I have become discouraged. I have allowed school and other distractions to hinder my personal growth, begun as a result of the habits workshop. I keep saying I'll get back to journaling and a more consistent exercise routine. I did quite well for over a year. While I appreciate that success and recognize the importance of continuing it, I seem to need a refresher. Maybe I can find support with my workshop partner to help. That is a wise idea that we have those with whom we can commiserate, something we all need.

I been thinking on what to say for my final blog. Education has been a part of my life for 34 years of teaching. I would not change many things. People who became teachers did it for the love of children. Each year we have different students with different backgrounds in which we have to adjust. As in sports you work with the type of players or students you. You treat each child different but you always want to be fair and gain each one 's respect. When I leave this profession, I want people to say that I was fair and loved each student as if they were my own.

Final October Implementation Post--Make It Count!

Dear Colleagues,

This is your final post for the 2009-2010 Blount County PLU--unless you are very far behind and need to catch up. I will award the 2 PLUs at the end of the month, so please be sure that you have caught up on any posts and that you complete your final October Implementation Post. I will send reminders out soon to any of you with missing posts.

For this final post, you have two options:

1) Please add a comment under this post detailing ONE strategy that you are currently implementing or plan to implement at your school that grew out of our work with the Ethics Standards, 7 Habits, or The Leader in Me book study.

2) Add a comment under this post which explores any personal growth that has come from our work with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me, or the Ethics Standards.

Remember, if your comment posts above these directions, then you need to remove it and post it as a "comment" under this original post. Again, you do this by logging into your account and clicking on the title of the post or the number of comments underneath.

Thanks for a great PLU kickoff, and I look forward to reaching our destination and awarding these ACLD-approved PLUs!

I have long admired my sixth grade teacher. I had enjoyed academic success and some recognitions in school previously but had not really like school until the sixth grade. She made me feel special. She praised my writing; she asked that I repeat a very nervous class performance for parents who stopped by to visit that day; she created various challenging activities. I recall one low-income, low achieving classmate who frequently missed school that she elevated. We spent part of a morning outside as he showed us how to carve simple whistles. Not only did I, and I suspect others, love her, but she made us feel she loved us also. She exemplified to me what a good teacher is and all three quotations.

Educators must start each year with a clean slate. We need to work toward the possible in a child and expect the impossible. It is of extreme importance that we do not limit a child with OUR expectations. If you only look, they will never cease to amaze you.

August Blog Post

3 August 2010

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
Standard 6: Public Funds and Property
Standard 7: Remunerative Conduct
Standard 8: Maintenance of Confidentiality
Standard 9: Abandonment of Contract


The Leader in Me—Chapter 10
Stephen R. Covey

“Live life in crescendo.”—Stephen R. Covey

Chapter 10 literally brings The Leader in Me home. Think of how you can apply these principles in your own family. How can you apply them to your family relationships? Please create a blog post addressing one of the following prompts:

1. Respond to one of the three quotes at the bottom of page 210.
2. How is the ubiquitous Leader in Me implementation different from character education?
3. How should “modeling” be used at home and in school to empower a Leader in Me implementation?
4. What are the benefits of a family mission statement?