Leave your baggage at the schoolhouse door

"Leave your 'stuff' at the door to the gym" or "Leave your baggage at the gate to the field." Those were both phrases that I would tell my players during my coaching career. Stress, worry, self-doubt, negativity, and anger were just some of the emotions that I was referring to. I knew that the court or the field could be a place of refuge. I wanted the places where we practiced and played to be places where the athletes could, if for a short time, take their focus away from negative emotions and be surrounded by positivity. 

I also knew that the negative emotions would take away from a player's personal development as well as the team development and cohesiveness. I wanted each and every athlete to be as individually successful as possible, and I wanted the team to be successful as a group.  

These were also actions that I felt like I needed to do as the leader of my players. I had to leave my own baggage at the door so that I could pour into my players as much as I had to give. It was also important for me to model these life skills and coping skills, because we learn greatly from things that are modeled for us. 

Why is it important that educators "leave their baggage at the door" and keep it out of the classroom?

What we value is reflected in our actions, so we must first value positivity and being the best person we can be for our students. When this is one of our values, it becomes easier to check the baggage at the door. 

Educators who bring negative baggage into the workplace, whether it's a classroom or school, can be temperamental, inconsiderate, resentful, and neglectful.

As educators, we commit to bringing our best to our students each day. It's hard to bring out the best in others when we are not our best selves. 

We need to model positivity and teamwork for our students. Kids will learn more from what we do and who we are than what we say.

How to leave your baggage at the door

Understand that positivity is a choice. Negative body language, tone of voice, and other actions prevent a person from demonstrating a positive attitude.

Practice mindfulness. Know yourself, be self-aware of your emotions, and be conscious of what you are bringing into the workplace.

Forgive others and yourself. Unforgiveness is a heavy burden, and one that's hard to shed. 

Make a conscious decision to be emotionally consistent at work. Allow the door to the building to be your trigger to open yourself up to positivity and gratitude, crowding out all of the negative baggage.

What are other ways a person might leave their baggage at the door?

My 3 words for 2017

I love this time of the year as I reflect on the year as a whole -- Did I accomplish what I set out to do? Did I help someone be their best? What did I do in 2016 that I need to stop doing in the new year? What did I not do in 2016 that I need to start doing in 2017?

Reading back through blog posts, compiling a list of the top 10 posts from the year, and reading blog posts and tweets from my network of friends all give me inspiration in choosing the words I will use to guide me in the new year. 

I used to make a list of resolutions which was usually a list of things to stop doing. A few years ago I followed the lead of Chris Brogan and began choosing 3 words to use as a guide throughout the year. I try to choose words that are very personal and meaningful that will keep me grounded through the highs and lows of the year. Sharing the words on my blog increases my accountability and keeps the words front and center as I map my course throughout the year. 

My Past 3 Word Choices

2014 - Discipline. Intentional. Balance.
2015 - Rhythm. Bravery. Fitness.
2016 - Focus. Purpose. Do. 

There’s a word that’s been on my mind for a while after I listened to an interview with Jenny Blake on Grant Baldwin’s Speaker Lab Podcast. (Jenny is the author of the new book, Pivot.) 

Then I read a post by my friend Dan Rockwell titled, How to Face 2017 like a Leader. He used the word PIVOT twice in the post, and I knew that it would be one of my words for the new year. 

Jenny uses the analogy of a basketball player (an analogy I can really relate to!) and how the player stays grounded with her pivot foot while the free foot can move about, looking for new opportunities. In life, these opportunities are things that interest us, including skills or projects. While Jenny shares her analogy when looking to make career moves, I think it can be applied in any situation that requires change. The pivot foot, the grounded foot, represents a person’s strengths and experience. As we enter into 2017, I continue to ask myself, “What’s next?” I want to continue to build on my strengths throughout changes and new opportunities and be ready to pivot when new opportunities arise. 

The second word I chose for 2017 is GO. Why this word? Because I know that action comes before courage. In 2017, I want to continue to take risks and to SAY YES to new opportunities and adventures.  It’s invaluable to me to have a PLN that supports and encourages me as I pursue my passions of working with schools, school systems, and individuals to help them achieve their goals. I plan to continue to GO forward throughout 2017!

Embrace fear, insecurity and uncertainty as the doorways of opportunity that they are.  - Jenny Blake

My third word for 2017 is GROW. While I’m a curious person who loves to learn, I want to be focused and intentional about it during the new year. Even when it’s uncomfortable, overbearing, and hard, I plan to embrace the moments and appreciate the growth from those situations. I also plan to ask for help from others. I can’t do it alone, and I need/want to know my blindspots. I will reach out and allow others to help me grow into the best person I can be. 

I’m already looking forward to the end of the year where I will get to look back and see the growth that has been made throughout the year. Thank you for letting me share with you my words for the new year. I would love for you to share yours with me in the comments, on twitter or on Facebook.

Happy New Year!

Fighting history fills one with doubt and fear. It takes courage and faith to pivot forward and create a future. 

- Dan Rockwell

Readers' Favorite Posts of 2016

Hello, Friends! I love this time of the year because I get to catch up with friends and family while I reflect on the year and plan for the new one. I hope your holidays have been wonderful, too!

I'm thrilled about starting a new year with this blog. Thank you to all of you who have read, commented, and shared posts from The Compelled Educator. You light my fire and keep me lifted up as I pursue my passion of helping others become their best! 

I'm closing out 2016 with today's post of "The Best of..." It's always so much fun to read back through blog posts from the year and reminisce on what was going on at the time that caused the words to flow. The posts are the ones that were most-read, so grab your cup of coffee and let's go!

#10 - How to Create a Custom Twitter Header Image

#9 - The best productivity hack you need to try

#8 - An easy and awesome tool to flip your PD

#7 - Gratitude Conversation Starters {free printable}

I'm always trying to learn, and one of the things on my list has been how to create a "clickable collage." You've probably seen them on other blogs where you can click the different pictures in the picture and it links to different sites, pages, or posts. I've been working on it today so that I could include it in this blog post. 

When I tried to go live with the post, I realized that my image map was not working. I've got to get back to the drawing board and figure out what is causing the issues. In the meantime, you can click the links below the graphics to access the blog posts. :-)

#6 - One more reason to create a school hashtag
#5 - Game Changer: Classroom Discussion
#4 - Leadership: A Balancing Act

I was excited to see that #6 above was in the top 10 for the year. It's about an event at our school that was special for the recipient as well as for MANY of our students. Check it out if you missed it.

#3 - 10 ways to go from lurker to connected on twitter

#2 - Kickstart your school's social media use with a twitter party!

It's exciting for me that # 2 & #3 were both about twitter. Here's why it fires me up: 1) Twitter is THE best source for PD, 2) It's accessible "on demand" 24/7, and 3) Everyone who's on twitter WANTS to be there. The enthusiasm is contagious! I believe that school leaders have a responsibility to share the awesome things happening in their schools, and I hope to contribute to helping as many people as I can in accomplishing that. Educators and students deserve to have a positive story shared about them!

#1 - May Matters! Join the #lastbell movement!

The most-read post of 2016 was a post about a movement that started in my Women in Education Leadership Voxer group. We were talking about ways to keep teachers and students motivated during the last month of school -- a month where engines are drained, motivation is low, and everyone's ready for a break. We shared ideas and resources for ways to celebrate and motivate teachers during May so that it would "fill their bucket" throughout the month. It was energizing to see the photos and ideas that were being shared on social media! 

Were any of these posts your favorite from the year? I would love for you to leave a comment or reach out on Twitter or Facebook. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to make 2016 one of the best! 

ICYMI:

My Top 10 Posts of 2015

Best of 2014: Top 10 Posts of the Year

Top 10 Blog Posts of 2013

The Joy Jar

Starting a new calendar year is a terrific time to make new commitments and set goals, both personally and professionally. Since the new year arrives around the half-way point in most school calendars, it can be a time of renewal and excitement about what's to come. Relationships have been forged, procedures have been learned, and the classroom community is fertile ground for student learning. 

Today is a quick post about a new tradition that can be started after the holidays. It's called a Joy Jar. The idea is that each day the teacher and/or student writes down something from that day to be joyful for and puts the slip of paper in the jar. Maybe it's about a student who normally doesn't come to class prepared who has his homework completed for the third day in a row. Or a student's mother has just returned from overseas. Or it a was a great day of learning and high fives. The point is... it can be something large... or it can be something that seems small. 

On the last day of class, the teacher reads the slips of paper from the jar. Not only will it be exciting to remember the special times from the semester, but the classroom climate that will result from the teacher and students being intentional about looking for joy each day will be very special. 

The jar can be decorated to "fit" the theme of the class. I'm a huge fan of mason jars, and there is lots of inspiration on my "Mason Jar Ideas" Pinterest board. 

I would love to hear about your favorite classroom hacks! Please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on Twitter or Facebook.