I’m sure you have heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is a saying that you hear throughout elementary school playgrounds and probably one that you uttered when you were a child. Throughout my years as an educator, I have come to realize that this … More Your Words Matter
A few years ago, my wife and I stumbled upon the TV series “Friday Night Lights” on Netflix. What started as an unexpected downtime due to a satellite glitch turned into a month-long obsession. We binge-watched all 75 episodes and, as I confess, we were absolutely hooked. If you haven’t seen the show, it revolves … More Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!
Yesterday, my family went golfing to celebrate my oldest son’s 21st birthday. Andrew has taken up golf over the last year and has been playing a few rounds a week, so he was excited when we told him we would take him out for a round of golf with the whole family. My first question … More Mulligans
Do you remember the 80’s sitcom, Cheers? Whenever I hear its catchy theme song, I’m immediately reminded of our small town and school community here at Indian Creek. We share a special bond, one that’s similar to the love and camaraderie that defined the show’s cast. And it’s something that makes working and living here … More Where Everybody Knows Your Name
What is the vision for your classroom? What do you want the students to experience when they are in your class? The answer to those questions should go way deeper than teaching students the state standards. Do you have a classroom vision? If I was asked that question as a teacher, I would have to … More Classroom Vision
One of my favorite books is The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. One law mentioned in this book is called the “Law of the Picture,” meaning that people do what they see. This is a simple concept to grasp, but it’s so important for us as educators. While reading the chapter, … More The Law of the Picture
Have you ever noticed that when you do kind things for others, not only do they feel good, but you feel good as well? This concept is explained in great detail in the book entitled How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath. If you haven’t read this book before, I highly recommend it. It is … More Bucket Fillers
Most of you have heard of this saying or seen this sign even if you are not a Notre Dame fan. This sign hangs at the bottom of the stairwell that leads to Notre Dame Stadium. Before each game, players hit the sign to remind them of their goal for the game, to “play like … More “Play Like a Champion Today”
“How many of you are completely comfortable with calling yourselves a leader?” This is the question Drew Dudley poses as he begins his “Ted Talk” presentation in the video below. I encourage you to take a few minutes (6:14) to watch this video before continuing to read. If you were in the audience, would you have … More Leadership and Lollipops
One of my all time favorite motivational clips is from the sports movie, Facing the Giants. It’s a Christian-based movie about a high school football coach who goes through difficult times both on and off the field. There are several great scenes in the movie, but my favorite scene comes after the team has lost three straight games … More Facing the Giants
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