Ready To Teach

At Patrick Henry we have decided that we will focus our energies and discipline ourselves to focus on what matters most.  We are committed to being a school that is great.  To become great we will focus on on being  Ready to Teach:

• Equipped I will plan your learning experiences so that they are purposeful, relevant, standards-based, and consist of a variety of learning activities. 
•  Ready I will be ready to provide a productive, positive start to class. 
•  Invested I will provide you with timely, specific feedback and ask you questions to promote  your growth in  learning. 
• Honor I will honor you and your classmates and remain a positive educator in our school.
• Courage I will have the courage to struggle, try new things, and meet new people.  

So..........

1. What practices, procedures and routines will you and your team commit to in order to focus your time and energy on being ready to teach?  
2. What do you need to stop doing.....even if it's good?   
3. What does a culture of discipline look like for you and your team?  Put it on paper and give others permission to hold you accountable.   

Focus, Discipline, Basics

"Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequenc of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." 

Jim Rohn

Sometimes doing whatever it takes is more about deciding what not to do as much as it is about deciding what to do.  There is no doubt that we must work hard to be an effective teacher.  However, hard work does not always result in effectiveness.  Having the discipline and courage to determine what not to do often becomes the difference between good and great.

Great Teachers:

1. focus their energy on what matters most.   (Hedgehog Principle by Jim Collins)
2. create a culture of discipline where they choose to do what matters most and stop doing what does  not. (Culture of Discipline by Jim Collins)

So....

1. What does it look like for you to focus your energy on what matters most?
2. What good things do you need to stop doing in order to put more energy into what matters most?
3. Make a list of what you think matters most as a teacher.  Make a commitment and create a plan to protect and focus on these activities.
4. Share your list and plan with someone and ask for feedback.    

Whatever it takes!

Teaching takes guts. We have to be crazy, rebellious....misfits. Some days we leave school a hero and other days we leave a villain. The status quo bothers us and turns us into trouble makers. It is impossible to ignore us because we believe in what we do and realize the high calling we have chosen to pursue. We are a few degrees off from being normal because normal isn't always what is best. Our job is to explore what is, imagine what could be and inspire students to join us on the journey. We heal, challenge, motivate, discipline, inspire, encourage, motivate, humble, empower, and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world. We don't make lots of money. We don't get lots of publicity. Often we don't get to see the immediate results of our labor. Our family, friends and society don't always understand why we do what we do. Many times our best work goes unnoticed, but we don't waiver. We don't settle or give up. We teach! We do whatever it takes!