As we begin another school year, those of us returning to the classroom bring a wealth of experience, a stocked tool kit, and sometimes a little baggage or anxiety.  The new year brings opportunity to create the life in teaching we always dreamed of. We often rearrange our classroom spaces, revise our lessons or reorganize our schedules.  With a new year and new students we have a new blank slate upon which to create.

So it’s a great time to ask ourselves, “What works, what doesn’t?” And by that I mean, inviting ourselves to reflect on our practice and consider what was effective, engaging, and enjoyable- and what wasn’t.  Sometimes we fall into patterns of behavior and it is almost like going through the motions. “ I’ve always done it this way.” When we acknowledge past successes and take time to reflect there is a greater chance that they will repeat. When we are honest about what our challenges are, we can more purposefully address them. For most of us, this isn’t just a job. This is life.

So how do we create the life in teaching that we want? Maybe this year we could try to WOOP it up!

Over the summer, I had more time to read a greater variety books and listen to podcasts that weren’t about literacy or teaching necessarily. I found myself fascinated by the work of psychologist Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, author of Rethinking Positive Thinking:Inside the New Science of Motivation. She believes the obstacles that we think prevent us from realizing our deepest wishes can actually lead to their fulfillment, but we can’t just think positive thoughts. Ironically, she found those who have stronger, more positive fantasies about reaching their goals are actually less likely to achieve them. She and her colleague Dr. Peter M. Gollwitzer introduce me to a strategy called mental contrasting- a visualization technique that research has shown can increase positive outcomes for goals. But she wanted to move theory into practice so she created WOOP!

The 4 steps: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan can be applied to situations in our classrooms for both the teacher as well as the students. The basics are:

WISH– What is an important goal or wish that I would like to accomplish in the near future (next few weeks)?

OUTCOME– What would be the most positive outcome? How would that make me feel? Imagine it as fully as I can.

OBSTACLE– What is the main obstacle inside ME that holds me back from fulfilling that wish or dream. Is it a habit, an emotion, a belief. I cannot control external obstacles, only those within myself.

PLAN– Identify one action you could take or thought you could think that would overcome that obstacle.  “If… (obstacle), then I will … (action or thought).”

So how might that look in action?

WISH-in the next few weeks I want to submit  two pieces of professional writing.

OUTCOME- I would feel a sense of relief and accomplishment if I created something worthy of being published. It would be exhilarating.

OBSTACLE- I know at the start of the school year I am not very good at prioritizing my time. I often feel like I have to say yes and I try to  front-load a lot of my work with students and teachers. I want to start things off on the right foot and I often take on too much.

PLAN- I am going to block off at least 1 hour in my schedule outside of school for writing each day. No email. No social media. No lesson plans or curriculum work during that hour. That time will be sacred.  “If I am asked to do something, then I will schedule it outside of that time -or even consider not doing it.”

I know that sounds ridiculously simple.  That’s the point. WOOP is breaking down the research behind mental contrasting with implementation intentions into a habit for thinking about how to approach your goals with deliberate focus. Oettingen knew that the acronym could help to trigger positive action because it is catchy and memorable. If there are things you would like to accomplish in your classrooms this year, perhaps you could WOOP it up!

She  has FREE POSTERS for your classroom and there’s even an app for that! You can check out a few videos from Character Lab on implementing WOOP in your schools here.

What’s on My Book Radar?

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Author Meredith Russo is truly writing from the heart with this poignant YA novel. Amanda is the new girl at her school in Lambertville, Tennessee.  She wants what all ‘normal’ girls want; friendships, a boyfriend, to simply fit in.  But Amanda wasn’t always your ‘normal’ girl. She was born Andrew- a girl trapped in a boy’s body. As she strives to live an authentic life, she wants to be honest. But with a bullied and tortured past, she is afraid to trust. Then she meets Grant Everett, she experiences life in a new way, and fears that honesty could risk it all. For anyone who has ever struggled with understanding  the concept of transgender or transsexual identity- this book will help you as you walk a mile in the shoes of one teen who will open your eyes and open your heart. A great addition to any high school looking to offer more “windows and mirrors” in their collection of texts to celebrate diversity.

Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear some story in the news or online about teachers or teaching. These tend to fall on the spectrum of martyrdom to disgrace by spotlighting the heroic or the failed teacher. These stories sell newspapers or create enticing ‘click bait’, but they paint inaccurate or incomplete stories about what it is to be a teacher. Politicians, parents, and people everywhere can develop skewed perceptions of teaching that frequently leads to teacher-bashing, disrespect, and even cries for endless reform.

I would like to see that change…

Our silence can create a vacuum that is often filled with angry or uninformed voices.  Too often teachers are painted as this monolithic group who think and act similarly. Look around our schools.  There is such a variety of experience, background, philosophy, pedagogy, and passion. I think the chorus of our voices create a rich song, if we are brave enough to sing it!

There is often a perception that teaching is relatively easy. We may be inadvertently perpetuating that myth when we don’t attempt to shift that belief. I am reminded as I watch athletes competing at the Olympics this summer that they make it look easy-sometimes even effortless. Though we know that is not the case, we might still be surprised at the time and work put into those performances. I think that is often the case with teaching. Though people rarely have the opportunity to see teachers in action, when they do visit a classroom, or when they hear their children talk about it, they aren’t grasping the effort that went into making that lesson or that classroom environment happen.

Now, I’m not advocating that anyone starts whining about how hard teaching is or complaining that ‘nobody understands’. I would just love to see teachers share their process more. We all have dreams, hopes, reflections, guilt, epiphanies, doubts, inspiration, and ideas that our colleagues can appreciate. We don’t have to make ourselves vulnerable or uncomfortable to be more open and honest. Teachers have a great sense of humor-look at the memes that flood our Facebook walls!            (creds to someecards)

To start, I would first encourage a teacher to think about their audience and ask themselve, “Who would I like to tell MY story to?” (this will help you to consider format) It could be for your students as you share your writers’ notebook or sample pieces of writing. It could be for their parents as you create a newsletter of some kind. It could be for your community as you share newspaper articles or presentations. It could be for your colleagues with a Facebook or a Voxer group. It could be for an even wider audience with a YouTube channel, Twitter Chat, blog, or book. Maybe you simply want to write for YOURSELF. I have found writing to be an incredible opportunity for discovery!

We must, however, be cautious that we protect the stories of our students. They are not for us to tell. Their identities, perspectives, and thoughts are sacred and must always be honored. I will never use a students’ name and only use their work or image with the expressed consent of the parent and the student. I like the adage “Measure twice, cut once” to inspire me to “Think twice, post prudently.” There are many humorous anecdotes best kept private!

 In my district we have a handful of teachers who get together somewhat regularly to write. Some write poems to their grandchildren, journal about their lives, or work on projects they’d like to publish. We are a community. Several teachers I approached have expressed an interest in starting to blog about their teaching. As school begins I want to support them in this process. An easy place to get started is setting up an eduBlog. This YouTube video will walk you through it.

Regardless of your format of choice I want to invite you to write your story. Start putting those ideas, experiences, and feelings into words. It’s cathartic, it’s empowering, it’s important.  I welcome YOUR ideas for the encouraging this process as well. Write them to me!!

What’s On My Book Radar?

Summerlost by Ally Condie (author of the Matched series)

The summer after Cedar lost her father and brother in a tragic accident, her mother buys a summer house in the town where she grew up. Cedar makes a new friend, Leo, at the Summerlost theater festival and together they explore the mysterious death of Summerlost’s most famous young actress and discover more about life than about death. A tender story about dealing with loss and the guilt that can sometimes accompany it. Ally creates beautiful characters that show how diversity doesn’t have to be the central theme of the book, but rather the real life experience and traits  of the characters within. For middle grade readers.