Are Teachers Victims or Victors?
October 2017
I came across this post on Facebook the other day and it really got be to thinking. It seems that some people continue to view the role of teacher as someone who works for free or who is not valued by others. Some people in our society view the role of a teacher as someone who is a victim, a person who is suffering or is in a situation by no choice of their own.
The truth is teachers enter the profession knowing their salary and many of the challenges associated with this career path. It’s no secret that people in any profession where they aspire to be great will arrive to work early, stay late, or even work on weekends. Many professionals in any vocation enter their line of work with no promise of overtime pay, bonuses, or promotions because they enter their careers with a service mindset with the goal of seeing how their hard work and passion improves the lives of the people they serve.
So why does this matter? It matters because when teachers buy into the victim mindset, it can lead to a feeling of helplessness, lack of job satisfaction, or ultimately leaving the profession altogether. But it also contributes to a culture of negativity because people who adopt a victim mindset can sometimes blame and/or complain about their circumstances and spread negativity throughout their classrooms and/or schools.
Let’s set the record straight. Teachers are not Victims, they are Victors, World Changers, Servant Leaders who want to change the world. They are in the parking lot early in the mornings because they know how important it is to have everything prepared prior to their kids arriving to school each day. They work at night and on weekends because they want to have engaging lessons that will fascinate their students so that they enjoy learning. They don’t complain about working long hours because they understand that in order to get the results, they must be willing to put the time in. They use their free time and invest their own money for their students and their classrooms because they want to give their students an amazing experience.
Ask a teacher, why they teach and more than likely you will hear responses such as-- I love working with kids, I want to make to make a difference, and I’ve always dreamed of becoming a teacher. Rarely do you hear teachers talk about their salaries. This is because for many, teaching is a passion and a special gift that they want to share with the world. Like everything else, teaching is a choice. No one is forced into this profession nor are they required to stay.
We teach because we care. We are Champions, Supporters, Advocates, Heroes, Fighters, and World Changers, who happen to be Teachers.
Why do you choose to teach?
Make it a great week or not. The choice is yours.
Niki Spears
Co-Founder
The Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey
Check out Abe Hubert Elementary in Garden City, KS, Principal Martha Darter, Energy Bus Parade Fun!
Randi House, a kindergarten teacher at Theodore Jones Elem. in the Conway SD, was named 2018 AR Teacher of the Year!
Congrats to to Sylvillia Futrell from Willis Hare Elementary
Congrats to Hlly Hix from Dorie Miller Intermediate School in Ennis, Texas
This Teacher from Clifdale Elementary in SC is The Driver of Her Bus!
What if all of Us Started the day this way?
Cute Story about Being The Driver from Ruth Anne Pitt, Chester Park Elementary in SC
Ruth Anne Pitt, Principal
Chester Park Elementary School of the Arts
Ring the Bell!
Create A Positive Vision
- Completing Vision/Goal Sheet and tracking throughout the year (if you would like an example, please email me)
- Creating an individual or class vision board
- Having discussions about problems that intrigue students and asking them what they could do to solve these problems. I recently read a quote that says -instead of asking students what they want to be when they grow up, we should ask what problems they wish to solve. This way students aren't boxed in to only "one" career choice or position.
- Invite parents or community members in to share information about their careers so that students learn about needs in our community/world.
- Have students dress up as their future career choices and have them take pictures to display on a vision wall.
If you would like additional information about creating a positive vision or more activities, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Using The Energy Bus for Kids to Teach Principle #2 Create a Positive Vision
Materials:
Energy Bus for Kids
Chart paper or whiteboard
Construction Paper or Cardstock
Markers
Old Magazines
Day 1: Revisit Principle #1 You're the Driver. Have students share their learning from the previous month. Make sure students know that Being the Driver of Your Bus is showing Leadership. Leaders take 100% responsibility for their attitudes and their actions. Leaders don't blame others for mistakes or failures but have the courage to find solutions to problems.
Say:
Thumbs up if you are The Driver of Your Bus! Great! Now that you are in the Driver's Seat and you're ready to be a leader and take 100% responsibility for your life and your actions, let's now think of where we want our Bus to go. Before we do that, let's revisit George's story in The Energy Bus for Kids. [Turn to Page 10 of The Energy Bus for Kids]. Remember on The Energy Bus Joy encouraged the students to think about having a great day. She wanted them to picture themselves having a great night. Joy said, "If you have a vision, then you also have the power to make it happen (p 11)."
What were some things that George imagined? What were some things he wanted to accomplish? Do you remember?
[Revisit pages 12-13] A+ on his spelling test, hitting a home run
I want you to begin thinking of things you want to accomplish in school this year. I also want you to think about things you want to do in your personal lives (home and community). Imagine yourself actually doing these things and we are going to talk about how you can make them happen.
Day 2:
Say:
Yesterday we talked about Principle #2: Create a Positive Vision. In The Energy Bus for Kids, we noticed that when George begin to Create a Positive Vision (imagine having a great day at school) what started to happen? [Allow students to respond, bringing them back to what George begin to experience] That's right, he began to have better days.
Close your eyes. Now take a few moments to think about goals you would like to accomplish at school (for younger students, explain that goals are things that we want to happen. You may want to learn to write your name or to read, these are things that we want to accomplish).
Now open your eyes. I want to share with you a goal I have for myself. [On large chart paper or the white board, take the students through your thinking using the following format].
Goal:
Steps I Will Take To Reach This Goal:
Accomplish Goal by: [date]
Your Signature:
After you have modeled creating a positive vision, have students verbally share their goals for themselves.
End today's session by informing students, that tomorrow they will have an opportunity to create a positive vision, just as you did today. Let them know they should at least have one goal, but will be allowed to create up to 3 to track this semester.
Day: 3
Say: This week we have been talking about Creating a Positive Vision. We read The Energy Bus for Kids and learned how George transformed his experiences at school and in his home by first imagining a good day. He changed his thoughts and he begin to see everything around him change.
Yesterday I modeled for you a goal I wanted to accomplish and at the end of our day together, some of you shared your visions with the class.
Today, all of us will create a positive vision by creating and tracking a goal for school (academic), personal, or behavior. Provide students with examples of each, for instance - in school- I want to become a better reader, at home- I want to complete chores without being reminded, or for behavior-I want to get a good call home from my teacher at least once per week.
[Provide students with Create a Positive Vision Papers or Plain Sheets of Notebook Paper] Have them complete their goal planning in the same format you did on the board or chart paper the previous day:
Goal:
Steps I Will Take To Reach This Goal:
Accomplish Goal by: [date]
Your Signature:
Day 4-5:
Have students complete their goal sheets and place them in a binder or folder. Assign students an Accountability Partner. These partners should have time to review their progress on their goal(s) at least once a week. Take time to explain the roles of Accountability Partners, allowing students to ask clarifying questions.
Allow accountability partners to discuss their plans with one another.
To end this week's lesson, allow accountability partners to share one another goals and how they plan to hold each other responsible. *Make sure everyone feels comfortable sharing before having partners share one another's goals.
Extension: Designate one bulletin board to Creating a Positive Vision. Have old magazines, scissors, construction paper, markers on hand for students to place their positive vision on the bulletin. Be sure to model for students on how to use the bulletin board and the materials. Encourage students to dream, allowing nothing to hold them back such as finances, knowledge, or any other inabilities. Let them know that whatever they dream, then can achieve!