FLIP IT!

Do you need an attitude adjustment?  I definitely do
Are you comfortable with change?  at times
Do you embrace it, fight it, ignore it or try to hide from it?  all the above
Do you worry about areas you have no control over?  way too many times


I have been on quite a journey the last few years.  I left my classroom last year (which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!) and I became the first literacy coach for our district.  I can tell you I have wanted to transfer back into the classroom every month!  Constantly wondering what did I do???  But then a young teacher came into my room and asked how I have managed to stay positive and in-tune to the latest teaching techniques.  She thanked me for helping her this year.  Just these few little words helped me change my attitude.   I do love my position and I knew when I took this job I wanted to work hard to help teachers FLIP IT!  (I'll explain)  It was great timing because I was falling into a pit of complaints.

I was reaching a new chapter in my life a few years ago.....my two oldest children going off to college, hitting the big 40 and wondering if I could stay in the teaching profession or was it time to find a new career.   LUCKILY,  I had a wise person tell me.... you can do whatever you want to.  You can hide from change or embrace it.  The wise phrase that I love to use.... FLIP IT!

I flipped it.  I decided to change my attitude and to take an exciting personal & professional journey.  I entered an on-line program and received my Reading Masters.  The professional connections and journey I began was beyond my greatest hope.  I learned to flip my classroom- adding techniques I was far lacking for my diverse learners.  I connected with teachers that were passionate and embraced the challenges.  They introduced me to a world of looking at teaching as exciting and rewarding again.  They introduced me to a world of following blogs and connecting with other passionate professionals.

Lately.... I have fallen back into bad habits... complaining, grumbling and pointing fingers. My goal this month..... FLIP IT!  Our district is going through many changes.  Its time to focus on the positive..... stop looking at the problems I/we have, the test scores that may not be high enough, teachers that just want a pay check & bad PR in the public.  What I tell students all the time,  "worry about yourself".   I have to worry about myself and start focusing on the positive.  There are so many positives at H-D.  I work with about 45 teachers and I can tell you great things are happening in every classroom and I look forward to continuing the journey with them.  I am re-reading the book below which has helped too.

DON'T let the few negatives drag you down and prevent you from being the best teacher you can be.  FOCUS on the positives!   LOOK BACK and see how far your students have come this year!

A great book that helped me change my mindset!

Happy Reading & FLIP IT-  Mrs. Speake