To the whole child...

"Why do you do what you do?"

That's a question I've been asked more in the last 6 months than I've ever been asked before.

When I was a teacher, I was commended but not questioned.  When I was a stay-at-home mom, I was envied *by those who had no idea how tough it is to stay home with 3 young kids when you're fully engaged* but not questioned. When I was a preschool director pursuing my Master's degree, it was a question of "how" but not "why" am I doing what I'm doing.

As a counselor who sees and hears and experiences tough things, I get a lot of "why".

My answer: Because I love kids.

I am honored to have been called to this profession.  I prioritize children because Jesus does. I want to reflect grace, love, forgiveness, redemption, kindness, etc to EVERY child.

And I fully believe that encapsulates teaching the WHOLE child.

We MUST recognize that some kids have been taken to school just after being smacked across the face.  Or watching Dad or Boyfriend hit Mom.  Sometimes Caregiver is passed out and Seven-Year-Old has to get the "little kids" up and ready for school.  Sometimes there's molestation or abandonment that dominate a child's narrative.

These children walk through our doors and are held accountable for academic and behavioral performance.

But what if?

What if we prioritized relationships over learning?  What if educators sought connections with the students, understanding of history, and a sense of belonging for each of their kids over anything else?  Would improved test scores and academic achievement/appropriate behaviors follow?

Research says "YES!"

I firmly believe that we were created for relationship.  If we miss relationship and prioritize performance, we've become legalistic and unfeeling in our approach with each other.... adults and children alike.

We must recognize children as people who have histories that they may not be able to verbalize or make sense of.... and parents as people who may be unequipped and in need of compassion... and teachers as people who may be overwhelmed and lacking in certain soft skill sets... and administrators as people who bear the weight of them all.

We must teach to the whole child.
We must love each other without judgment.
We must seek forgiveness when needed.
And we must act with a spirit of kindness and compassion.

Then we are free to learn from each other and our students can learn from us.

Mistakes Happen-- and that's OK

This week and next, in First Grade, we're talking about mistakes.  Everyone makes them, and we can fix them.  Sometimes we can't fix them all by ourselves and need to get some help.  But no mistake is beyond help.

I went to Ms. Albracht's and Ms. Stanford's classes this morning and read Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg.  It's a really fun story about turning mistakes into something amazing!

Then I showed the students this "very important" (albeit out-of-date) paperwork from my daughter's school---

I explained that I accidentally spilled my coffee all over the papers.

We talked about the lesson I learned from my mistake: Don't drink coffee near important papers.

And we talked about my reaction to my mistake:  I didn't throw the paper down and stomp away.  I didn't cry or call myself "the worst mom EVER" just because I made a mistake.

In fact, I decided I would use it as a learning opportunity for the kids.

I outlined the stain in marker so that it would show up if I made copies, and I made 125 copies of my mistake.  My spill.

I challenged the kids to turn my mistake into something amazing.  And-- WOW-- am I impressed!!

Kids made people and jellyfish.  Magic wands and asteroids. Birds, parking meters, robots, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Fossils and bones.  An island under attack. There was no limit to their imagination!!

I thanked them so much for helping me turn my mistake into a "beautiful oops".  Now I can't wait to hang them on the bulletin board in the hallway!!

The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers

I was recently given a gift.  A book that had been passed to me, along with the responsibility to read it and pass it on.

It's called The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers.  Yes.  THAT Mr. Rogers.  Everyone's favorite neighbor.

It's one of the most touching books I've read in a while.

The premise is simple:  How Fred Rogers made connections with children and adults alike... through a television set.

One key to making connections was routine.  He sang the same song for decades. Changed his clothes every time.  Kept the curtains in his house the same.  The same old telephone.  His neighborhood of make-believe.  He believed that there's safety in routine.  When children know what to expect, they feel secure.

Changing into a cardigan and sneakers was a deliberate decision.  It was slowing down, stripping himself of the fast-paced business coat and dress shoes.  His soft, slow cadence when he spoke and the simple songs he sang were calming.  Making a point to feed the fish every day was not only part of his routine but relaxing.

Perhaps one of the sweetest things about him was his tolerance and acceptance of everyone.  He loved children.  And he ended every show saying, "You've made this day a special day.  And you know how-- by just your being you."  How powerful is that?!  Isn't that what everyone wants to hear?  That we're enough as we are.  And he was teaching kids that every day.

A quote of his in the book:
"I don't think of myself as somebody who's famous.  I'm just a neighbor who comes and visits children; I happen to be on television. But I've always been myself. I never took a course in acting.  I just figured that the best gift you could offer anybody is your honest self, and that's what I've done for lots of years. And thanks for accepting me exactly as I am."

I love his outlook.  I love how he loved others well.  I love how he showed his faith without ever preaching.  He prioritized children and made connections with them in a way I completely believe in.  He wanted children to feel safe and loved.  He wasn't a showman.  He wasn't self-serving.  He was giving and poured into everyone around him.  I think someday, when I get to Heaven, he'll be one of the first people I'll want to sit and chat with for a really long time. :)

I'm so grateful to be called to work with kids.  I'm so humbled by the responsibility that comes with being a counselor.
So what have I learned from Mr. Rogers?
Slow down.
Kids love routine.
And I am learning that the only person I know how to be is me.

I can't counsel the way someone else does.  I don't have the same style when I'm presenting or leading a meeting as other people do. I have my own style when talking to teachers, parents, or kids. And I think Mr. Rogers would approve. :)  He'd say, "Julie, you make each day a special day by just your being you."  :) And I sincerely hope I make others feel that way too.

When it's all said and done, I'd love for his quote to be my own... "I just figured that the best gift you could offer anybody is your honest self, and that's what I've done for lots of years. And thanks for accepting me exactly as I am."

Year Two

I'm so happy to be back for Year 2 at Christie!

What a difference a year makes---

This year, the week before school started I presented on a topic I care about to a staff of my friends.  Last year, I presented on a topic I really had no experience with to a staff I didn't know.

At Meet the Teacher, instead of a sea of kids whose faces I didn't recognize, I got a lot of hugs and shouts of "Mrs. McGlamery, look! I -- [fill in the blank... lost a tooth, got taller, cut my hair..]!"

Our PTA fed us an amazing dinner, and I watched as TONS of volunteers set up throughout the school to sell school supplies, spirit wear, and signs.  Better yet-- I watched as parents stood in line to buy them and join the PTA.

This year we have a Pre-K for the first time ever!  Game-changer.  These little ones will have the opportunity to prepare for Kindergarten at their home campus.  They will build the stamina necessary to make it through a long school week before they even turn 5.  And they will enter their Kindergarten classrooms with the skills needed to be successful.

We have 18 new staff members! And each of them has an energy level that is contagious.  They've jumped right in and joined our family seamlessly.

Speaking of "jumping right in", I've already received emails from Kindergarten parents looking for ways to serve our campus community.  Unreal!

Positive change is happening. It's fun to sense.  Fun to watch.  And even more fun to be a part of.

To anyone new to Christie, welcome! To veterans, welcome back!
I have a feeling that this is going to be the best year yet!!

Thanks, Teachers!

I am so grateful for teachers!!

I've known that I wanted to be a teacher since I was in the second grade.  I think most kids want to be a teacher at some point-- or at least play "school"-- because it's one of the only professions about which we have firsthand knowledge.  But my resolve was unwavering.

I was writing Teacher Appreciation Notes to my kids' teachers this week and was floored once again by how fortunate we've been to have the teachers we've had. 

I have journals for each of my kids, and I write notes to them fairly regularly.  In each of their books, I had written a prayer for the "right" teachers to mold them and guide them.  And I've trusted and never worried since. 

The "right" teacher might be a difficult personality.  The "right" classroom might be the one without their best friends since Kindergarten.

A lot of my "mom friends" request teachers for their kids. 

We've all heard of the helicopter mom who swoops in when her child is in trouble.  A few years ago, I heard of the sweeper mom.   It's a term that comes from curling.  In the Olympic sport of curling,  there is a sweeper whose sole purpose is to keep the ice smooth and clean so that the stone doesn't hit any rough patches and can make it safely in the goal.  A sweeper mom doesn't just swoop in when trouble arises, she keeps the path smooth so trouble doesn't even exist.

I was determined to be neither!

My kids have not had smooth sailing every year, but they have learned perseverance.  They've learned that they can handle difficult circumstances without me engineering every step they take.

And as parents, we've learned to trust authority.  To support the teachers placed in charge of our children. 

And we've never been disappointed. In fact, we continue to be impressed!!

I am so grateful for the teachers who work tirelessly to pour into children's lives, never knowing if they'll ever see the fruits of their labor.  Thank you for giving of yourself and for loving kids who are not your own.  Thank you for putting up with parents who can be exhausting!  And thank you for doing it all with grace and a smile!  Teachers are the best!!

Love y'all!! And I appreciate you!!

It's OUR school

For the past few months, I have been meeting with other staff members and Christie parents to discuss increasing parental involvement.  Parent support and involvement in a school is a game changer. Show me a school with a wide variety of after school activities, high test scores, and a well-maintained building, and I'll show you a school with parents who are engaged.

In one of our meetings, a parent said something to the effect of, "Parents need to understand that if they want to see a change, they need to be the change." I agree. But the onus does not rest solely with the parents. Staff has culpability as well.

At Christie,we are incredibly fortunate to have a supportive administrative team.  If we can dream it, if it's good for kids, and if we're willing to do the work, almost any idea we have will get the "green light". It's exciting for me to work in a school where the things I'm passionate about can come to life.  Ideas are already swirling in my head for next year.

The challenge as the parents and staff of a school is to remember that the future of a building does not fall on the shoulders of one or two.  The direction a building takes might come from the top, but the creativity and the solutions to problems come from varying perspectives and ideas from all of us. While respecting the authority that is over us, we have the freedom to tackle challenges by playing to our strengths and personalities.

It's OUR school.
 Every day we should do our part to make it be the best it can be. We-- parents and staff-- create the school we want to see.

Facing fear

This month at Christie we are focusing on what it means to have a growth-mindset.  Stretching ourselves beyond our limits.   Believing nothing is out of our grasp.  We love learning!  We love challenges!

A year ago (almost exactly) I was going through a personal time of pushing my limits.  For me, this seems to be the norm more than the exception.  I feel as though the majority of my adult life has been spent adapting and reinventing myself.

One thing that has held true since I was 5 years old is my fear of heights. When I was a classroom teacher, I was rarely on playground duty.  It made me sweat to watch the kids climb on the playground equipment. What if they fell??   I was always assigned to the soccer field.

We live in a 2 story home.  You will never see me leaning over the railing to say something to my family downstairs.

I have a death grip on the railing of an "up" escalator.

I can't watch my husband climb a ladder.

You'll never catch me on a high diving board.

I don't want to be on a ski lift.

I. Don't. Do. Heights.

Enter "iFly".  The indoor skydiving experience in Frisco.

I was determined to face my fears.

I went with my husband for his birthday and decided I would go into the tube of 100+ mph winds and "fly".  What you can't see from videos of iFly is how the floor of the tube is nothing but basically a chain link fence.  You're 2 stories up and when you look down, you can see that you're 2 stories up.

 Not ok.

When I did the iFly introductory course with my husband, he let our instructor know how scared I was.  And our instructor was not surprised.  Apparently my ashen face gave me away.
 
I've attached the video of my iFly experience.  Falling into the tube as instructed and trusting this relative stranger to catch me.  Then he "flew" me.  Took me up in the tube where I didn't want to go.  And made me walk on the floor where I didn't want to walk.

When you watch this video, it'll look like I'm smiling.  I'm not. That's the side effect of 100 mph winds flapping your cheeks back. You look happy, even when you're scared.

On the flip side, when you watch me walk, it will look like I "messed" my pants.  I didn't.  It's just hard to stand up straight in 100 mph winds.

Watch til the end.

When I'm back on solid ground and so proud that I was pushed beyond what I thought was possible.  And hugged the jerk  the instructor who pushed me and the jerk my husband who told him to do it.

It's pure joy!

I have a new appreciation for believing in being limitless.  For staring at deeply rooted fears and seeing them as mindsets to be pushed past.

May we all aspire to push ourselves and believe that anything is possible, regardless of our age.