Teaching Creativity

5 Powerful Ways to Motivate Your Students

5 Lessons from 5 Amazing Friends

Whether you’re a teacher, a student, or a parent, you’d have to agree that any motivation that is given to you makes a load of difference on how you view your present circumstances. It helps you get up and get going.

This past week I had five friends who were a huge encouragement to me! They motivated me and pushed me to do something brand new. They motivated me to do my best and to keep on keeping on.

I’m going to take what they gave me and give you five simple tips on how to motivate your students. If they worked for me, they’ll surely work for your kiddos.

1. Praise Them

My beautiful (and crazy talented) friend Sarah did one simply impactful thing for me this week. What did she do? She complimented me!

Yep, that’s it. She shared a kind word or two with me and that was all it took to put a bit of pep in my step. And you know what? I needed it!

Your students need it too! They need to be complimented. They need to be praised for their good behavior and noticed when they’ve tried their best and gotten it right.

Praising a student can reinforce positive behavior, redirect them to make good decisions, and help them realize their accomplishments.

2. Remind Them

I was talking with my long-distance, goal getter, best friend Leanne. This phone call was particularly short—only seven minutes or so. It was during this time that she reminded me of so many things that God has done in my life.

She reminded me of how far God has brought me, how He has changed me as a person, and how He has used me in the ministry.

Honestly, as soon as we hung up the phone, I was motivated to do even more!!

You can have that same outstanding impact on your students.

You can be that teacher that reminds them how far they’ve come since the beginning of the year and of how much they’ve grown. When they see their progress it helps them know that they’re capable of changing for the better and that there are even more great days ahead.

3. Challenge Them

That’s right! How do you motivate your students? By challenging them to be better than they are right now.

One of my friends, Zoe, challenged me this past week. She simply asked me to share my work with those around me and to actually put myself out there. It was super scary at first but it was also a great motivator to improve.

This concept can be really easy to implement in your classroom. Giving your students a page that requires more critical thinking or assigning a group project that pushes them to work with others could be the exact thing that not only changes things up, but helps push them to take steps to improve.

4. Give to Them

This past week I was celebrating a good CT scan from my neurologist and, since my friend Hannah couldn’t be there with me to celebrate, she sent me a Starbucks gift card instead.

How thoughtful is that, right?! So sweet!

She thought of me and wanted to show me that she was happy for me and, because of that, she did something small, kind, and caring. She simply gave.

When we give to our students, it has that same refreshing effect.

Giving them a handwritten card or leaving a simple note on their desk can be a great motivator. It reminds them how much they’re loved and let’s them know that you’re on their team—celebrating and rooting for them with each little victory they make.

5. Invest in Time with Them

This tip came from my friendship with my fabulous partner in crime, Maddie. She’s one of the people in my life that I run to whenever I feel the need for some sound advice. She carefully listens and then (after telling me to calm down) rationalizes.

Do you know what she’s doing each time we have a conversation? She’s investing.

She’s investing her time and her talent. She’s not just, “having a conversation.” She’s giving of herself.

Our students need our investment in their lives as much as we need investment from others.

They need us to invest our time, our talents, and our hearts. They need our eyes when they’re showing us their glittery shoes and they need our ears when they’re talking about their playground adventures. They need us. They need all of us invested into all of them.

I’m so thankful for the five ladies mentioned and many others that I have yet to mention (some who are probably reading this right now). You all have taught me so much and invested so much into my life. I hope to keep passing it on to others. Thanks for helping me teach creativity!

3 Practical Ways to be an Out-of-this-world Coworker

We all enjoy having that coworker who is simply amazing, but do you know what’s better than that? Actually being that person!

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus stated, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” If you’re a Christian, you and I have the potential to be that shining light for Christ in our workplace.

So without further delay, here are 5 practical tips for being that amazing coworker & letting your light shine:

1. Be Responsible

Or simply put another way: do the job you were hired for.

If you were hired to mop the floors, then keep them clean. If you were hired to grade papers, then keep your red pen going. If someone entrusted a task to you, make sure to finish it.

Be responsible. Do what’s expected from you without being reminded or asked repeatedly.

One of my favorite college professors said, “Responsible people make less work for others.”

2. Be Approachable

Now am I asking you to give up your free time for a coworker? No. Am I asking you to drop everything that you’re doing when someone talks to you? Definitely not.

Being approachable doesn’t mean we always need to be available. It just means that people should feel like they can talk to us.

I think most of us, myself included, enjoy working with people we can talk to. There’s something great about someone who is willing to hear about your day, pick on your faults, or share your laughter.

Those are the kind of people we typically call friends and I bet you can think of at least one that you have at your job. And who knows? Perhaps there’s someone you know who is reading this and thinking of you.

3. Be Caring

There was a time in my life when I was quite shy about using my sign language in front of the deaf. It was at that time that one of my friends said something to me that I’ll always remember. He said, “I know that you love them, but they’ll never know it if you don’t tell them.” Wow right?!

Our relationship with our coworkers is the same. You might truly be concerned for the people you work with, and yet they would have no idea. You know why? It’s because you’ve never showed them.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:”~Proverbs‬ ‭18:24‬a

So how do we show them that we care? It’s easy! A handwritten note, a gift card, praying together, or simply having a short five minute conversation in the hallway can make the biggest, positive impact on someone else’s day. It lets them know that you care and helps them remember that they are valued and supported.

So be that person! Be that shining light in your workplace!

Take the time today to show your coworkers that you genuinely care about them, that you’re there when they need you, and that they can count on you. Be that out-of-this-world coworker that we all know and love! Be the coworker who teaches creativity!

God Values You & Your Students

We’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced those moments where we’ve felt so wrapped up in lesson plans & grading that we couldn’t catch our breath. We’ve questioned our positive impact on our class and neglected our own personal rest & growth.

We’ve all felt drained, unseen, unnoticed, & perhaps even unloved at times.

I can’t count how many times I’ve forgotten how much God loves and cares about me. Days and moments have gone by where I’ve completely neglected His presence in my life or taken for granted how He views me personally.

But the truth is this: God loves every single one of us and commands us as Christians to show that love to others.

God is with You

If you have Jesus Christ in your heart, you can rest assured that God is with you. He’s with you during the easy days & the hard ones. He’s by your side while you teach in the morning and He’s cheering you on while you’re grading late at night.

“…for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”~Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God sees you, loves you, and is helping you during every moment of your day. Lean on Him, trust Him, & remember to embrace His presence.

God Loves Your Students

You may struggle at times showing compassion to the kids in your class. When that happens, take a deep breath & remind yourself, “God loves this little one.”

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”~1 John‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Love your students the way God does!

Don’t yell at them when they frustrate you or put them down when they don’t understand a concept. Instead be a vessel of God’s love & grace in their lives, reminding them how God sees them.

Your Hard Work is Valuable to God

The devil will try to get you to quit. He’ll try to make you believe that you’re not making a difference.

Don’t listen to him! The truth is that the impact you leave on the lives of others lasts throughout eternity.

The children in your class will not only remember the lessons you’ve taught them, but will also cherish the thought of YOU. They’ll remember that hug in the morning, the praise for a job well done, & the patience you showed them when you shared God’s Word.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”~Philippians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God sees you. He knows how hard you’re working & all that you’re doing for Him.

Don’t quit! Don’t give up! God still has a lot for you to do!

So go out there & teach creativity!

3 Tips to Engage in the Best Spirit Week Ever

Right now my school is having spirit week!! I love this time of the year! It’s probably my favorite! Everyone shows their epic school spirit by getting dressed up and decked out! It makes school fun, motivates the students, and is seriously the best!

Make sure to go ALL in

What do I mean? I mean give your all to getting dressed up! If your class color is green, don’t just wear a green shirt. Wear a green shirt, a green hat, dark green pants, a mint green scarf, and perhaps even top it off with sparkly green eye shadow. Go all out! Have fun with it!

You can even be that “over the top” teacher that we all aspire to be by decorating your classroom!

Remember that enthusiasm is contagious! If you’re putting your all into your school, & your school spirit week, then your students will too!

Take tons of Pictures

You and your students will want to remember every moment of this fantastic week, but let’s get real: our memories don’t last forever. So how do we fix that? We take pictures!!

Don’t just take a few pictures. Take tons of them!! Put them on your walls, give them to your parents, add them to your school yearbook. Make your memories last a lifetime.

Have Fun!!

Enjoy every second of spirit week! Incorporate your themes into your lessons! Switch up the visuals, add some of your favorite educational songs and videos, and implement fun hands on learning methods.

Play games with your students! Make learning enjoyable and memorable! Have fun & Teach Creativity!!

How to Keep Teaching When You Don’t Feel Like It

One of my best friends is going through a pretty rough time at work. She’s absolutely fabulous with children and such a hard worker. She’s endlessly devoting every day to her kids. Yet she’s experiencing that drained feeling. You know the kind. The one where you’ve given all of yourself with nothing left.

We all hit those moments, days, and sometimes weeks when we feel like throwing in the towel. Those school days when we’ve had enough and our patience seems to be wearing thin. Those times can be extremely difficult. So how do we keep going? How do we continue when we feel hopeless, exhausted, and fatigued? How do we take those next steps into the week ahead?

1. Remember Your Impact

Remember why you took your teaching job in the first place. Remember how your life and smile positively impact the students and staff around you. Remember the difference you make in the students’ lives and be encouraged by it!

You’re a teacher because you’re called to be one. You make a difference. You change lives.

“I will remember the works of the Lord:”-Psalm 77:11a

2. Look at the Past Victories

Take time to sit down and write a list of all of the past victories that God has given you in the classroom. Look at the child who’s finally learned how to write their name or tie their shoes. Notice the student who bumped up their grade from a D+ to a B-. Think about the kid who finally made sure to raise their hand and is doing all they can to try their best. Dwell on every small victory that God has given you.

How did those things happen? It was God using you. It was God working through you.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”-Philippians 2:13

3. Take Time to Rest

We’ve all heard that phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Well, that’s true! Seriously, go to your kitchen and try pouring out from an empty cup into another. Go on. I’ll wait…did it work? No? Told you so.

As much as we would like to give it all to our students, we can’t give them all of us.

Our lives need to be equally balanced. You need time to prioritize your relationship with the Lord. You need to be able to build connections with your family. You need to be able to re-energize yourself. You need to get away for a while. You need to set time aside to recharge and refocus.

Don’t feel bad for taking time to rest. Remember, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

“Rest in the Lord…”-Psalm 37:7a

Go pull out a nice journal, a warm cup of coffee, and a cozy blanket. Encourage a friend and remember that when you feel like quitting that it’s time to keep going. Keep Teaching Creativity!

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”-Colossians 3:23

5 Powerful Ways to Help a Struggling Student

We all have that student who struggles with something. Better than that, we’ve all been that student who has struggled with something.

Maybe you can relate to struggling with Math or Science. Perhaps you didn’t enjoy writing that essay in English or working with a group for that History project. But I can bet that you remember that teacher that took some time and effort to help you out.

So what are some ways that we can help out that student is having a hard time in our class? What are some ways that we can help them focus or understand the subject matter?

Here are five ways that we can help a struggling student:

1. Notice the Problem

Take time to notice each student. Pinpoint what subject they aren’t understanding. Then take the time to dive a little deeper and see what area within the subject they’re having the hardest time with.

For example perhaps it’s Math. They’re having a hard time with multiplication and division, but they’re great with adding and subtracting.

Take time to notice the problem. This might take more than just a day or two. It might actually take a few weeks or so, but it’ll be totally worth it and you’ll be so glad that you did.

2. Motivate the Student

Once you find out what they struggle with, how they learn, and what they enjoy doing, then take all of that information and find a way to motivate them!

Use sticker charts, a point system, or any thing you know to encourage the child to do their best.

If you can motivate them, it’ll make it easier for them to learn.

3. Give them Extra Time

If your school administrators allow you to do so, give the student extra time!

When we’re on a time crunch (whether a child or an adult), we tend to panic, overthink, or simply not do our best. Giving a struggling student extra time allows them to relax and can mean the difference between a D and a C.

**Now this might not be the same for every student, because they’re all different. You may notice that setting a timer for a child may actually improve their work and motivate them to “beat the clock.” So really study your students in order to make sure you do what’s best for them.

4. Tutoring

Bet this was the first thing you thought of, right? But it’s true!!

One on one time with an instructor can be exactly what that student needs to improve.

Whether it’s with you or an outside tutor, feel free to suggest outside help for a child in need. Trust me, the parents might not be on board right away, but later on they’ll be glad that you took the time to help their student in the best way possible.

5. Implement Study Sheets

If you’ve targeted their spots that need improvement and worked with them one on one, it’s time to provide some sort of study sheets or extra homework.

This is so here the motivation comes in! It’s hard enough to get a child to do regular class work (let alone things that they’re having a hard time with), so make sure your motivational tools are locked in place.

There you are! 5 Tips to Help your Struggling Student! Make sure to share with other fellow teachers and comment below on what you enjoy doing to help out students in your classroom. Perhaps fun ways you implement music or hands-on methods. Let’s help each other teach creativity!

3 Lessons to teach your Students from the Life & Legacy of Kobe Bryant

I’m not a huge sports fan, but I was absolutely devastated to hear the news of the accident that took place just yesterday, January 26, 2020.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter were among those who had lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident.

My family grew up watching Kobe play basketball and listening to his speeches on television. I simply can’t imagine a world where we play basketball without his story still being a part of it. That’s when I relived I had to write something that included part of his story. Part of his legacy.

So without further ado, here are 3 lessons you can teach your students from the life of Kobe Bryant:

1. Play as a Team

We can all agree that basketball is a team sport. You don’t just play it on your own. You play the game and you win the game together. As a team.

“The important thing is that your teammates have to know you’re pulling for them and you really want them to be successful.”-Kobe Bryant

This is the same for life. Teach your students that life isn’t easy and it can’t be played alone. It’s them, their family, their friends, and God. It’s a team effort.

2. Work Hard

Kobe Bryant worked to become the basketball player that we all loved. He didn’t just wake up one morning with the gifts he had. He had to practice, sweat, train, fail, succeed, and no matter what had to work hard and keep going.

“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.”–Kobe Bryant

Teach your students to work hard. They may not get the problem the first time or even the second or third, but they have to keep going in order to get where they want to be.

3. Inspire Others

Take a look on Instagram, Facebook, or any local media site and you can see that Kobe Bryant didn’t only inspire a few. He inspired hundreds.

“The most important thing is to try and inspire peopleso that they can be great at whatever they want to do.”–Kobe Bryant

Teach your students to inspire others to do their best for the Lord. Teach them what it means to encourage their classmates and uplift those around them.

There you are. 3 Lessons from the Life of Kobe Bryant. I hope it was inspirational to you as a sports fan and as a teacher.

I’m thankful for an athlete who left a legacy that can help us teach creativity.

3 Simple Steps for Creating Valentine’s Decorations for your Classroom

Pink and red is starting to show up everywhere. Valentine’s Day cards are being made. Cute decorations and delicious chocolates are all going on sale. Valentine’s Day is officially coming and I couldn’t be more excited!

Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday!

Now, personally, I’m not married, engaged, or dating. So why do I love Valentine’s Day so much? Easy, because I love my students and I love being able to celebrate the special day with them!

Today we’re going to talk about one of my favorite things about Valentine’s Day: the decorations!

1. Choose Your Colors

This first step is quick, easy, and painless. Simply choose what colors you want to use. Red, pink, purple, and white are your traditional Valentine’s Day colors. You can always choose from those or mix it up a bit.

*Pro tip: be sure to use construction paper. It’s not only cheap, but really easy to handle.

This year I chose yellow and pink. It ties in perfectly with our construction theme and is still bright and beautiful.

2. Create Streamers

Make something bright and colorful that can dangle throughout the room!

The variations are endless!! You could make the original circle chains or change it up by making heart chains. There’s also the paper heart and twine options as well. Whichever one you choose, have fun with it!

This year I combined the heart and circle idea to create this chain to go over our doorway.

3. Cut Out or Craft the Small Items

Think about your space. Decide what you’d like to put around your hook tags or on the the students’ desks. Take note about what you want around your area as well.

Then either cut out or craft! Cut out small hearts or craft cute woodland animals. Cut out cheesy sayings or craft bows and arrows to place around the room.

I decided to go the cheap and cheesy way with these adorable (yet “punny”) sayings that were simply cut out from scrapbook paper.

Have fun with it! Enjoy Valentine’s Day with your students! And join me next time as we teach creativity!

New Year>>New Vibes>> New You

This week marks the back to school week for readied teachers, reluctant students, relieved parents, and refreshed faculty.

Everyone is hitting the ground running. Lessons are being planned. Lunches are being served. Papers are being assigned. 2020 school year is here and it’s time we made things happen!

Now, what am I proposing to do this year? New class decor? New innovative teaching methods? Building a better relationship with the Lord? Getting to know your students better? My answer: YES!! To all of it!

How do you do that? How can you make this year the best one yet?

Take time to prioritize you and your relationship with the Lord.

Honestly, I’m not part of the hustle and bustle this year. Not by choice of course, but because I’m still recovering from a car accident. I still have to recover from brain trauma. I do everything with one hand (including typing this blog). I can’t do anything on my own. I seriously have no choice but to rest, regroup, and refocus.

It’s been one of the hardest, yet most valuable waiting times I’ve ever experienced. Why? Because this has been one of the best and most liberating times that I’ve had in order to step back and focus on God.

I’ve been pushed to give let go and let God. I’ve been challenged to give everything to Him. I’ve felt the hand of God’s healing and the depths of my frailty.

It hasn’t been the easiest, but it has been the most rewarding and I can’t wait to see how God uses it in my life and in the lives of my students.

Wanting an amazing school year ahead? Surrender to God. Give it all to Him and see how are uses you.

New Year! New Vibes! New You! Let’s teach creativity in 2020!

How to set 2020 Academic Goals for your Classroom

In my last blog post I talked about 3 Powerful Ways to Prepare your Classroom for the New Year. One of those ways was to Cast a Vision for the year ahead. How do we do that? We dream. We hope. We set goals.

Your academic goals will be completely dependent upon your students’ current academic level and the subject/grade level(s) that you teach.

For example, I have two friends. One of my beautiful friends lives in Arizona. She teaches music to all grade levels, K5 through 12th. My second inspiring friend lives in New York where she teaches 4th grade.

Both ladies would have different goals, geared towards different levels, but their goals would have 3 things in common. They would need weekly, monthly, & yearly goals.

Weekly Goals

Every teacher makes lesson plans. Your lesson plans are basically small academic goals you intend to impart to your students on a weekly basis.

Don’t take them for granted! Your lesson plans for the week just might be what holds your class together for the year.

Monthly Goals

One step further than lesson planning is asking yourself: What do I want my students to have retained in a month from now?

Find the subjects your students are struggling in and brainstorm on how you can help them improve. Set goals that are measured by their improvement and the time you’ve spent investing in them.

Ex. Goal: By the end of February, each student will be able to recall the scientific method.

Ex. Plan: To teach the scientific method with engaging visuals. To reinforce the lesson by reviewing on a weekly basis with various games and quizzes.

Yearly Goals

For these yearly goals, consult your principal and think about your students in the long term.

Then envision your individual students with their future titles. For example:

Seth the doctor ~ Maria the teacher ~ Irene the vet ~ Linda the musician

After you’ve planned and set some goals and hopes into action, you’ll not only find yourself seeing your students potential in a different light, but you’ll also find yourself giving more effort to help them reach that potential.

So what goals are you setting for your class this year? Let me know! Let’s help each other teach creativity!