"How Great I Am"

How Great I Am

This is an incredibly inspirational video.  This time of year can be a struggle for teachers to get the momentum necessary to push through.  There are high-stakes testing looming in the near future, which results in stressed out teachers and stressed out students.  We try to minimize the stress and effects by taking the emphasis off of the test itself.  We say things to the students like "you got this!"  "It's time to show what you know."  We use data to drive our decisions so we can best align resources to instructional need.  We progress monitor our students regularly on both their grade level and their instructional level.  We use this progress monitoring data to create differentiated instructional groups that are not static.  Students are moved in and out of groups based on newly defined needs.  

Additionally, we have support coaches in place to support the staff in almost all disciplines.  The coaching staff is stellar, the most solid I have ever seen.  Uniquely, they are skilled in their discipline but also well-skilled in the analysis and use of data to make instructional decisions. 

We have an MTSS structure in place that allows for routine and frequent analysis of such data.  The monthly CORE MTSS meetings look at the class data as a whole.  We look to identify whether out Tier I instruction is meeting the needs of the whole based on DRA2, Benchmark data, Bi-weekly Progress Monitoring Data, and District data.  

The systems are in place, the students are being wrapped around, the teachers are working so hard ... So what do we do now?  How is it that we take this system of structure and data and breathe life into it?
I would like to begin by reminding the teachers and staff of why they got into this profession.  Most teachers did not become teachers to analyze data  (though it has become an agreed upon "norm" because we know it is "best practice."  

My opinion is that teaching is a job that sits at the heart of all others.  It is exhausting and emotionally "trying" at times and it is also the most rewarding adventure that one will ever take.  To impact the life of a child is the greatest gift of all and it is truly what I believe is a "calling" to serve.  
So when things get hard.  Stress gets high and frustration is rearing its ugly head ... we have to sit back and ask ourselves "why" we began doing this.  

The quote from this movie that I want to leave you with is this ...
"Being perfect is not about the scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship to your self and to your family and your friends.  Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything you could do ...there wasn't one more thing you could have done. Can you live in that moment- as best you can with clear eyes and love in your heart- with joy in your heart? If you can do that [ladies and] gentlemen, then you are perfect."  

Be perfect ... Do EVERYTHING you can.  Keep your focus on the "work."  The important "work," which is making the difference in the life of a child.  My fellow learners ... "WE GOT THIS!!"  Our value is not measured by the district.  It is not measured by a state standardized test.  Our value is in our ability raise these children up to meet potential they never realized they had.  

These kids are great.  They can do anything.  ...and so can YOU!  Believe.  "Have high expectations ...no one rises to low ones." You inspire me.   


How Great I Am is a youtube link.  I have hunted the webmaster and channel operator down to seek permission to include this video in this blog.  The message at the bottom of their webpage indicates one should "use at their own risk."  So, while I am attempting to seek proper permissions, I do want to make this video available to my staff.  I will continue to seek permission.