A New Project to Recharge the Teaching Batteries

I normally don't go in for pop psychology. I take my chicken soup in a bowl and for my stomach. That being said I was watching this video and got me thinking. The main thrust of the argument is that most people think success leads to happiness. The speaker turns that on it's head and says that happiness increases our capability for success.

This is all well and good but it did remind me of something my wife said. She came home energized from a day of teaching over at BMS and went on to explain that her team had been making an effort to contact parents of students for good reasons as well as the normal behavior and grade issues. The few letters they sent home had met with quick and glowing responses from the parents who received them. There was an outpouring of gratitude for the work my wife and her team was doing for their kids. Not only that, but the mere act of looking out for the kids you could write about shifted her perspective throughout the week. It really changed her outlook and energized her attitude toward work.

I think these things are hard to do because, as teachers, when we think of a new policy or practice we instantly start doing the math. Something like "If ever note takes me 5 minutes and I have 15 kids in each class that could get a positive comment and 7 classes that is 8 hours and 45 minutes of letter writing. I only get 45 minutes to plan etc..." Which of course is completely true.

But it occurred to me that it doesn't need to be a life or career long thing. It's good enough to take a month, or a week even, to help you hit the restart button and adjust your attitude. I know I need this at least 4 times a school year and there is only one spring break so something has to happen

So I'm going to take two weeks and make it a goal to send home 10 letters to parents of students who do a great job, just to see what happens to my outlook and because those kids deserve it.

Now I know this isn't ground breaking and I'm sure better and more motivated teachers than myself do this as a practice. I would love to hear from you if this is the case and if it isn't, maybe you'd like to join me and share your experience. Who's with me?