One Solitary Life

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!
The one reason for the season...

Learning to Dance in the Rain

Learning to Dance in the Rain Movie

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? When we are faced with life's challenges, our attitude is what determines our peace and happiness.
"Make the best of a bad situation."
"Make lemonaide out of lemons."
"Look on the bright side."
With an attitude of gratitude, we will all find happiness in the little things in life.

Finish Strong!

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

The choices we make and how we confront hardship determines how we will finish! Will you give up or will you finish strong?

Kindness

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

Kindness is the key to filling buckets!

Choices!

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

Nearly every day, I counsel students about making good choices and how that can impact your life. We all need to remember that the choices we make can change our life...for better or worse...it's our choice. We can make the choice to fill someone's bucket or we can make the choice to dip from someone's bucket. What choice will you make? Will your choice make life better for you and/or others?

Inspiration of Nature

Nature's Inspiration Movie

Beautiful pictures of nature - what an inspiration!

Great leaders pull together to get the job done!

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

A great leader builds up the team in order to accomplish great things!
Do you build up your leadership team?

Attitude is Everything!

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

Your attitude is everything and it defines who you are! What is your attitude?

The Heart of a Teacher

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

This is one of my most favorite movies! It gets to the heart of what teaching is all about. Think of a teacher who had the most impact in your life - I bet it was the teacher who made you feel special, not the teacher who taught you the most!

We need to think about our interactions with students and remember that not only the student is listening and watching, but others are, too!

The Power of Kindness - Another Way to Fill Buckets

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

Building Relationships - More About Filling Buckets!

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

The Best Way Out is Always Through

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

An Inspiring Movie About the Fundamentals of Success

Simple Truths - We Hope You Enjoyed the movie!

A Winner

"Sometimes a winner is just a dreamer who won't quit." - from the inspiring film Rudy

And Then Some...

"Success can be defined in three simple words:  And then some.  The top people did what was expected of them, and then some.  They were considerate and kind, and then some.  They were good friends and helpful neighbors, and then some."

Darnell Johnson, school superintendent, Greenwood, South Carolina

A Drop Does Make a Difference!

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.  But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

Mother Teresa

The 8 C's of Successful Teams

Any team, whatever it is or whatever purpose it has, will be successful if it exhibits the following 8 C's:

1. Celebrate success - no matter how small or large, celebrating successes of the team and team members is critical in making a cohesive team
2. Clear expectations - the team must actively set expectations and make them clear to all
3. Commitment - each member of the team must be committed to the goal of the team
4. Competence - critical to the success of the team, each member strives to be the best he/she can be
5. Collaboration - working together to problem-solve and create is critical to the success of the team
6. Communication - open and honest communication is vital to the team
7. Coordination - working as a well-oiled machine, in sync with one another to accomplish a common goal
8. Change - a team with a common goal and few members can bring about dramatic change

Teamwork!  Common people can attain uncommon results!

Other Characteristics that Distinguish Highly Effective Teams from Traditional Work Groups:

• The absence of internal competition, but the presence of external competition!
• Having a team agenda, not a personal agenda!
• Innovative, not static!
• Attuned to participative management, not autocratic management!
• Filled with self-starters, not kick-starters!
• Aware of the link between team success and organizational success!
• Filled with members who are interdependent, not independent or overdependent...with members who can both ask for help and offer assistance!
• Where members enjoy (rather than tolerate) their jobs and who they work with!
• The highly effective team has a sense of urgency - this facilitates performance.  It can effectively use timelines or team calendars!
• Teams thrive on challenge, they do not avoid risks.  They take on a willingness to fail when they attempt new challenges!

All this to say, we have the best team at Drew Central Elementary School!  We have a team that cares about our students and each other!  They strive to provide the best possible learning opportunites for our students.  They are true professionals!

Favorite Quotes

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I LOVE QUOTES!

Good Advice for Principals...
     "If you don't feed the teachers, they eat the students!"  Author Unknown

Good Advice for Teachers & Principals...
     "The best teacher is the one who NEVER forgets what it is like to be a student.  The best
       administrator is the one who NEVER forgets what it is like to be a teacher."  Neila A. Connors
    

A Prayer for Educators

This is a prayer I shared with my teachers and staff...

Heavenly Father, we thank You for these educators

who lead our school.  We ask You, Father, that You would give them

words filled with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that

they may know how they should respond to a broken-hearted

or rebellious child, a concerned parent, or a discouraged

teacher.

May their words be words that are helpful, for building others up

according to their needs.  We pray Father that you would give

them a spirit, like eagle wings, to fearlessly soar across the paths

of many with the message of God's love.

Father, we pray that You teach them to number their days and

recognize how few they are; help them to spend them as they should.

Father, we pray that You fill them with your strength so that they

can keep going no matter what... always full of joy of the Lord

and always thankful.

We pray that they would be able to laugh at their mistakes and

to accept criticism, but may the "spirit of criticism" never stop

them from doing what is right.

Father, we pray that these educators may walk in a

manner worthy of the God who calls them to their important

positions.

Let each of these educators be a "Giver".  May they

find time to walk through the halls of the school giving a hug or

a reassuring smile to a child.  Let them not be afraid to put their

arms around someone or hold a hand, as if to say, "it will be

okay".  Father, let not the paperwork become so heavy as to

crush their "spirit of giving".

And Father, forget them not; for they too are human.  Send

someone to cross their path to say a cheery "good morning...",

that really means: "I'm glad you're here!"  And a teacher or a

child who would say, "guess what I did..." which really means

"I'd like to share this with you because you're important to me."

But most important, send them a hand with a loving touch.

Send them the hand that understands for it was pierced.  Send

them that hand that hugged small children, taught the wise and

calmed the sea.

Send them, Father, the loving hand of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.



Reason Why We Read

Ron Boren composed and sang this wonderful song especially for the Arkansas Reading Association's Fall Conference in November.  Our theme is:  Building Literacy...One Story at a Time.  Awesome song!

Reason Why We Read

How Full is Your Bucket?

Has anyone ever made a negative comment or criticized you in some way?  How did it make you feel?  Have you ever done or said something that you deeply regretted and wanted to take back?  How did that make you feel?  Probably, in both cases it made you feel bad/sad/mad/etc.  Well, that is called "Bucket Dipping" and it makes everyone feel awful!
However, if we are in the business of "Bucket Filling", we have positive things to say to and about others.  Conversely, when others say or do positive things to you, that is also "Bucket Filling".  This concept can apply to everyone - teachers, staff, students, administrators, parents, community members, etc.  In order to build a positive school culture, there must be lots of "Bucket Filling"!

The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket

1. Each of you has an invisible bucket. Depending on what others say and do, it is constantly emptied or filled.  When your bucket is full, you feel great.  When it's empty, you feel awful.
2. Each of you has an invisible dipper.  When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets - by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions - you also fill your own bucket.  But, when you use that dipper to dip from others' buckets - by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions - you diminish yourself.
3. A full bucket gives you a positive outlook and renewed energy.  Every drop added to your bucket makes you stronger and more optimistic.
4. But, an empty bucket poisons your outlook, saps your energy, and undermines your will.  That's why every time someone dips from your bucket, it hurts you.
5. We face a choice with every moment of every day:  you can fill one another's buckets, or you can dip from them.  It's an important choice - one that profoundly influences your relationships, productivity, health, and happiness.

Some interesting facts:

1. The #1 reason people leave their jobs:  They don't feel appreciated.
2. Bad bosses could increase the risk of stroke by 33%.
3. 65% of Americans received no recognition in the workplace last year.
4. 9 out of 10 people say they are more productive when they're around positive people.
5. We experience approximately 20,000 individual moments every day.
6. The magic ratio:  5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction.
7. Extending longevity:  Increasing positive emotions could lengthen life span by 10 years.

Five Strategies for Filling Buckets!

1. Prevent bucket dipping
2. Shine a light on what is right
3. Make best friends
4. Give unexpectedly
5. The Golden Rule

Epilogue

Imagine what your world would be like if you engaged in daily bucket filling for one full year.  You might see the following changes:

• Your workplace will be a lot more productive and fun!
• You'll have lots of friends!
• Everyone around you will be more satisfied and engaged!
• Your personal relationships will be stronger!
• Your relationships will be closer!
• You will be healthier, happier, and could possibly live longer!

There is lots of scientific evidence that backs the concept of "Bucket Filling".  Take every opportunity to increase positive emotions of others by filling their buckets!  You can make a huge difference and it may even change the world. 

So, don't waste any time - every moment counts!  Get out there and fill some buckets!



 

Welcome!

Welcome to Trudy's Tidbits!  This is my first attempt at creating a blog, so please be patient!  I hope to share ideas and information that will benefit my colleagues, whether they are teachers or administrators!