Who You Be?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by The EQ Educator

In our daily comings and goings in our various roles that we play in life, to find yourself losing your identity would not be difficult. As an educator your world can be easily turned upside down with the state of education today. Whether you are a secondary school teacher or counselor, college student adviser, educational administrator or any other role within education, I have found a simple but powerful poem that will allow you to answer the question, ‘who you be?’ or at least show you how to get there. As you read, assess where you are on each and discover ‘who you be.’ The poem is called…

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Help Me Be… by Christine Kloser

Strong enough to be vulnerable.

Wise enough to realize how little I know.

Loving enough to embrace my “enemy.”

Tender enough to be powerful.

Smart enough to realize I can’t do it alone.

Brilliant enough to shine the light of others.

Doubtful enough to know the power of faith.

Courageous enough to share my truth.

Christine Kloser is a Spiritual Guide, Award-Winning Author, Intuitive and Healer whose spot-on guidance transforms the lives of visionary entrepreneurs and authors. Her passion is fueled by her own transformation in January 2011 – when after much success as an entrepreneur – she found herself curled up in a ball on the floor sobbing because she had lost it all. Letting go of the last shred of stability and security in her life was when she discovered her truth. From that place, she fearlessly (and faithfully) went on to create the most abundant, impactful and joyous success of her life in a matter of a few short months! Christine knows how to flip the switch from “broke” to “blessed” and shares her wisdom on how to do that in her complimentary Daily Wisdom Reminders. Go to www.BeyondMindset.com to receive your daily dose of inspiration today!

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Thank you Christine for a powerful nugget. So, did you find out ‘who you be?’ I would love to read your comments.

Experience Counts

Posted on January 25, 2012 by The EQ Educator

Recently I was reflecting on my educational background. I grew up in the inner city (Cleveland, Ohio) in a large metropolitan area, where one would probably imagine the conditions being less than positive for any student to receive a “quality” education. We hear this from all around the country, not short of low performing schools, poor teacher quality, and low student achievement. Given these and other barriers to a “quality” education, what can been done for students who attend these types of schools (or any school) such that they can succeed?

From my personal standpoint, EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

I’m not talking about the experience (i.e. teaching experience) level of my teachers; instead, I am talking about the experience I received from my teachers. As a student, all I knew was that my teachers were teachers. I had no knowledge of their academic credentials nor when they began their teaching careers. What I did have knowledge of was how they made me feel as a student.

Was I challenged? Yes. Did they engage me in the classroom? Yes. Did they show an interest in seeing that I achieve? Again, yes. They (teachers) gave me an experience that will forever be imbedded in my memory. One teacher (Ms. Tressler at the time), in particular stands out vividly in my memory. Here was a woman who did not care if you were growing up in the “hood” so to speak. What she did care about was that you’d better come to class prepared to read, write and participate in the day’s activities. She went as far as telling us not to believe everything she is teaching us but to seek to find the answers for ourselves. Ms. Tressler challenged us wholeheartedly. But she also balanced that with a great deal of support.

Understand, however, this was over 25 years ago. Since then, academic requirements, standards, funding levels and polices have changed. But wait! Isn’t teaching still teaching? Can you give students an experience that will compel them to achieve? Can you challenge students to become high achievers? Can you give students an experience so that 25 years, or more, later they can speak positively of that experience? Continue reading →

Effective Educators…Part Two

Posted on December 15, 2011 by The EQ Educator

Yesterday’s post provided you with ten ways to become a more effective educator. Here we are with Part Two and as promised, here are ten more items to help you become a more effective educator. So, without further delay, effective educators:

1. Are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity.

2. Believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!

3. Have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement.

4. Get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.

5. Are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.

6. Tap into the collective brainpower of others by reading books, magazines, and articles–anything that is helpful for their own development.

7. Value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end–to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is fundamentally rewarding for them.

8. Are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops.

9. Do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.

10. Not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.

Now you have 20 new ways to go to the next level as a Top Performing Educator. Don’t make any excuses as to why you cannot…JUST DO IT! Regardless of the condition of your surroundings, you can be a difference maker. This can be explained by a quotation by Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning who said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

My challenge to you…are you willing to change for your students?