Sra. Scherf

Never doubt the power and value of a single teacher. My high-school teacher surprised me yesterday at my school when she brought me flowers, a card, and a gift for my daughter. She is an award-winning educator who remembers and continues to care about her students long after they are no longer on her roster. When I had her as my teacher I didn't perform at my best. She always pushed me and wasn't satisfied with my effort, but always treated me  as the person she knew I could be if and when I was ready to shine. Thank you for seeing in me what I didn't. She ignited my passion to learn Spanish and called me to apply to become a bilingual educator 20 years ago. Mil gracias Sra. Scherf. Here's to making a difference and treating every child like they are special and believing that they can and will make a difference in our world in their own time, in their own way. 

Unplugging for Summer

Here's to Renee, a wonderful English teacher from Michigan who is on vacation and working to unplug. 

You unplugged your mini-fridge and your printer, you are ready for summer, but are you able to unplug yourself? Just because the calendar says summer vacation, turning off the mental to-do lists and "undone" items on the to-do list can continue to keep us up at night. The first article points out that a teachers make up four decisions in one minute. Many teachers I know arrive early, leave late, and don't take time to sit down to even finish their lunch. Here's a little test to gauge work/life balance... From September to December has your extended family and friends all but stopped contacting you because you are so busy with your students? 

Teaching is like a play. Most are familiar with the performance but don't realize the countless resources, time and money that goes on before the curtains open and the audience (students) walk through the doors. So no wonder it's tough to slow things down and take the break that we need to rethink, reflect and reconnect with our support system of family and friends. http://www.teachingquality.org/content/blogs/tricia-ebner/downshifting

The second article disccusses why it's important to unplug and gives suggestions on how to unwind. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201006/the-importance-vacations-our-physical-and-mental-health

Cheers to all you wonderful teachers. It takes a couple of weeks to wind down but it's really important to recharge and replenish. Changing lives and making a difference is amazingly rewarding and important work but so is leading a balanced life. I guess I'd better go then and enjoy our block full of kiddos laughing and playing outside on a beautifully balmy evening. Happy summer, happy balance. 

Welcome

Welcome to my educational blog: Serve the Good Stuff. Can you tell I created the name when I was starving?

To my face, my colleagues thank me for sharing all of "those great teacher resources". They are so polite and courteous and always make me feel loved. But secretly I fear they are tired of me filling up their inbox and curse the day they gave me their e-dress. So, being the resourceful teacher that I like to think I am, pat pat, bow, bow, I have created this forum to post what I seem to think is hip, cool, and just sooo dang exciting for teachers and kids.

Yes, I know, it's only my version of the world but hey, sometimes, just sometimes, what I send out might be just the thing everyone's been looking for. So, for all you that have a "Jenny E-mails Read During Vacation" folder on your desktop hopefully this blog will help free up some memory and time. Here's to you my awesome colleagues; past, present and future. This on'es for you...Cheers.