CONNECTIONS: In This Season: Words for the Heart
This post was written by Todd Nesloney (@TechNinjaTodd), co-author of our latest release (see more about this awesome book below).
Every day I talk to someone, turn on the news, or read something online that makes me feel overcome with the amount of pain in our world.
So about a year ago I reached out to a few friends of mine. I wanted to create something to put out in the world that could be a source of hope. A reminder that you're not alone. A testament to the fact that every season of life matters.
A year later, our new book, In This Season: Words from the Heart was born.
We wanted to write a book for anyone. Educators, lawyers, creatives, single parents, married couples, large businesses, mom and pop shops, and everyone in between.
We wanted to add in art to amplify the words. We wanted to share poetry, write anecdotes, deepen thinking, inspire reflection, and more.
We wanted it to be completely different than anything else we've encountered.
We hope today you choose to pick up a copy and rediscover the truth of how much every season of our lives matter.
Below, you can read the introduction we wrote for the book:
"For those who feel stuck or behind …
For those who feel lost in their own thoughts …
For those who are going through the motions …
For those who wonder how you’ll make it through another day …
For those who ache to express how they feel …
For those who are wanting to be seen …
For those who just need a vacation …
This is for you. The book you are holding is a collection of writings, poems, and essays from four different authors from four different areas of the United States. In our own unique ways we are educators, creators, and helpers. One thing the four of us have in common is that we have hope.
Our reason for creating this book is that we long to share with you that hope is still alive and hope is for you.
It goes without saying, but life is heavy and full of unknowns. Each of us has endured the cold of winter, the growth of spring, the light of summer, and the change of fall. We have weathered storm after storm and season after season, but by grace we are still here.
As tomorrow arrives may these pages invite you to reflect on how far you’ve come and where you dream of going. Sit with the words we plucked and pulled from our hearts. Let this book meet you where you are and encourage you to step into what is to come with hope.
Thanks to Todd and co-authors Alice Lee, LaNesha Tabb, and Tanner Olson for the above words of wisdom and thanks so much to all educators reading this for the amazing work you are doing during these challenging times. As always, Teach and Lead with Passion...
Jeff and Jimmy
DAILY INSPIRATION EDUCATOR
(Please let us know about an inspiring educator you think we should highlight in a future newsletter by completing this brief form!)
NEW BOOK!
In This Season: Words for the Heart by Todd Nesloney (@TechNinjaTodd), LaNesha Tabb (@apron_education), Tanner Olson (@tannerJolson), and Alice Lee (@dralicetlee)
Life is full of seasons.
Each of us has endured the cold of winter, the growth of spring, the light of summer, and the change of fall. We’ve climbed to the mountaintops and been deep in the valley.
In This Season: Words for the Heart takes the emotions we feel deep within and puts them into words. The pages of this book invites you to reflect and lean in as you continue through season after season.
You are not alone. Those feelings and emotions you hold secretly inside are part of all of us. When we share those parts of ourselves with others it brings us closer and allows us to finally feel seen.
So pause, breathe deep, and step forward into the reminder that you are loved and each season of your life holds purpose.
We are so honored to partner with Todd, LaNesha, Tanner, and Alice on this important book. This book is now available on Amazon and via our website. Learn more here!
FEATURED BOOK!
We are thrilled with the response we have received about The Educator’s ATLAS: Your Roadmap to Engagement by Weston Kieschnick (Twitter: @Wes_Kieschnick) since its publication last month! This is a must-read book for every classroom teacher everywhere. Learn how to authentically engage all learners!
Think back to your most engaging experience as a student. What made it so exhilarating and memorable? What made it so effective?
Such questions about student engagement obsessed Weston Kieschnick from his earliest days as a teacher. Today, Kieschnick travels the globe to keynote and coach educators on the topics most relevant to student success. In the intervening decades, Kieschnick refined his teaching craft, observed the most captivating teachers, and studied the best speakers to reverse engineer a student engagement formula. The result is his ATLAS model—a simple, five-point roadmap for capturing student engagement in the first moments of class sustaining it all the way to the last.
ATLAS holds both learner needs and teacher wisdom in equal importance. Central to this is a definition of student engagement that—once and for all—clarifies the teacher’s actionable role. Teachers will finish this book with a plan in hand and the full confidence that they are ready to be engagement pros. And as is always the case with Kieschnick’s books, readers will laugh and have a lot of fun along the way.
We are so honored to partner with Weston on this important book. This book is now available on Amazon and via our website. Learn more here!
CONNECTEDD’S TAKEAWAYS:
Thought for the Day: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax." Abraham Lincoln
Teaching Technique to Try: Read Aloud Peer Review: Hearing paragraphs and essays read aloud can be a helpful step in the editing process because it allows students to notice things that they may miss when reading their writing silently to themselves. It also gives students the chance to offer feedback on another’s work. Reading an essay aloud with a peer can, therefore, help students redraft their work, whilst also developing their ability to give and receive constructive criticism. As with all reading and writing tasks, students benefit from seeing models so they understand the procedure and have an opportunity to ask questions. Thus, before students practise this strategy with their own writing, we recommend that you model the process with a sample piece of writing. Read aloud a sample paragraph at an appropriate speed so that the listener can process the information and frame revision suggestions in a positive manner that uses the terms students have been learning: inference, claim, evidence, and analysis. Check out this link from Facing History and Ourselves for a step-by-step process for using this technique.
Eyes On Culture: We believe that culture is a true difference maker in any classroom, school, district, or organization. As a result, we focus much of the work we do on creating and maintaining positive and productive cultures. Culture Focus: Change. High performing schools with strong cultures are places in which educators regularly assess the status quo and look for ways to continuously improve by deciding what they should start, stop, and continue doing. When starting something new or stopping anything that has been in place for awhile, this inevitably involves initiating the change process. Excellent educators in excellent schools do not welcome change merely for the sake of change but when they see how it will benefit students, staff, learning and/or the overall culture, they keep an open mind and ot only accept, but embrace change as an opportunity to be better for those they serve. When initiating change, they keep in mind several “culture killers” related to effective change implementation. First, they know that they must hear from and respond to the CYBOs in their organization: The Chief Yeah, But Officers. They listen respectfully, yet move forward when consensus is gained that the change is good for the organization. They also are prepared to respond to three typical comments from such stakeholders: “But that’s the way we have always done it” and “But what if it doesn’t work?” and “We already tried that but it did not work here.” Again, excellent educators respond respectfully, always communicating the WHY behind the change action and inviting feedback even from those who are opposed to the change. In the end, however, they also know that once the change action is implemented, there can be no opt out. Everyone–including those who were opposed–must commit to the change and work toward its success.
What are some other thoughts you have on initiating change in classrooms and schools? Please share your thoughts about a culture and gratitude via Twitter: @ConnectEDDBooks We would love to hear from you!