The Energy Bus for Schools
March 2017
EnJOYing The Ride During Testing Season!
If someone were to ask why you became an educator what would be your response? More than likely it would't - Because I l just LOVE testing students! The fact is, many of us dread testing season as we become stressed and bogged down by the pressure of testing results. Because of the focus on outcomes, fears begin to set in as we begin to consider what the results will say about us and our students.
Many of us chose this path because of our desire to serve others and make a difference in their lives. With all the stress and pressure that comes with testing, it is important now more than ever to stay positive and enJOY the ride.
Remember- setting the right testing climate can have a huge impact on student success. Your energy (positive or negative) impacts your students as well as their performance. As Mr. Gordon reminds us in the introduction of The Energy Bus, ...positive people, positive communication, positive interactions, and positive work and team cultures produce positive results.
In a study by the University of Toronto, scientists reveal,
"Good and bad moods literally change the way our visual cortex operates and how we see," says Adam Anderson, a U of T professor of psychology. "Specifically our study shows that when in a positive mood, our visual cortex takes in more information, while negative moods result in tunnel vision. The study appears today in the Journal of Neuroscience at www.jneurosci.org. ( https://medicalxpress.com/news/2009-06-people-rose-colored-glasses.html#jCp)
Below are 5 Tips to keep you Positive during testing season:
1. Create a Positive Vision – In the book The Energy Bus, Joy, the Bus Driver, asks George “So where do you desire to go. What’s your vision? Joy reminded George that First, decide what you want, then you can start creating it (p.31).
Everything that we want begins with a thought, so each day you enter into your classroom envision a community of success. Try creating a picture in your mind of what success would look like in your classroom if all of your students were to perform at their personal best each day. Have your students practice this exercise as well and have them share their thoughts creating and envisioning a successful learning environment.
2. Put on some Music- Take time to play a little music that can get you and your students up and movin' in the classroom. Music and movement is good for the spirit and is a great way to get the blood and adrenaline flowing in the body. Playing a little classical or jazz music can also have some calming effects and can help reduce the stress that comes from preparing for testing.
3. Remember your Purpose – Remembering your “why” can fill your heart and spirit with purpose and provide meaning and direction. Write your purpose on paper and display it in a place where you will always be reminded of your reason for being .
4. Trust Your Students – find ways to allow students to be accountable for his/her success. Have them set goals and discuss actions they will take to achieve these outcomes. Remind students that every decision has an outcome and when we make choices that support good learning habits we are setting the stage for success. When students are engaged and see themselves as partners in their learning, you’ll see greater outcomes.
5. Love Your Passengers – find ways to inspire and encourage students to see their gifts and talents – write encouraging notes to students and co-workers; smile; give high-fives; and share JOY with others. When we stop concentrating on ourselves and focus on others- we are less stressed and feel more purposeful.
6. Have fun and EnJOY the Ride! Take some time to do things you love. Go on a walk in the park, read a good book, visit with friends, start writing your book.
Joy, the bus driver, reminds George, This is not like Disney Land. We only get one ride so we might as well enjoy it to the max.
Remember- testing season is only a small portion of what we do. What truly matters is living each day to the fullest and creating an classroom where your students feel free to do the same.
Happy Testing!!
Niki Spears
Principle #6: Love Your Passengers
Below are 5 ways to Love Your Passengers that come from The Energy Bus:
1. Make Time for Them- when you love someone or something, you spend time with them. You nurture your relationship with them. Spend one day a week eating lunch with students or take a team member out for dinner.
2. Listen to them- One of the most important factors that determines high management approval rating is whether the manger listens to the employee. Take time to listen to your young passengers - it's amazing what we can learn when we put aside our own agendas and listen to the heart and spirit of others.
3. Recognize Them- We don't mean trophies or some awards dinner. Use something as simple as a sticky note to write a kind message or a simple smile or high five can go a long way!
4. Serve Them- A great leader once said, the higher you get in an organization the more it is your duty to serve the people below you rather than having the people below serve you. In what ways can you serve your families and young passengers?
5. Bring Out the Best in Them- we saved this one for last because it's the most important. The you love someone you want the best for them. You want them to be successful and happy. You want to bring out the best in them. Thus the best way any leader can demonstrate their love for their team is to help each passenger discover their strengths nd provide them with an opportunity for that person to utilize them.
For more information on Loving Your Passengers review pages 121-124 in The Energy Bus!
We are currently accepting applications for your school to become a Certified Energy Bus School for the 2017-2018 School Year! Email energybusschools@jongordon.com for application and information!!
From Clifdale Elementary, an Energy Bus School (2017-2018) in South Carolina
Final Challenge
Our LAST Energy Bus Challenge for for this year is for you to create an Informercial about The Energy Bus and ways it has impacted your school (*see video above).
The goal is to showcase how The Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey is spreading positive energy throughout your school and transforming culture.
In addition to team points that will be earned on Twitter towards your End of the Year Pizza Party ---the school with the most impressive video will earn a School-Wide Ice Cream Social! That's right! The entire school will be celebrated!
So what will we be looking for? We are looking for the following:
- Videos must be visually and aurally appealing
- All persons participating must have parent permission/permission to use for advertising purposes
- Information presented in the video must provide the public with information about how The Energy Bus has impacted your school community
- Must be 3 min. or less in length
- Testimonials from students, parents, and teachers (a plus!)
So how will videos be selected? I thought you'd never ask!
We will send videos to our advisory board and they will select the most impressive video!
Because of the nature of this challenge, you will have plenty of time to work on this! Videos should be posted on Monday, April 10th to Friday, April 14th. Please upload the video to YouTube and send the link to niki@jongordon.com. You will also need to post on Twitter to earn LIKES towards your end of the year Pizza Party! Winners will be announced by April 30th!
If you have questions or need more information about this challenge, please don't hesitate to contact me!
I hope that everyone decides to participate in this one! Good LUCK!!
Meet Us At The Bus Stop on April 28th in South Carolina!
Always Remember, Energy Bus Family...
Looking for Positive Educators!
As a token of our appreciation, we would like to recognize that POSITIVE EDUCATOR on your campus the Positive Educator Award!
We are asking that our Energy Ambassadors set up a voting booth and post the following criteria for our Positive Educator Award!
The Positive Educator is a teacher/staff member/parent who-
- Brings a smile to your face each time you see him/her
- Sees the good in everyone s/he meets
- Has the ability to transform challenges into great opportunities
- Has embraced The Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey in her classroom and it's evident on the walls of the classrooms AND students use the language.
- Has a passion for teaching and learning
- Has an engaging personality
- Models 7 Principles from The Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey!
Do you know this person? Let us know!
Please submit names to niki@jongordon by Monday, April 1st!