Monday, March 11, 2013

Irrigate Deserts & Teach with JOY



"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
— C.S. Lewis

When I chose my word for this year, this quote from C.S. Lewis played an important role in the process. My word is IRRIGATE. At the beginning of January I also made a list of things that I want to try this year. One of those is:

  • to teach with joy
This post is really a reminder to myself to keep JOY in the front burner every day! It is so easy to lose joy when things don't go my way. It might be a computer that is not working fast enough, or copier that has jammed just before I need to make my copies, or a student who is in a bad mood and transfers that mood to me. 
So how do I keep teaching with JOY?
This is what I am thinking for this week:
  • get up early enough to be ready for the day (so many others have blogged about this)
  • get ready on time both in the evening and in the morning (sleep deprivation does not translate into JOY)
  • smile more; it really is contagious
  • eat well (sluggishness does not translate into JOY either) 
  • greet my students with smile; respond to their questions and comments with a smile
I promise to teach with JOY and to irrigate those dry deserts in my classroom and school this week.

What plans do you have to make this a great week?


12 comments:

  1. Your post absolutely fills me with JOY and PEACE this morning. I am trying to "not sweat the small stuff" in school - and enjoy the "important stuff!" I love the quote and just added it to my quote book!

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  2. Joy is my word of the year. I wanted to find the joy in all the small things.
    This being March Break, I am just enjoying the time to be in the moment - a must for joy seekers. All the best to a joy-filled year!

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  3. Celebrate is my word for this year. Your post has allowed me to refocus on my word. Finding joy and celebration in all things great and small. Thank you.

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  4. I love the C.S Lewis quote...was not familiar with this one. Irrigate...inspirational choice of your word for the year. Great list of how you are keeping joy on the front burner.

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  5. Love how you are revisiting your word and making plans to incorporate it into your week. Joy for me this week would mean two things: 1) responding my teenager pleasantly even when he is surly (most of the time!) 2) working hard to keep a positive attitude at work during state testing this week and next. OK, I will work on it. Thanks for the reminder!

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  6. I might have to copy your ideas for keeping joy. The sleep thing is a big one! I also completely agree that smiling is contagious. Happy people attract happy people...Thanks for all of the reminders.

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    1. I am thinking that I too need to start a list. Then on days when life gets hard, I can get inspired by the list!

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  7. What a great way to keep your OWL alive and well and helping you to be a better person, a better teacher. Bravo!

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  8. What a lovely quote and word! Yours is right along the same lines as mine! Greeting every student with a smile and their name is something I'm trying to work on, as well as finding ways to create joy in lessons.

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  9. A good reminder to see how my OLW is helping me. Smiles make a difference. I have to remind myself to breathe and smile this week. the beginning of the week is a bit stressful. From Thursday to Sunday I will be in Prague at a conference. Inspiration is waiting. Just have to make sure to get enough sleep.

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  10. Smiling is much easier when I have a few quiet minutes in the morning before the kiddos come in AND have enough protein (and Diet Coke :) for lunch. Teaching with joy is a great motto.

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