Valentine's Day

A fun Valentine's Day activity for your students is to tell them that they have been promoted to president of a new greeting card company and that Valentine's Day is their first holiday on the job. Have them come up with greetings for a new line of cards. Be sure to give them specific intended recipients for each card (principal, parents, younger siblings, grocery store cashier, etc.) How do the slogans differ depending on the recipient?
As many of you have experienced, Valentine's Day can be difficult for teachers. Not only is it nearly impossible to ensure that valentines are distributed fairly, but many of us still carry the scars from when our elementary school friends seemed more loved than we did. To deal with both issues, I thought it would be a good idea to try sharing a Valentine's Day anecdote with our students. It might make them feel better to hear that the pressures they feel on a day like this are universal.

Weekend Wisdom

As I have been student teaching, one important piece of wisdom I feel that I can offer based off some of my experiences is this: be confident in your lesson. If you seem unsure that it's going to work, then you're practically guaranteeing that it won't. The students will respond to your attitude, whatever that attitude it. 

I notice that on days I am calm, relaxed, and confident, the lessons and activities progress way better than the days I am moving walking them back from recess super fast and am tense. I see such a major difference, even if my attitude stays positive, my body language and ora that I am giving off speaks loudly to the students.  

A Song To Help Get You Through

This is such an empowering song for me. The lyrics are powerful and comforting, the video will warm your heart, and the message is one you can carry with you long after the song is over. I hope you find Brooke Fraser's "Shadowfoot" as enjoyable as I do! 

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet

toward home; a land that I've never seen.

I am changing: less asleep, 

made of different stuff that when I began

and I have sensed it all along, 

fast approaching is the day. 

CHORUS: When the world has fallen out from under me, 

I'll be found in you, still standing. 

When the sky rolls up and mountain fall on their knees, 

when time and space are through

I'll be found in you.

There's distraction buzzing in my head

saying in the shadows, it's easier to stay.

But I've heard rumors of true reality, 

whispers of a well-lit way. 

CHORUS

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in you, still standing. 

Every fear and accusation under my feet, 

when time and space are through, 

I'll be found in you.