Motivate-Do the Unexpected

Try something different with your class that you would not normally do for a lesson. Students may be bored with the same teaching strategies that are used every day. Spice things up, dress up for a lesson (be the character in a story)! I bet that will get your students attention! Try it out and tell me how it goes. I am looking forward to your comments.

Don't Dictate...Motivate

     I found that students will work better when they have motivation to complete a task. When a child knows that you genuinely care about them, they will begin to perform better because they want to make you happy by doing well. A child can read you very well, so if you are pretending to care and you don't, they will know. A student wants to have a positive student-teacher relationship with you. Sometimes I think a child acts out or misbehaves because he or she is unsure about the environment. They do not know if they can trust you. Make sure you build a relationship with your students.
     Another way to motivate is by adding humor to your lessons. Let your students see that you like to laugh and have fun, too. Don't be so serious all the time. I use a lot of humor throughout the day. Laughing is good for everyone. The child will see that you are human.
       Additionally, I motivate my students by making the lessons fun. Who wants to be in a classroom for about 6-7 hours and at no point, not have any fun? Just think when we are in professional learning for a day and it is not fun. We don't want to do that to our students. We want our lessons to be as interesting as possible. When planning think like a child the age of your students would think or better yet, ask them how they would like to learn something. You may be surprise by some of the great ideas your students give to you. I will continue to give more ideas on how to motivate your student tomorrow.

Happy Friday

After a long week at work, remember to relax! That's what I am doing right now. Stay tuned... I will have something special for you tomorrow!

Our Students - Our Children

Believe it or not, our students view us as their parents. Have you ever had a student to call you mom or dad? Don't you feel like your students are your children? They mean the world to us and we want what is best for them. That is why we discipline them, hug them, and believe in them. Remember to treat your students as you would like for someone to treat your child. Children have no control over their background situations and  how much they know before they started school, but we have control over what we can help them to learn while they are with us. It is an honor to be a teacher parent to your students children.

One Day at a Time

     Sometimes I think about all the things my students cannot do because I want to see instant results. Then I reflect and realize that I need to take it one day at a time. The students can only receive so much information in a day. Sometimes I even think that I do not have enough time in a day to teach everything when in fact I do have enough time. If  I do not get to everything on my lesson plan for a particular day, it is okay because I can get to it tomorrow. My students are learning and they are listening, it will just take some time before I will see the results I want to see. 

     Have you ever felt this way? If so, just remember to take it one day at a time and one lesson at a time, your kids are on their way to academic success. Let's begin focusing more on what our students can do and what they are beginning to learn. We mean well, but sometimes we get worked up over some things that will take more time. Every day helps and everyday we teach our students are learning.  Keep saying one day at a time and by the end of the year you will see amazing results!

You Make the Difference

Today was a day in which I felt that my day was not going to get any better. Then at the end of the day, a parent told me how fortunate and happy she was for her child to have a teacher like me. Don't you just love those moments! It really reminds you of why you became a teacher. Believe it or not someone appreciates your hard work and dedication, they may not say it to you, but when they do- it makes it all worth your while. Sometimes we expect for things to happen instantaneously, but we have to remember that it takes time for us to see changes in situations in which we believe are not getting better. We are doing an awesome job all time! Our job is 7 days a week and about 13-15 hours per day. Why do we do it? We do it because we know deep down inside we are the ones who can make a difference in the life of a child.

Facing the Giants

Facing the Giants is one of my favorite movies that I love to watch. On yesterday evening, this movie was on UP and the c death crawl scene really makes me think about my role as a teacher in the classroom. I began thinking about situations in which I thought I could not do anything more to help my students. I wonder if any of you have ever had negative thoughts about your ability to teach your students. So, I am asking you have you written your students off? Better yet, have you written yourself off? Of course not, you have worked too hard and come too far to not believe in yourself or your students. Give your students your very best, don't quit on them, and don't quit on yourself. Keep teaching!!! When you think you can not teach another lesson, yes you can! Many times we think our students are not going to get it, but we have to believe in our ability to teach and our students' ability to learn. Through collaborations with others and dedication to our career we can make it to the end zone. Just listen to that little voice in your head or that special colleague who says, "You can do it! Don't quit!" This clip is really powerful and shows the power of one who can make a difference for many. You are an influential teacher! You are leader! You are an educator! Do what you do best...Keep Teaching!!!

Ways to De-Stress

As an educator, I have had many stressful days and have felt overwhelmed and overworked. With all the paper work, lesson planning, meetings, and professional learning, it can cause you to think you are on work overload. Well relax and read my top three tips below on how to control your stress level.

1. Surround yourself with positive people. It is very important that you find colleagues, friends, and family members who will help balance you with positive energy. Trust me there is something positive about each school day. It could be something as small as a student who never could answer a question has given an almost correct response. Be glad about it and share the positive with someone. If you are positive, it will cause others around you to become more positive.

2. Take a break. It is a good idea to take a break from all things education. Find a hobby. I started sewing because it had nothing to do with my job. It really relaxes me and it takes my mind off of the job for a while. Go out on a date with friends or a spouse and talk about events that do not have anything to do with your job. Go for a walk and enjoy the view. Just do something to take your mind off of things for about an hour or two. Sometimes you may need to take an entire day (Saturday or Sunday), a day for you to refresh.


3. Eat chocolate! Yes, that's right eat something you really enjoy, but don't go overboard! You know we have to watch our calories! I hope that put a smile on your face. :) Sometimes all we need is someone to make us laugh. A good laugh can go a long way.

Keep smiling!

Share ways you deal with stress. You never know who you may help! Have a positive, calm, and sweet day!

Welcome to Teacher Talks with Dr. Mims

Welcome to the blog for teachers to have positive conversations about education. This is a blog to give suggestions and encouragement to each other so we can make it through difficult situations. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.