To help encourage conversations and dialogue about making time to ‘do nothing’, our topic/question of the week is: What can you do to become 'less busy' and find time to step back and 'do nothing'? Making Time for 'Nothing' (Week of 5/5/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
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Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
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After a week of several nights out at school last week, it was important to leave right away after school to be with Katie and the kids. We were glad that the rain held off last Friday afternoon for Maggie’s softball game before watching the Celtics game as a family - a really nice way to start the weekend (despite the loss)!
Topic/Question of the Week (Week of 4/28/19): What problem do you want to solve? What do you need to learn to be able to do that?
Sampling of responses...
- Time in class for consistent conference sessions. The trick is to know the flow of each class; each class has a unique flow. If you were to ask me what one superpower would I want, the answer would be very easy: the power of 100% flawless intuition
- I would like to work on mindsets and helping both myself and others look at positive approaches to problems rather than spiraling into complaining and negativity. I need to observe people who model this already and to readjust my approach and mindset when a problem arises.
- I would love to help people simplify SBR. I think some cross-subject meeting could be helpful!
- Cancer
- Chrome boxes do not print locally. That is a potential daily problem. I need to learn whether nearby, multiple “printers” will become a part of this new system
- DVD players: I need to learn about audio speaker effectiveness. Playing a DVD or any A/V product with a weak, ineffective speaker system is a problem ; and potentially discriminatory
- Time management. I'm not sure, which is why it's a problem.
- World hunger.
The Case for Doing Nothing
by Olga Mecking (@OrlaMecking) in The New York Times
Mecking’s post introduces the Dutch concept/term ‘niksen’ (doing nothing), espousing the need and benefits for all of us. As one who is continually ‘running around’ and often using the term ‘busy’ as a badge of honor, niksen is an important mantra for me to consider and embrace. Tips are given within the post: Make time for doing nothing, and do it with purpose...Resist the culture of busyness...Manage your expectations...Reorganize your environment...Think outside of the box...
Running from place to place and laboring over long to-do lists have increasingly become ways to communicate status: I’m so busy because I’m just so important, the thinking goes. Perhaps it’s time to stop all this busyness. Being busy -- if we even arebusy — is rarely the status indicator we’ve come to believe it is. Nonetheless, the impact is real, and instances of burnout, anxiety disorders and stress-related diseases are on the rise, not to mention millennial burnout.
...the idea of niksen is to take conscious, considered time and energy to do activities like gazing out of a window or sitting motionless. The less-enlightened might call such activities “lazy” or “wasteful.” Again: nonsense.
Generally speaking, our culture does not promote sitting still, and that can have wide-reaching consequences for our mental health, well-being, productivity and other areas of our lives. Technology doesn’t make it any easier: The smartphone you carry with you at all hours makes it almost impossible to truly unplug and embrace idleness. And by keeping ourselves busy at all times, we may be losing our ability to sit still because our brains are actually being rewired.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I strongly believe and know that Voltaire had it right…
Ending the School Year Well
by Aaron Hogan (@afhogan)
We often start to see 'end-of-year countdowns' in schools and I would be lying if I said I never counted down the days to summer. That said, Hogan offers an important perspective with this post and I particularly commend his outreach for ideas for how to 'end the year well' from colleagues - a direct and indirect way to appreciate one another by seeking input.
We cannot afford to do anything other than continue to pursue our students. Our students and colleagues are worth more than our survival mode efforts. We can make just as great an impact in our last days with students as we did in our first hours together.
Never stop getting to know your students (even at the end of the year). Invest in them. Let them know that they are loved. Much like a successful start to the year, a successful end to the year is an active pursuit.
Words do not truly express the appreciation I have and feel for the teachers (again, broadly defined) with whom I work, along with the teachers who have left their imprint on my mind, heart, and being. I have been fortunate to have wonderful teachers at all levels (Professor Fisher, John D’Auria, and Mrs. DeChristopher come to mind today, but there are many more), both personally and professionally, and I hope I honor them with my efforts each day. I hope we can all find time to appreciate each other this week.
As I say quite often, Blake Middle School is a special place (it may sound trite, but the sentiment is sincere) and I am so proud to be a part of the collective mission to enhance the learning experience for our students. It is a privilege and a joy to come to work every day with such a fine team of educators and this recognition is a reflection of our students, staff, and community.
I look forward to the work that lies ahead for all of us.
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Take care.
Nat