Pick Wellbeing

I forgot my Fitbit on Wednesday and I couldn't track my steps for the day. I didn't track my steps when I found my dead cat in the neighbours garden. I didn't track the steps I took from my house to go get her. I didn't track the steps pacing in my garden crying and holding her, one last time. Those steps counted though, they were needed. The steps taken to inform my employer that I won't be in the next day was important and the steps they took to support me are cherished. Important steps but I didn't count them. I didn't count the steps I took to bury my cat. You don't need to count sad steps. The replaying of my(and her) steps those past 48 hrs, and her short life, was and is inevitable and essential. My brain /heart is sorting out the files and taking steps to heal the pain. Stepping into grief, day 4 is still feeling a bit like day 1. The steps I took in puddles of my own(and others) tears are imprinted and they are steps to healing. The steps of g...

 Last week was the first week back at school after a couple of weeks off. I felt for the first time in a long time that I crossed my T's and crossed my I's... I know I've used the expression wrong but in a way that is what teaching is.   I've done my planning for the next couple of weeks but I know things will change on the day.  I've communicated with all my students about behaviour and our expectations but I know an argument is brewing somewhere in between some of my students.  My class admin is ready and filled out but I know more things will added to the list.  It is the work of a teacher, knowing you are done but never done.  Where do you find balance? What really helps? Raising your heartrate 💓 any way you can! Gardening hits the spot ⚘, cooking soothes my soul 🍲 and other things have exorcised some demons.  If you are not sure what helps you... what helped in the past and can you start doing it again? Why not do it again? It is not too la...

Courage. Pride. Resilience is our schools' core values.  It  allows us to have a golden thread run through what we do for the students. The WHY behind all we do.  I am curious...  Do you know your own core values?  Below is a list of values, some of them stand out more than others  Which 3 really stand out?  Professional Excellent Loyal Daring Reliable Helpful Humble Honest Bold Adventurous Kind Knowledgeable Open-minded Resilient Courageous Self-controlled Dependable Challenge Encourages Enthusiastic Optimistic Competitive Creative Friendly Generous Inspiring Humorous Nurturing Integrity Consistent Positive Responsible Cooperative Ethical Health Collaborative Family Happiness Thoughtful Fun Self-respect Resourceful Freedom Involved Partnership Satisfaction Community Delight Transparency Quality Caring Friendship Ambitious Support Accountable Balanced Efficient Best Passionate Consistent Curious Transformation Decisive Flexible Innovative Diversity Res...

It was my turn to do our virtual assembly yesterday and this assembly worked really well. I thought it would be interesting but our students really enjoyed the interaction. I work in a Special Needs Secondary - it could work work for primary and secondary students.  This might work for your school as well.  The theory behind this assembly is that you care about the students as you know their special interest...   Here is the 'recipe': 1. Make a PowerPoint of all the interest of your students.      - Ask the teachers for a list 2. One picture per slide, as the slide comes up, the students guess who like that picture/movie/food. 3. Introduce the Assembly linking to the Value of your school, one of your school values will link to this, it should. If not, let's have a talk about your school values.       - I linked the slides to our value 'courage' - how did the characters show courage?     -   I also linked it to a...

14 December 2023 This last week of school is really a struggle.  Christmas Fayre... If you know... You bloody know. I like having the time with my form group but I really struggle to have them the whole day. Asking me 10 things at once, one leaving the class, one avoiding me, another angry about something and another asking me if I believe in Santa. All the while trying to create and make games, decorate random stuff and 'have fun'... Then one student saying that no-one will come into our class anyway! 😠 I did not loose my 💩 but I am thinking of letting the elf 🧝 poo on his desk for not having the Christmas spirit.  There was a very special moment in class when a student whispered to me that they still believe in Santa and they are happy that he is coming to the Fayre. That one moment made the day worth it.  I didn't think they would still believe, they are 14.  Our work allows us to carry these small things in our hearts.💗 I am looking for the these little thing...

I am reflecting on something I read... Anything that is demanded from you can be addressed by resources. If I have/had the resources I would be able to fix a problem. A few weeks ago I was off work for a few days as I could not imagine being able to teach again, I forgot that I actually like it and can do it. That feeling of total overwhelm kept me in a very rigid space. Rigid thinking, rigid ideas and very few resources to choose from. Now that I am back in the swing of it (not a full swing but I am on the swing). I can find more time to think of solutions and find myself reaching out more.  Could it be that 'simple'?  You have a demand.. be it on your time, your knowledge, your skills and the best way to address this, is to find the resources? Is this what other people do and then they get better at what they do... They don't assume they can just do it all? The get resources: they learn or connect or read or try a new way. So it's just getting better at one thing a da...