The Elephant in the Classroom: Recent Episodes
Nick Esposito
Teachers are at their most powerful when they are fueled by their unique purpose. Nick Esposito is an award-winning teacher whose mission is to help teachers bring that purpose into their classroom. The Elephant in the Classroom uses compelling stories to illuminate the mindsets and strategies needed to develop happy and healthy teachers. Purpose and fulfillment are often overlooked parts of a teacher's pedagogy. On this show...we'll talk about it.
We all have been through tough times. And this season on The Elephant in the Classroom we have accepted that and started to look ahead and to look up. It is possible for things to get better. It is possible to turn the bad into good. But we don't always feel like we deserve that transformation. Not only do we deserve it, it is our job, our purpose to pursue it. Today we look at the meaning of the afterlife with the ambitious comedy sitcom, The Good Place. Together we will talk about what we can do to turn our classrooms into good places once again.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Our classrooms are made up of a bunch of characters. Screenwriters develop their characters by constantly thinking about what a character wants in every scene. That's what we have to do for our students. We need to understand what they want so that we can help the learn and grow. The added benefit is that we will have healthier expectations for our time in the classroom.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com.
Everyone hates failing. It is never good to know that there was something that we couldn't do. When we fail there is always a group of people right there ready to tell us that we have to learn from it. And while that's all well and good...what does that do for me in the moment? What does that do to me when the crisis isn't over yet? Working through failure as it happens is its own animal. Today we discuss the art of failing successfully through the story of Apollo 13.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
We all have been impacted by teachers. They teach us so many things, even when we don't realize that they're doing it. Today we visit the Black Hills of South Dakota and Mt. Rushmore to apply its framework to the teachers of our lives.
For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com
Toxic positivity is a big time buzz word these days. Toxic positivity is the act of glossing over problems in order to see the brighter side of things. We hope that if we don't pay attention to the problem that things will naturally get better. But when we do that we minimize the trauma that people are going through. This leads to people checking out and feeling resentful of their leaders. They don't feel safe and taken care of. At the same time there is a toxic negativity that we have to be aware of. Our negativity and cynicism sucks the energy out of the room. What is the purpose of it? Once we lose that purpose the negativity becomes toxic, our 'advice' becomes misguided. Today we analyze the new hit show, Ted Lasso. Ted is an American football coach attempting to become a European Soccer coach. It is a funny premise that provides the opportunity for audiences to explore a wonderful, heartwarming and enduring thesis, what if we lean into healthy positivity.For more information please head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Being bold is a great thing to be. We want to stand out and be noticed! But being bold takes courage and it takes a constant confrontation with potential failure. So how do we do it? And why is it so important that we try? Today we head to the 1990s to share a number of stories of female athletes who all put themselves out there in a truly bold way. The result? An inspiring wave of little girls who wanted to lace up their cleats just like them.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Game of Thrones is a television show about the struggle for power. Its enduring question is where does power come from? That is the same question that we grapple with as teachers. Often we are the kings and queens of our rooms but there are also times when we feel helpless and at the whims of others. Today we explore that struggle for power that we fight every day in the classroom.
For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com.
We all have a million things to do and never enough time to do it. Each of those things pulls us in a different direction. When we go in different directions will we ever go in the direction that we want to? How do we move towards our purpose in the classroom if we never have time to move that way? As much as we were told, "know you priorities" as kids we need to do that even more when we are adults. Our priorities are not just to make sure that the trains run on time but also to ensure that our purpose is spoken for each and every day. Today we head to Disneyland, where Walt Disney built something brand new and magical. In order to accomplish this fantastic feat he needed to stick to his priorities...especially when times got hard.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
In 2001, Hollywood made the brave decision to remake an old Rat Pack film, Ocean's Eleven. The Rat Pack led by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. transformed into a smooth talking band of thieves set to take down the casinos of Sin City. Similarly, the remake brought the likes of famous Hollywood hunks George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and others. This comedic heist movie reveals an important philosophy about teaching. This philosophy is a tough one to understand. We often feel as if luck isn't on our side. In fact, we feel like it is actively working against us. But as Danny Ocean and his crew will show us, we often need to make our own luck. That when you play the game right...success is in the bag.
Teachers begin their careers with a lot of inspiration, hope and optimism. But then reality starts to set in a little bit at a time. Little bit by little bit and we begin our slow descent to the dark side. The temptation of the dark side is alluring. It makes us cut corners and be a lesser version of ourselves. The Star Wars franchise built itself on this theme. And the Star Wars saga shows us that the you can come back from the darkness.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Teachers are true underdogs. There is no way around it. The odds are stacked against us in more ways than one. But every underdog has their day. That moment when things turn around and the impossible becomes possible. What happens after the underdog triumphs? How do they deal with that success? They have to always keep in mind the attitudes, hard work, skills and humility that helped them get there. When we succeed as teachers we need to remember to stay humble and in a state of development. Today, we cover the best underdog story in cinematic history, Rocky.
Yo Adrian!
For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com
Teachers and Parents are seemingly natural enemies. But why? Why don't we trust one another? When the fate of a child is on the line people can act a little nutty. Ironically the truth is that we all want the same thing; what is best for our students. So if we take all of the frustration and anxiety out of the equation imagine what we are able to do together. Today, we tell the harrowing tale of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band. In 1986 when the team tragically left left for Indianapolis, the entire city of Baltimore was left devastated. All hope was lost except for the defiant beat of the Marching Band who had stayed behind. The played year after year until the NFL would bring a new team back to Baltimore. Their dedication and commitment to one another will teach us a lot about working together.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com.
In order for our classrooms to be places of purpose they need to be places of learning. And in order for them to be places of learning they need to be quite places, still places and controlled places. Right? Wrong! It may be easier when our classrooms are quiet. But quiet doesn't always mean behaved or productive. That's why we need to find new and fun ways to engage our students in the classroom. We need to start taking humor more seriously. Today we jump into the world of Seinfeld for some lessons on how to be funny.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
As we begin to dream about what a post-pandemic classroom can look like the thing that we must build at the center of every classroom is joy. A joy of teaching and a joy of learning. A joy of belonging and discovery, challenge and triumph.
Back in 2016, two faith leaders, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu came together for a week of friendship and important conversations. Out of everything these two men could have discussed they decided to spend an entire week talking about the true nature of joy. Coming from different perspectives the two explored joy in a new way. What does it take to find joy? What are some roadblocks to it? There conversations made it into the book, The Book of Joy.
Today we explore their conversation through the lens of a teacher. Teachers have the power to bring joy into their classrooms everyday. Joy is something to grow and cultivate. It isn't always easy, especially when times get hard. But it is the fight worth fighting.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
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Welcome back for Season 2 of The Elephant in the Classroom! On this new season we are going to talk about getting back up and dusting ourselves off. We are going to find ways to bring joy back into the classroom.
The truth is 2020 was rough and to be honest...so has 2021. But as we start a new school year we need to recognize the important lesson that 2020 taught us. And that is some times are bad times. We often believe that times will end on a high note, but sometimes they don't. 2020 is how life in the classroom can feel like sometimes. So how do we deal with that? What can we do to ride it out and not let the bad times consume us and snuff out our passion and purpose?
That's where our second season begins. It's all up from here.
For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
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It is time for summer break on The Elephant in the Classroom! I appreciate your loyal listenership over the course of our first season. We are taking off for the next couple of weeks as we enjoy our summers and prepare for Season 2!
I am so excited for the topics we are covering that I want to burst. But I'll have to wait a couple of weeks. Season 2 will premier on Thursday, August 5. So stay tuned for a teaser mini-episode before then for more information about Season 2 as a whole.
In the meantime, check out any episodes you may have missed and share them with the teachers in your lives.
For more information check out 2ndrockeducation.com.And like us on Instagram @The_Elephant_Insta_Classroom
Teaching is hard on its own. Not to mention if you are a first year teacher trying to learn on the fly during the pandemic. If you have to learn new technologies, pedagogies and very little to turn to for help. After all, your mentors and community are learning on the fly as well. So amidst all of the pandemic pandemonium how do you keep your sanity in the classroom? You pay attention to what matters most.
That is what today's guest, Jordan Gillespie did on her quest to get through the year in one piece while providing her students with an unforgettable learning experience. It is time to Stay After Class with Jordan Gillespie.
For more information check out:
2ndRockEducation.com
Teaching is one of the most personal professions in the world. Every single day we put who we are on the line. That is why when things don't go our way in the classroom we take it so personally. Ironically, discovering our identity and knowing who we really are makes all of the difference. Our identity makes us special and that unique teacher that all of our students need. Today we sit down with Erin Beuglass to discuss how exploring their identity as a person and a teacher has transformed who they are in the classroom. It is time to Stay After Class with Erin Beuglass.
For more information check out
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Our purpose and passion are not static things. They evolve alongside your ever-changing life. This doesn't mean that you abandon your purpose but rather it means that you have grown out of it. Sometimes those passions find their ways back to us. But some passions are so powerful that we hold onto them forever. We spend our time exploring it, we spend our time finding new ways to incorporate into our lives. In Kimberly Bill's case she has found new ways to spread her passion with others. Kim is a brilliant professional violinist. As she pursues her own dreams she finds fulfillment teaching others how to love the violin as well. It is time to Stay After Class with Kimberly Bill.
Check out more of my work at
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It is tough to give that extra effort all of the time. Teachers and coaches always say, 'You need to give 110%!' But the truth is that is impossible, or at least it is all of the time. Eventually your 110% becomes your 100% and it does at your own detriment and burnout. That's why the goal is not giving the most effort, it is about giving the perfect effort. We can give a perfect effort through compassion, commitment, and community. Today we are joined by best friend, Michael Bobich. His life as a marketing whiz and dad extraordinaire has given him ever changing perspectives on what it means to give a perfect effort. This episode will pair greatly with Season 1 - Episode 7. That episode told the story of Coach Bob Ladouceur and the De La Salle high school football team. Michael was a student of Coach Lad and has fun things to say about his time in his class. It is time to Stay After Class with Michael Bobich.
For more of my work check out my website...
2ndrockeducation.com
Imagine you survived your first year of teaching. You are excited to build on your momentum in year number 2. Except the world shuts down due to a global pandemic and you are forced to change everything you thought you knew about teaching. Today, I sit down with Emma Jones (a former student of mine) who is a teacher who served as a calming and positive influence for her students during one of the most chaotic and confusing times. It is time to STAY AFTER CLASS with Emma Jones.
For more of my work check out 2ndrockeducation.com
Sean Gavin had the unique opportunity to start a school from scratch. He was tasked as a founding principal of a charter school in New York City. With this blank slate he was able to decide how he would build his dream school. And that's what he did. His focus was to foster a community and culture of growth. A culture that encourages risk taking and is comfortable with feedback. He joined me to talk about this incredible experience and I know that he will teach all of us a thing or two. It is time to Stay After Class with Sean Gavin!
Check out more of my work at
2ndrockeducation.com
We did it! We made it to the end of season 1. This podcast is all about helping teachers find their purpose and develop skills so that they can defend it. We have covered topics like finding your identity, creating a community around responsibility, carving out your role in school, how to take feedback well, and attitude. Season 2 is already in production and we have a lot of fun episodes waiting for you! Season 2 will begin in August, just in time for school.
But in the meantime I wanted to leave you with some bonus content. I hit the road to speak to inspiring educators about the themes of season one. Each week I'll be posting one of these conversations. That will take us right up until the beginning of Season 2.
Head over to 2ndrockeducation.com to contact me and learn more about my work. And don't forget to like us on instagram @ The_Elephant_Insta_Classroom.
Teachers are heroes! We hear that a lot these days. But it is important for all of us to realize that heroes aren't heroes until they become heroes. That means that there are moments when we aren't heroic. We have to develop and grow into something greater. Some of those moments are scary and others are inspiring. Either way, it is the journey that makes teaching worth it. This episode is the culmination of our time together during our first season. This is the season one finale of The Elephant in the Classroom!
Season 2 is already in production and will premier this August! In the meantime, come back for the next 8 weeks as I sit down with educators to discuss the themes of Season 1.
Class Notes:
- A hero's journey begins where they are. This gives us an opportunity to measure our growth.
- Hero's are then given the cal to adventure. It is a moment that disrupts everything. It is the point at which nothing will ever be the same again.
- We are not always ready to accept the call. Life doesn't happen to us - we must choose to accept it and take a step up and forward.
- The mentor then comes into our lives and guide us through our new world.
- We enter the new world. We try to survive and learn as much as possible.
- The hero then faces a number of trials and tribulations. We are introduced to our villain - they strike at our greatest weakness.
- We then enter the innermost cave. This is the moment that tests what we have learned. We will either survive as better versions of ourselves or perish. The hero transitions from being passive to active.
- The toughest test - face the villain and your greatest fear. This is where we demonstrator our growth.
- After victory is achieved the hero gets to enjoy the reward. Celebrate victories big and small.
- On the hero's journey home they are able to see the growth that they have made. They get to begin the healing process from the scars of the journey. They get to share what they have learned with others. The come back home...changed.
Our pursuit of purpose must be proactive. It doesn't just happen. We need to put ourselves in the best positions for good things to happen. Every teacher wants to make an impact on the lives of their students. But what is that impact? What makes our impact different than someone else's? Today we take a look at the comedy Sister Act. This movie is funny and uplifting and shows us the idea that everyone is essential. It is our responsibility to find to way to make our unique impact on our community. This is The Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- The pursuit of purpose must be proactive.
- We must find our place. A place where we can make an impact.
- No one will do it for us.
- We often feel the need to conform and to give up our purpose for the betterment of the group.
- Instead, we need to give the best of ourselves to our community. That makes our community stronger.
- Adversity makes us want to sacrifice our own purpose. We sacrifice ourselves first.
- We need to lean in to our purpose when tough times come our way. Times are always tough so when will you pick your purpose up again?
What happens when we feel like we capture our purpose? I mean what happens when we finally do it? Our mindset must shift from the pursuit to the protection. The number one way that we can protect our purpose is to empower others to share in it. Today we head to the New Belgium Brewing Company who have built their business around the idea of empowerment.
Class Notes:
- When we find fulfillment we must switch our focus from the pursuit of purpose to its protection.
- The best way we can sustain our purpose by empowering others to pursue their own.
- We must provide the structure to support our students search for fulfillment.
- Celebrate the victories.
- Show them you care.
- Open the book to give people a chance to grow.
- Give students ownership of the group.
We all have good days, we all have bad days, it is what we do with the other days that counts. The truth is that we are who we are everyday. Therefore as we try to make our classrooms places of learning, purpose and fulfillment we need to pay attention to who we are and what we do every day...not each day but every day. In a classroom, we can tame the chaos with consistency. Today we learn about the founding of McDonald's whose speedy system revolutionized the dining industry. This is The Elephant in the Classroom!
Class Notes:
- Be consistent with your mood.
- The more consistent that we are the more our students can relax and grow.
- Let the easy things stay consistent (systems and expectations).
- Obstacles to consistency
- Patience! Solutions take time work.
- Avoid the absolute mindset (all or nothing)!
- Be aware of the importance of consistency.
- Consistency builds momentum.
- Be kind to yourself when things don't work out right away.
We all experience challenging times. We are lucky that when we are able to have them together. It is during these times that teachers must help their students process what is happening. We do this by having the necessary and often difficult conversations. Today, we head to Iowa to meet Ms. Jane Elliot, a teacher who is no stranger to tough conversations. She has made a career out of teaching students about the harsh dynamics of racism. This is the Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- Be on the look out for the unscripted / teachable moments.
- Sometimes we need to put our curriculum and our purpose on hold.
- We need to challenge our students to engage with those difficult conversations.
Every teacher has a purpose. But every day that purpose is threatened by stress and anxiety. Our career is a balancing act between purpose and those very real threats. During that struggle we must understand that there will be times when we have to admit that 'enough is enough'. We have to admit that there are times when we can't do everything. Today, we explore the invasion of Normandy during World War II. This vast undertaking was stressful to say the least. Success was vital for the fate of the world. Despite the grave stakes that everyone was facing, they had to admit that there was a point when enough was enough. They realized that perfect wasn't happening today. This is the Elephant in the Classroom!
Class Notes:
- When we start teaching we have a purpose. But as we teach, bites are taken out of our purpose.
- As teachers, we are asked to wear many hats.
- Therefore we must pay attention to our PIE OF OBLIGATION. We only have 100% of the pie. If we add something to the pie then we have to take something away. If we operate for an extended period of time at over 100% we will begin to experience burnout.
- We need to learn the Power of 'No'.
- We should choose what work to prioritize based off of what serves our philosophy of educations.
- Humility is different than humiliation.
- You only have one life to live. Meaning that sometimes the best thing you can do for your own wellbeing is to leave the classroom.
We all hate receiving feedback. We feel like any sort of criticism (even if it is constructive) is an attack on who we are as people. This means that we think of feedback as an attack and go into fight or flight mode. Instead we need to build purposeful humility. With humility we can open our ears to what people are actually trying to tell us. In those cases we can use their feedback and opinions to help us grow. Today, we meet up with Charles Schulz, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Often throughout the Peanuts Comic Strip, Charles Schulz listened to feedback to improve his stories. During this episode we will discuss the strategies and mindsets that are needed to receive feedback in a useful and healthy way. This is the Elephant in the Classroom!
Class Notes:
- No one likes receiving feedback.
- Teaching is very personal so we get defensive when people try to help us with feedback.
- It can be used to help us grow.
- Life is about the search and the rendering. Feedback helps us with that.
- Listen for more strategies on how to take feedback well!
We are all perfect teachers when things are well...perfect. But what happens when we are not? Our happiness, health and purpose are all on the line every day. They are constantly threatened when the daily chaos heads our way. We just need to wait until the chaos dies down and we can get back to what matters. WRONG! Chaos is natural and will happen all of the time. It's not your fault it's just reality. Therefore we need to find ways to thrive in the face of chaos. Today, we use the book ANTIFRAGILE by Nassim Taleb to study the ways that we can move beyond resilient and become better. This is The Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- Fragile teachers view any disturbance as backbreaking. We take everything personally. We jump from one strategy to another just to find something that works.
- We gain experience over time and learn how to defend ourselves against those disturbances. We gather a tremendous amount of materials and plan for every possible problem that may come our way. We become resilient.
- But the bigger and better you become the bigger your fall can be. Therefore we must move beyond resiliency and become antifragile. Antifragile is when you don't resist challenges but embrace them. You view adversity as opportunities for information and growth.
- Disturbances are good!
- Black Swan Events are things that happen that are 1.) Big 2.) Cause a tremendous amount of change and 3.) Truly unpredictable
- This means that we can't predict Black Swan Events. Which means that we can't predict every problem that looms in our lives. Therefore it is better to prepare ourselves to thrive when they arrive. Instead of spending our energy to prevent them from happening.
- Randomness is our friend. We often view randomness as a threat and think of all of the things that could go wrong. BUT within randomness also lies those splendid teaching moments that we live for.
- Mistakes are good.
Our attitude is one of the best things we can use to improve our days in the classroom. Every group needs optimists. They are able to see the good in every situation, even the worst. But groups also need pessimists and realists who push everyone forward and keep the group grounded. Unfortunately teachers don't work in groups. We work as united islands. So how do we summon all three of those attitudes in the classroom? The answer to that question can help teachers live inspired in the classroom. Today we join Starfleet to analyze the attitudes of some of Star Trek's best characters. This is the Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- Our attitude is one of the few things that we have control over.
- Optimists look at the world for the silver lining. Optimists see the good in every situation. This attitude helps a group celebrate the small victories. This acknowledgement helps the group gain momentum.
- Pessimists look at the world as a half empty glass. Pessimists keep the group honest by seeing room improvement in every situation (even the best). Pessimists give the group a much needed sense of urgency.
- Realists see the world as it is. They help the optimists keep their feet on the ground and help the pessimists keep their chins up.
- The truth is that in every group we need all three kinds of people. Each of these attitudes play a very important role in the success of the team.
- But in a classroom a teacher needs to be all three (we usually work on our own). We need to learn how to summon the right attitude at the right time. If we don't we find ourselves extremely frustrated.
Every teacher dreams of working in a classroom of purpose. We dream of a classroom in which every one of our students come to learn, have fun and be themselves. But how do we get there? We need to meet our students where they are, and challenge them to grow. In order for us to accomplish these things we need foster a sense of responsibility in each one of our students. They need to feel like who they are, and what they do...matters. They will begin to believe that they have something to offer, something to contribute and that their presence makes the classroom a better place to be. Today, we dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to analyze the ways we can build classrooms of purpose. Avengers Assemble! This is the Elephant in the Classroom!
Class Notes:
- Classrooms are places where people come together to make one another better.
- In order to make that time together worth it, everyone must feel a sense of responsibility and accountability to the group.
- People need to feel as if they can be depended on.
- We need to meet our students where they are.
- We must challenge them.
- Responsibility means questioning yourself.
- Responsibility must transfer from teacher to student.
- Our students have to make the decision for themselves.
If you cut your finger what do you do? You probably put a band-aid on it. It is odd that we don't think to do the same when it comes to addressing our mental health. We often spend a lot of our energy trying to look okay instead of working to actually BE okay. Today we analyze the classic Disney movie, Mary Poppins as a source of guidance and inspiration to help teachers address their mental health. This is The Elephant in the Classroom!
- We spend our time scrambling from one problem to the next. But if that is all we have time to do, when do we get to sit still, relax, be creative and find fulfillment.
- Your mental health is important!
- We need to be aware of the mental health issues that we are facing.
- The statistics of teacher mental health.
- The causes
- How those causes manifest themselves.
- You have to take your medicine (whatever that may be).
- Don't spend all of your time looking good and spend your energy trying to actually be good.
- Stress is contagious - so is kindness!
- Solutions don't always look the way that we expect them to. So we try to quit before we have a chance for the solution to work.
You may not consider yourself an entrepreneur. You may not think that you are worthy of such an exciting title. Often when we think about entrepreneurs we think of Silicon Valley or Shark Tank. But every day in our nation's classrooms teachers are reinventing the future. In today's episode we speak directly to that innovated side of all of us. We will discuss strategies that the most successful entrepreneurs use and how we can use them in the classroom.
There are many things about class that can be scary. Storytelling...should not be one of them. Teachers wear many different hats in the classroom. One that is often overlooked is our role of entertainer. Our students love playing video games, streaming shows and going to concerts. Why don't they enjoy class time in the same manner? Well, those are entertaining and class is often...not. Today we are going to dive into the storytelling techniques of Alfred Hitchcock , the Master of Suspense, that we can use in the classroom to engage our students until the very end. This is the Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- Storytelling brings your lessons to life.
- Stories connect our students to the material.
- The Bomb Under the Table - we must activate our audience.
- Defy your students expectations - keep them on their toes.
- You are only allowed one coincidence - coincidences let your students off of the hook. It takes the learning out of their control.
Teachers often fall victim to the fallacy that the best teacher is the most stressed out teacher. However there is a different between the most effort and the consistent effort, the rushed effort and the perfect effort. Coach Bob Ladouceur is arguably the most successful coach in the history of high school football. His De La Salle Spartans won 151 consecutive games from 1992 to 2004. When asked about the source of his team success he responds with, "we give a perfect effort". During this episode we tell the story of the Spartans and discuss ways for teachers to give a perfect effort through compassion, community, commitment and excellence.
Class Notes:
- There is a lot of pressure to be perfect.
- If perfection is our goal we will live very unfulfilled lives.
- Perfect classrooms, lesson plans and constant progress should not be goals but rather byproducts of something far more valuable.
- We can't just demand perfection we must empower others to give a perfect effort.
- We make the mistake that the most effort is the best effort.
- Teachers have a finite amount of energy.
- We must use the energy we do have to maximize the things that make us great.
- Give a perfect effort through compassion.
- Give a perfect effort through excellence.
- Give a perfect effort through commitment.
- Give a perfect effort through community.
Very often the world tries to force us into a bucket. They make us feel like we have to choose between this and that. Are you a cool teacher or a strict teacher? Are you relaxed or are you prepared? Do you work hard or do you enjoy your time after school? The truth is that those are trick questions. More often than not you can choose both or sometimes neither. This doesn't always mean that you are indecisive it simply means that you are strong enough to decide who you are. You can be more than one thing! The characters of my book, The Elephant in the Classroom, are teachers who try hard for their students but also suffer from the stresses of the classroom. They, like all of us have to discover how to be more than one thing. This is The Elephant in the Classroom.
Class Notes:
- We often feel as if we are stuck between two tough decisions. We feel like we must either choose one or the other.
- The choosing can be a significant cause of stress.
- The truth is that we can choose to be more than one thing.
- What happens when we are no longer rookies but do not yet feel like veterans?
- You need to work hard AND we need to know how to rest.
- You don't need to be something that you are not. You just need to be everything that you are. You can only be everything once you start using the word AND.
- We can't be too stubborn that we aren't willing to try anything new. We also cannot be so impressionable that we try everything new.
- How do you be YOU and your teacher-self?
Do you ever feel like your timing is always off? You feel as if you only you had showed up a second earlier you could have avoided disaster. When we encounter enough of those little, frustrating moments we move closer and closer to burnout. Luckily there are ways that we improve our timing - to improve our chances of good times in our classroom. Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies and it is all about improving one's timing. With the help of Doc Brown and Marty McFly I will go through a number of strategies to improve your timing in the classroom.
Class Notes:
- If we improve our timing we can free ourselves to more happy moments in the classroom.
- When we start out our day behind we are scrambling for the rest of the day.
- Every teacher can catch lightning in a bottle. By putting ourselves in better positions we can catch lightning more often.
- Here are some ways you can improve your timing...
- Teach to your mood
- Teach what you know
- Use Loose Outlines
In the classroom, our identity is what guides us and is the thing that helps us make our unique impact. For Pixar, the making of Toy Story helped them discover the importance of forging an identity.
Class Notes:
1.) New teachers can become disillusioned when success doesn't come right away. This disconnect between their fantasy and reality leads to anxiety, dread and burnout.
2.) Teachers then look at successful teachers, read teaching blogs, follow IG teachers and try to copy them. "If they can do it, I can do it."
3.) That is a good strategy. After all, teaching is a beg, borrow and steal business. BUT that only works if...
4.) You remember what makes YOU successful as a person. What are your passions? What are your talents? What is the good that you want to make in the world?
5.) Your identity must fuel the direction you take in your classroom. Your identity guides you to your style, strategies and what to steal from others.
6.) We often think that working hard leads to our inspiration. But in fact it is the inspiration that empowers our hard work to be impactful.
Adversity is around every corner in the classroom. One of the ways to build moment as a class is to CREATE as a class. When we create as a class we naturally find ways for everyone to contribute, feel a sense of responsibility and seek fulfillment. Holocaust survivor, Henri Landwirth took the darkest moment of his life to make a promise to the world. He promised to give children the childhood that he never had. In conjunction with the Make a Wish Foundation, Henri built a storybook resort in Central Florida for every child who chose to visit Disney World with their wish. One week at a time Henri helped grant the wish of thousands of children.
Class Notes:
- From pain and challenges come an opportunity to create something new and beautiful.
- We must use our talents and passions to create something. We can't sit on our passions and talents. If we do, passion withers and talent fades away.
- When groups create things together they find a sense of belonging.
- It helps everyone contribute to something bigger than ourselves.
Having a great class doesn't happen by accident and it isn't luck. There are 3 human needs that everyone must feel in order for them to feel fulfilled. When those 3 needs are present, both teachers and students are able to relax and truly enjoy their time in the classroom. At the height of the Cold War the Soviet Union hockey team was the most feared team in the world. But despite an unprecedented level of success the Soviet players were left feeling unfulfilled. With some help the Russian players were able to defect and find a home playing for the National Hockey League. The Detroit Redwings brought them all together to form what history would call the Russian Five. The NHL has never been the same again.
Class Notes:
- Teachers must prepare strategies that will keep them and their students happy and healthy.
- This will empower our students to seek fulfillment in the classroom. Teachers know that this important but they don't often take the time to plan it out like they do everything else.
- Self Determination Theory (SDT) suggests that there are three things that people need to feel fulfilled where they are.
- Competent - people need to feel like they are developing. They need to feel like they have skills that are valued.
- Authentic - people need to feel like themselves.
- Connected - people need to feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves.
- The job of a great leader is to know your people well enough so that you can blend all of their unique contributions for the betterment of the group.
Both teachers and students seek to be inspired. They want their work to mean something...to advance something. Our time in the classroom should do just that. We must be purposeful in the way we support that very human desire. Author and optimist, Simon Sinek's most recent book Infinite Game provides insight into how we can rally others to a just cause.
Class Notes:
- A just cause is NOT your purpose. Your purpose is your origin story and it is rooted in the past (important but not what we're talking about here).
- Instead a just cause is your vision for a future that you are willing to work and sacrifice for.
- Your just cause must be actionable, inspirational and specific.
- Make your just cause public so that everyone can internalize it. When people internalize it, they can make it their own.
- Every just cause must be....
- For something - it is easy to be against things, but it doesn't last. Being FOR things inspires people.
- Inclusive - everyone who wants to contribute should be welcomed.
- Service Oriented - a just cause's energy is outward towards others.
- Must Endure - it endures through challenges
- Big, Idealistic and Unattainable - a true just cause can never be attained. It is something that we will always be in pursuit of.
Teaching is challenging. There is no denying that. When adversity strikes people often send their pursuit of fulfillment to the back of their priorities list. But it is when life gets challenging that we need to lean our purpose. Our purpose is what makes us unique, effective and inspirational educators. We need to learn how to find it and more importantly how to protect it. If we don't we will find ourselves on the path towards burn out. It is time to help teachers find that fire again. This is the Elephant in the Classroom.