I have thought about this quote over and over the past few years.  Right now I think about it multiple times every single day.  Through all of this I know that each and every one of you have been working harder than we ever knew possible and at the end of the day we know that we will try again tomorrow!  Thank you for all mustering up all of your courage to Try Again Tomorrow!!!!  Have a great weekend and Happy Mothers Day!

We will try again tomorrow!!!!

Take time this long weekend to take care of you!  Don’t worry about school.  Just feed your soul and do what makes you happy!  This is your time to reenergize and refill your own buckets!  Have a great break!  And see you Monday!

As I am working my way through the week, I am sensing more and more stress from everyone around me and honestly myself included.  I happened upon these two quotes this weekend and they both mean so much to me personally and professionally.  When it comes to Everett, I know that we have so many students who need us to be their safe place, their place that they can count on, and their place where they can be unconditionally loved.  I have to ask myself, how have the students that I have worked with lately felt when they have left me?  Have I contributed to their happiness or to their chaos?  Have I helped them make changes for the better or for the worse?  I honestly lay in bed at night and ask myself these questions, because I know that I am not perfect and that I have so much room to grow each and every day.   “When children feel better they behave better” that is an amazing thought and it is so very true when we really stop and think about it every single day.  Think about a student in your room or in the school who is struggling right now….how many specific positives have you given them just today?  How have you contributed to their happiness or their chaos?  How can you support and grow with them more tomorrow?  When we think about kids and problems like this, it really changes the conversation.  I have one more quote to share with you all!  It is also one of my favorites right now!  

Challenge for the rest of the week, double the amount of gold tickets that you have given out already this week.  Water the flowers not the weeds!  Find the positives and focus on them!  We got this!

I feel like this is the heart of Everett!  We believe that every student is capable of learning how to be at school with the proper teaching.  We teach reading, writing, math, social skills, behavioral expectations, etc etc etc!  We know and expect that our students don’t know how to do school and we find ways to TEACH them what they need to do to be successful citizens!  Thank you for taking the time over and over again to teach our students how to behave!  If we don’t, then who will?!?!

I love Everett!

I was so fortunate to sit with all of you today!  I know that you are all overwhelmed with stress and your To Do’s.  But I also wanted you to know that I am so energized just by being in the same room as you!  Here is a Bren’e Brown quote that I thought you all should read and believe!  Here’s to a great week!!!!!!

Teachers are some of our most important leaders.

We can’t always ask our students to take off the armor at home, or even on their way to school, because their emotional and physical safety may require self-protection. But what we can do, and what we are ethically called to do, is create a space in our schools and classrooms where all students can walk in and, for that day or hour, take off the crushing weight of their armor, hang it on a rack, and open their heart to truly being seen.

We must be guardians of spaces that allow students to breathe, be curious, and to explore the world and be who they are without suffocation. They deserve one place where they can rumble with vulnerability and their hearts can exhale. And what I know from the research is that we should never underestimate the benefit to a child of having a place to belong—even one—where they can take off their armor. It can and often does change the trajectory of their life.

Dare to Lead Page 13

I know that we have talked a lot about the importance of building relationships with students.  At the end of the year we need to be thinking about maintaining those relationships and also remaining in relationship with students when times are tough.

Here is an article that reiterates that importance of having positive relationships with students.  Please read and remember that the end of the year is just as important as the beginning to create lasting bonds with students!

Many parents and educators struggle with feeling disrespected by their kids or students. Does this resonate with you? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “Why does this kid think it’s okay to treat me like this?” or “I go out of my way to treat these kids well. Why do they act like I’m stupid?” Disrespectful behavior (eye-rolling, arguing, defiance, lying, etc.) is often a form of limit testing, which is a young person’s way of asking this important question: “Do you love me enough to provide the caring boundaries required to keep me safe from myself?” When limits over respect are inconsistent or weak, disrespectful behavior increases. The child’s self-concept suffers, and they lack the modeling required to learn how to set limits with their peers. The ability to say “no” to peers starts with experiencing “no” from one’s parents. Those familiar with Love and Logic know limits are most effectively provided when we describe what we are willing to do or allow, rather than trying to tell others how they should behave. Describing our own actions provides an enforceable limit. Dictating the actions of another does not. “Treat me with respect!” is unenforceable. “I’m happy to do the extra things I do for you when I feel respected” is enforceable. Is it okay for a parent or educator to calmly and consistently provide perks only when they feel respected? Absolutely! In fact, it’s essential. While our children certainly won’t thank us in the short term, we can be assured that doing so provides the type of limits and security they need. A Love and Logic mom recently described how she began the process of gaining her thirteen-year-old son’s respect: Son: “It’s time for you to take me to practice. Why are you just sitting there?” Mom: “Oh, this is so sad. It’s just really hard for me to want to do the extra things I do for you when I keep hearing how dumb you think I am.” Son: “I was just kidding! Why do you make such a big deal out of everything? It’s time to go.” Mom: “Maybe by next week at this time, I’ll feel better about taking you. I sure hope so.” She held firm and experienced the predictable onslaught of arguing, pouting, and guilt-trips. “Over the past few months,” she reflected, “I see him becoming a lot calmer and more respectful. I think he’s realizing that I care enough about myself to expect respect. It’s really improved our relationship!” Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit,forward it to a friend.   Dr. Charles Fay

This is the latest article I received from Love and Logic.  When I read these, I really connect them back to our PBIS model at Everett.  Think about the importance of building positive relationships with the students.  If they are being disrespectful to us, how do we show them that we are respecting them?  Do we send them out of the room or take the opportunity to teach them that missing skill or both?  Do we take what we call “behaviors” and use them as opportunities for growth and learning?  I love Everett because we teach behavior and we believe that it is our duty to teach our students how to be successful in the world, and that includes behavior as well as all the curricular areas!  

I sat down multiple time to write thank yous for all you all did for my birthday!  I just couldn’t quite wrap my head around how to thank everyone and not write individual thank you notes.  I just am so grateful for my Everett family and all you do for me and for each other.  We have to take care of each other if we are going to be in this business for the long haul.  I have been humbled over and over again about how our staff steps up to do what is best for the students in all situations.  It is just amazing to work with such professional and wonderful people!  So that being said, I am most Thankful for all of YOU!  Thank you for all of your hard work, commitment, and heart that you put into what you do!  You are changing lives every single day!

I am an avid follower of Eric Jensen and I still receive emails from him directly as you can see below!  Wink Wink (I don’t know how to communicate without emojis anymore).  Anyway, I received this email today and I thought that we all need these reminders to take care of ourselves first and foremost.  On conference week, red ribbon week or halloween week, we will feel it just like the kids will, but please take time to think about the habits that you are creating for yourself and are they propelling you to greatness!  Because I want nothing but greatness for each and every one of you!

Hi Marci,

Eric Jensen here.

Rarely do we think about “habits.” We are more likely to think about personality traits.

For example, we say someone is frugal or a spendthrift. But are not those traits actually, they’re a cluster of habits?

So which are the high performing habits that can lead to greatness?

My own personal list would include the following (in no particular order):

#1 – Self-Regulation. If you cannot run your own brain, greatness can be elusive. You learn when to step on the gas pedal to charge ahead, and when to step back. You must learn to regulate your stress when others are going crazy. You forgive when others hold a grudge. You downregulate your anger, disappointment or sadness better than your peers. You upregulate your joys and laughter. In short, you are “driving your own bus.”

#2 – Dream big and bold. Every great person dreamed of the “impossible dream” and stayed on the path towards it. You share your dream with many others. You enlisted others in it and persist at it, as a life mission. Maybe you’re the person who sets higher standards for yourself, than even your peers set for themselves.

#3 – Foster quality relationships. You smile and hug your family and friends. You greet new people with enthusiasm. You spend time with your “Close 5” in your life, and you stay connected with your circle of 15 colleagues and friends. Plus, you always put your partner and kids at the top of your priority list, above your job.

#4 – Get and stay healthy. You drink alcohol less than your peers and friends. You take the stairs when others take the elevator or escalator. You stretch, do Pilates, yoga or work out 3-6 times a week. You eat healthier foods than most. You get your checkups, take your supplements, and get your 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

#5 – You can create and keep important habits. You hold yourself to a higher level of excellence than others; good enough is never “good enough.” You have learned, for example, to avoid distractive career-killing or relationship-ruining addictions. You might journal, share your gratitudes and meditate. You always finish the day with “wins.” You keep the main thing, the main thing.

#6 – You are passionate, happy and confident. People around you may think that you have those traits in your genes. But the truth is, you work on them every day. You feel blessed, optimistic and share that joy with others around you. Greatness is always saying, “share me!”

#7 – Never stop learning and growing. When there’s a special chance, unusual event or “last chance” to grow in your area of expertise, you pay attention.

Here’s an example of a chance to grow.

#5 on the list talks about habits. That’s exactly what I am going to help you grow in my new course. Why? Habits are the building blocks of your character. Poor habits = less desirable outcomes.

If you’re the type of person that wants to become “so good they can’t ignore you”, then lean in. Maybe mastery is just as important to you as having “raving fans.”

If so, you’re unusual.

In fact, you might even be interested in knowing how to become amazingly good in training or teaching. You may also be curious about the very last public training I am doing for professional developers, teachers, and trainers (or those wanting to be one).

If the time is right for you now, check out how to become amazing at your craft,CLICK HERE for the details.

Eric Jensen