and I rely on him as a confidant and supporter.
Finally, "connect" works so well with being a teacher. I love connecting with other educators around Dublin and around the country through Twitter, blogs, and workshops. I feel like I am such a better teacher because of the people I have connected with.
The most important connection within education though is with my students. Over winter vacation I read The Priority List by David Menasche, which is about a teacher who had amazing connections with his students before he passed away from a brain tumor. As I read the book, I reflected on my relationships with students over the years. I hope that I am able to connect with every student I see each day whether it is through feedback on a piece of writing or a quick conversation about books or a "Good morning!" or even a "Get to class!" I'd like to focus this year on making sure that I connect with my eighth graders and that they feel a connection to me.
I am looking forward to 2015! I believe it will be a wonderful year personally and professionally as I focus on connecting to my students, my colleagues, my friends, my family and myself.
Rita Shaffer's #onelittleword: BELIEVE
As 2014 came to close I thought about what #onelittleword would be perfect for 2015. Many words popped into my head, but none of them seemed exactly right. As I looked over my brainstormed list of words and thought about what I would like to do in the upcoming year, the perfect word appeared - believe. Dictionary.com defines believe as "...hav[ing] confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability in something, although without the absolute proof that one is right in doing so."
I believe in my family. My son and my husband are the most important people in my life. The uncertainty that accompanies being surrounded by males makes me smile (and sometimes cry), but I know that I can rely on them to make any day better by telling me "I love you" at some point during the day. Love is never something we can be certain of, but I believe that my little family will always be the most important thing in my world.
I believe in my friends. I consider myself extremely lucky - I am surrounded by wonderful people who are true and honest. Whether I am at school, in one of my neighbor's garages, enjoying a "girls' night out" or having dinner with a trusted mentor, I know that these people will support and encourage me in all of my many adventures. The acceptance, understanding and faith in me that each of these people has exhibited helps me every day.
I believe in myself! I think I am a strong person, but this is probably where I am most uncertain - there are always so many questions. Should I let my son stay up for the extra half hour on a school night? Is he polite and respectful when not around us? Am I supporting my mom as much as I can while she cares for my Gram and Pap? Do I spend too much time working on school stuff and not enough time with family and friends? Am I doing everything I can to support my students? Did I give my friend who is frustrated with her son's lack of study skills the right advice? Am I strong enough to accept a new challenge? Reflecting on these questions has helped me to believe in myself.
Believe is the perfect #onelittleword for 2015 - I am excited to see what I can accomplish as I continue to nurture the things I already believe in and have the courage to believe in new ideas!
Beth Honeycutt's #onelittleword: CONNECT
To be honest, I am borrowing my #onelittleword from Laura, one of my yoga teachers. During an intense and wonderful yoga class on Monday, December 29th, Laura asked us to focus on the word "connect" and for that to be our intention for the day. As I moved through sun salutations and warrior poses, I focused on connecting - connecting my breath to the movement, connecting one posture to another, and connecting my mind and body. It was one of the best classes for me in a while. After I left the class, the word "connect" resonated with me, and I began to think of all the ways that word applies to my life. It is a perfect #onelittleword for me to focus on in 2015!
Besides connecting in yoga class, I want to maintain strong connections with my daughters. With two teenager girls, this is a time when connections can be lost or damaged. My girls are and will be experiencing new situations with school, friends and (maybe) boys. I want to make sure that we can have open and honest conversations and maintain the strong connections that we have. Losing the ability to talk and be honest is not something that I want to happen - ever.
My connection with my husband is also a high priority in my life. Life is busy with work, soccer, basketball, friends, exercise, and school. I want to be sure that he and I connect and remain committed to each other and to our daughters. Matt and I have always been best friends and I rely on him as a confidant and supporter.
Finally, "connect" works so well with being a teacher. I love connecting with other educators around Dublin and around the country through Twitter, blogs, and workshops. I feel like I am such a better teacher because of the people I have connected with.
The most important connection within education though is with my students. Over winter vacation I read The Priority List by David Menasche, which is about a teacher who had amazing connections with his students before he passed away from a brain tumor. As I read the book, I reflected on my relationships with students over the years. I hope that I am able to connect with every student I see each day whether it is through feedback on a piece of writing or a quick conversation about books or a "Good morning!" or even a "Get to class!" I'd like to focus this year on making sure that I connect with my eighth graders and that they feel a connection to me.
I am looking forward to 2015! I believe it will be a wonderful year personally and professionally as I focus on connecting to my students, my colleagues, my friends, my family and myself.
Rita Shaffer's #onelittleword: BELIEVE
As 2014 came to close I thought about what #onelittleword would be perfect for 2015. Many words popped into my head, but none of them seemed exactly right. As I looked over my brainstormed list of words and thought about what I would like to do in the upcoming year, the perfect word appeared - believe. Dictionary.com defines believe as "...hav[ing] confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability in something, although without the absolute proof that one is right in doing so."
I believe in my family. My son and my husband are the most important people in my life. The uncertainty that accompanies being surrounded by males makes me smile (and sometimes cry), but I know that I can rely on them to make any day better by telling me "I love you" at some point during the day. Love is never something we can be certain of, but I believe that my little family will always be the most important thing in my world.
I believe in my friends. I consider myself extremely lucky - I am surrounded by wonderful people who are true and honest. Whether I am at school, in one of my neighbor's garages, enjoying a "girls' night out" or having dinner with a trusted mentor, I know that these people will support and encourage me in all of my many adventures. The acceptance, understanding and faith in me that each of these people has exhibited helps me every day.
I believe in myself! I think I am a strong person, but this is probably where I am most uncertain - there are always so many questions. Should I let my son stay up for the extra half hour on a school night? Is he polite and respectful when not around us? Am I supporting my mom as much as I can while she cares for my Gram and Pap? Do I spend too much time working on school stuff and not enough time with family and friends? Am I doing everything I can to support my students? Did I give my friend who is frustrated with her son's lack of study skills the right advice? Am I strong enough to accept a new challenge? Reflecting on these questions has helped me to believe in myself.
Believe is the perfect #onelittleword for 2015 - I am excited to see what I can accomplish as I continue to nurture the things I already believe in and have the courage to believe in new ideas!