Watch and Learn

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Hello Friends and Happy TGIF!

It was another jam-packed week here in Northern Wisconsin. My 8th graders attended another high school transition day, their class trip, an assembly, and two track meets. This is why you'll see a resource about headaches in the Growth section below.

Shout Out - Thank you to Perry for the great comment and testimonial, and to everyone who shared last week's newsletter with a friend or two.

Question - What are some of the things you do during the end of the school year to protect your sanity? Let me know in a reply to this email.

Have a great weekend!  

In today’s newsletter…

• Strategies for motivating students
• Teacher shortage crisis and negative consequences for students
• Personal development and wellness resources, including methods for improving emotional connections and reducing headache frequency

The News

Here are some articles that grabbed my attention.

• Motivation - Keeping students motivated is often a challenge, especially at this time of year. Check out these seven strategies to increase student motivation. By building solid relationships with students, praising their successes and mistakes, and creating a culture of learning from mistakes in the classroom, teachers can help students put more of their energy into their education.
• Teacher Shortage - It’s been well documented that there is a teacher shortage in the U.S. Some states have it worse than others, but all of them have had to resort to using underqualified teachers to fill open positions. This has negative consequences for students. Researchers at Kansas State University found that at least 163,000 teaching positions nationwide are held by underqualified teachers. To retain qualified educators and entice people to enter the profession, society needs to send the message that teachers deserve increased compensation and status.
• Grow Your Zen - Gardening with young children, particularly herb gardening, offers a rich sensory experience and can be used to teach social and emotional learning (SEL). Students can explore the herbs' scents, create calming and energizing sachets, write about their special blends, and decorate frozen-pop sticks and wooden faces to label the plants growing in their garden and show the emotions each herb brought up for them.
• Watch and Learn - Interactive videos are an effective teaching strategy that can enhance instruction, build independence, and empower students to learn at their own pace. They have a moderate effect size of .58, which can contribute to improved learning outcomes. With tools like EDpuzzle and PlayPosit, it is easier than ever to incorporate interactive videos into your teaching practice.

Growth

Personal Development and Wellness Resources

• What Does It Mean - Working hard and achieving dreams does not necessarily lead to happiness. The journey to find a meaningful life is more important than the destination. A meaningful life can be defined in various ways, such as achieving goals, experiencing growth, seeking stability and comfort, and ultimately depends on each individual's situation, life stage, age, and passion.
• Self-Reflection - Proprioceptive writing is a method of connecting physical sensations with thoughts through writing. It reduces unhealthy rumination and can improve emotional connections, empathy, confidence, and career development.
• Headaches - The month of May can bring with it a flurry of headaches as things get really busy. Some of the most common triggers are stress, diet, and lack of sleep. There are some things you can do to reduce headache frequency. Pinpointing your headache triggers is the first place to start.

Inspiration

"When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points." - Confucius

Favorite Things

• Music - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2023 class of inductees. Some of my favorites are Willie Nelson and The Spinners. Cue Rubberband Man.
• Water - Track your daily water intake progress and maintain a streak with WaterMinder.
• Summer Shirt - Teacher Off Duty - Last Day Of School Teacher Summer T-Shirt

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