WK3 Comment on Classmates' Blog - Blog Post 2

Picture compliments of Dena Moncrief.

Mike Colletti blogged:

“I continue to enjoy this book.  The Zander’s continue to present a common sense  approach to living and leading.  I could relate to Chapter 5, Leading from Any Chair.  When I read some of the stories relayed to us, I had to smile.  

I am a coach, and I have always tried to allow the students I work with the chance to tell me what they feel they need to work on.  My most successful competitors have taken to this approach and we have productive practice sessions, which translates into success in rounds of debate and speech.  I believe the more ownership the child has with her practice and performance sessions, the better she feels.

As part of this approach, I also have sessions where we don’t work on specific pieces to perform.  Sometimes, just sitting and talking about school or life or almost anything is more effective than going over a performance selection for the umpteenth time.  Being able to relax, and lighten up a little, is following Rule Number Six.  In the scheme of things, speech competition is minor to some of the other things my kids deal with every day, and by showing an interest in the rest of their lives, it allows me to then be able to ask for more of them when it really counts, in competition. 

I think I have had this approach for most of my career.  It is nice when respected individuals like the Zanders validate what I have been doing.”

@ Mike

It looks like you are doing a great job! There aren’t too many people that will take themselves out of their position to see what others want so that everyone can be productive. You are allowing your students to take part in their own learning rather than telling them what they need to do. This is very important. It sounds like you have already given them an “A”.  :)

WK3 Reading - Blog Post #1

Picture compliments of Dena Moncrief

I am actually enjoying reading The Art of Possibility. Sometimes God places things in your life right when you need them and not when you think you need them. This book has been very refreshing. It has helped me to look at situations differently than I have before.

Everybody should be a conductor if we go by the definition in the book. Conductors have the ability to make others powerful. As a teacher, we do exactly the same. We have the power to either be instrumental in someone’s success. You look good when you help to uplift others.

We are also encouraged to lighten up and not take everything so serious. As you lighten up you start looking at things as they are and not from the past. You shouldn’t focus on how wrong things are because it takes away your ability to act effectively. Like stated in previous chapters of this book, thinking positive is the key. When positivity is your primary focus then you tend to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. I am personally dealing with a not so positive situation as we speak. I do see how the more you give attention to problems, the more they escalate. It makes things worse.

My passion in life is to change the way my students/children think about things. I want them to think about making right choices. Not to always follow their peers because even they can mislead them. I want them to carry themselves in a way they can be respected. It is my hope that even if I get through to some that’s enough. 

WK2 Blog Post 4- How do you think?

Picture compliments of Dena Moncrief.

Now that I’ve read, I want to give everybody an “A” including myself. The hard part is how do you give yourself an “A”? We are our own worst critic, basher, friend, and sometimes even enemy. When you’ve always thought of yourself as one way how do you turn it around? When things did not go as you thought they should have, how can you think positive? Well…it comes through positive thinking and prayer. Instead of always thinking that something bad is always happening to you, turn it around and say that it wasn’t for you to have, do, see, be, and so on.

I remember one day I was having a birthday party for my oldest daughter. I could not find my keys. We looked and looked and looked. Still there were no keys. The birthday party had started without the birthday girl. I was really upset. Eventually we found the keys in my youngest daughter’s toy car. As we were leaving to go to the party, there was a news flash on TV telling everyone to not use the interstate. There was a bad car accident where a car hit a gas truck and blew up the interstate. No cars could pass. Several people were hurt. At that moment I realized that if we had left when I wanted to leave then we would have been in the mist of the accident. Everything happens for a reason. That day changed how I thought about everything.

Changing the way I think. Optimistic, that’s the key.

WK2 Blog Post 3- Comment on Classmates' Blog

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Ashley May blogged:

“As I read through the chapters, I couldn’t help but think to myself.  I know I have heard this all before.  After about the fourth time I found myself saying this, it dawned on me; these are all Biblical principles being put into action.  I had heard this all before.  We have studied many of these same concepts in depth at my church.  Such titles as What You are Expecting is Expecting You, Your Thoughts Create Your World, and Confession that Brings Possession immediately came to mind.  You can click on any of the titles to purchase any of these titles or to read more information.    My Bishop, S. Terri Smith, always says, “The principles work if you work them.” It is show true.  Believer or non-believer, Christian or non-Christian, the principles of the Bible always work.  After realizing that this book was simply a repeat of teaching that I had already received being presented in a different light, I was able to read and enjoy more.  I was able to really get into what the Zanders had to say. 

There were a few points that stuck out to me that I would like to address.  First, Ben dealt with removing fear as an obstacle.  This was a prevalent theme throughout the first 2 chapters.  I had my “aha” moment when I (once again) realized that I am the biggest opposition to my own success.  It’s my thought patterns about my environment and myself that have to change.  I have to stop limiting myself to the box.  Instead of thinking outside of the box, I have to operate as if the box doesn’t exist!

The second point that I absolutely loved was when Zander said, “When you make a mistake, lift your arms high in the air and say ‘how fascinating.’”  I thought this would be a great exercise for me, personally.  I tend to put an extraordinary amount of pressure on myself to do everything and be everything.  What’s worse is that even though I know I cannot be perfect, I am still somehow disappointed when I am not.  This exercise will be great for me to start to take some of the pressure off of myself, and to allow myself to make mistakes. 

The third point that stood out was the story of the Taiwanese student.  He went form seeing himself as a 68, to seeing himself as an A.  It made me wonder, how do I see myself?  Why do I let others define who I am? Why do we all let others define who we are, even if it’s just a small part of ourselves?  This passage was extremely liberating for me.  It also reinforced things that I knew, but that I hadn’t yet learned.  I hope that makes sense to you!  It’s just like when people hear you but they are not listening.  Anyway, I am going to strive to do a better job of only caring about how I see myself, and giving myself that A!

The fourth and last point that I wanted to discuss was about making contributions, and about how that is like making ripples.   It immediately brought me back to Professor Rena Hanaway’s class.  Her theme was always  “making ripples,” and I really, finally, truly got it! It’s really about doing enough to cause a change in others, and for that same change to cause a ripple effect.  On a random side note, I thought it was rather befitting that I would reach this epiphany of sorts during the same week that I am hammering home cause and effect relationships with my 6th grade students!”

@ Ashley

I found myself relating what I read to my life and how I perceive things. Since I am going through some personal struggles right now, it was easy for me to understand and get into the reading when the authors started discussing relationships. I think all of us, at some point, have let others define who we are. The good part is that I’m sure we came to our senses once we saw how ridiculous things were becoming.

By the way…Reading your post wasn’t that bad. You just probably had a lot to release. Remember in our reading, it’s all about how you think. It’s an INVENTION.

WK2 Blog Post 2- Comment on Classmates' Blog

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Scot Byrd blogged:

“I think that it is Interesting that we are reading this in Month 11 as we are heading out of the program and on to our new lives as Full Sail Alumni. This book so far has re-iterated what we have been doing this whole time in the EMDT program. It's like we just needed a reminder in words of what it is we have been doing and how it is a good idea for us to do the same in our profession.

The thought of giving an A at the beginning of a class sounds pretty crazy to a lot of people and they would wonder where the motivation to do quality work would come from. But this is the same kind of stuff we have been doing in this program and I have started to do in my own classes at my job. I ask the students to create and I want them to try their best in my class as we learn new programs and tools that they can use for all subjects in their education. I know that they don't all have the same talents and skills so I can't realistically ask them to create the same quality work for everything that we do. What I can ask them to do is to try their best, and they will only do this if they know that they will not be penalized for this and therefore won't be risky. So I took this idea from one the first months in the program (i can't remember which one) and created Risk Free activities that allow students to try different programs and projects with no risk to their grades. In doing this I have seen students give me some pretty awesome things that they normally wouldn't have done and would have just followed the rubric exactly to get the grade. The Art of Possibility spells this out with great examples of how this truly is the best way to get the most out of your students and make them not just play it safe for the good grade.”

@ Scot

You’re right. Since all students will not be able to create the same quality of work, giving students the “A” will hopefully ensure that they will strive to be and do the best they can do. I think it increases their level of thinking. Who knows…they may ENGAGE themselves so much that they may get that “A”.  :)

I like how you are incorporating the risk free projects in your classroom. You are stepping out of the box and your students will appreciate that later in life.

Wk2 Blog Post 1- Reading Ch 1-4

Picture compliments of Dena Moncrief.

There were so many life lessons demonstrated in the 1st four chapters. The reading encouraged me to change the way I think. Think positive and to think of things as you want them to be. It forces you to be optimistic. It also suggested that life is better if you give. When you give and not look for anything in return, then your blessings are multiplied. I'm a living witness. There are a lot of concepts that I will be trying in my classroom next year. It is too late to apply some of them now. The concept of giving students an "A" at the beginning of a course can take some of the worries and frustrations away. Students may feel more comfortable in a new classroom setting and it may boost their confidence. Changing the way we think about everything is definitely the key to living a prosperous life. In some situations...It may even change the outcome.

Wk1 Blog Post 4- Grand Slam

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I am totally not a baseball or softball fan but I do love sports. My oldest daughter is into drama, dance, and singing. My youngest daughter has gone from being an awesome gymnast to softball. I didn't think I would like it but it is fun. Her first game was very interesting and kept us on edge. She did really good to have never played sports before. The last play of the game all of the bases were filled and the score was tied at 3. My daughter stepped up to the plate and hit the ball way out in center outfield. (I hope I said it right. I did mention that this is not my favorite sport.) Everyone including her came home. Her team one 7 to 4.

How did this make me feel? GREAT!!! I am a very proud mother of both of my girls. I really enjoyed the game and I think it really boosted her confidence.