Say, "I Can"

In yoga I frequently hear my teachers ask us to "imagine if we spent as much time saying 'I can' as we say 'I can't,' and then imagine replacing all of those 'I can'ts' with 'I cans." So of course, as I've done with many of these little mantras, I have fully adopted this one into my life, and I've been saying, "I can." I know this probably sounds ridiculous, considering what's going on in my life right now, but I find that even in really small situations, finding the strength to say, "I can" brings me some joy. Yesterday, this video was shown to me for the second time, and I could not help but think this was fate.

I am just loving the idea of "I can" right now, so please join me and adopt it as your mantra. Whether it applies to cooking a 20 lb turkey, changing lives in India, applying for your dream job, finishing your law school applications, getting through your first year teaching, running a marathon (or a half, that's cool too), breaking up with your significant other, finding a significant other, finishing your first semester of undergrad, or anything else, I challenge you to say, "I can!"

Today began the visual of our "No Excuses Campaign" in my classroom. Below there is a photo of our no excuses wall. Attached to the clothes pins are notecards with all of the excuses my students have ever made (in English, Spanish, and maybe even some French!). We are hanging our excuses out to dry and fly away. We CAN make a difference in our lives by saying goodbye to excuses, goodbye to "I can't," and hello to I CAN.

No Excuses

Today I had a revelation. I finally figured out how to make my life story, and my grief relevant to my students. After a toilsome day of childish arguments, a folder fight, and a child pretending to choke himself I pretty much thought that I'd had enough today. 3/4s through my last block I got to what must've really been my limit: after I'd already sat on the floor under a table with a student (amusing picture to you all I am sure), dealt with tears because a student accused another student of a homosexual kissing session (6th graders have wild imaginations), argued with two angry girl students about how they need to do their work in class even if they're mad...well I just about exploded!

That is actually just what I did. I stood in my "angry spot" in the classroom, bugged my eyes out a little, and with my angry vein throbbing I tried to stare each student in the eye as I said this (said or screamed, it's however you imagine it):

"I am sick and tired of you all making excuses for not doing your work. Where do you think excuses are going to get you in life?" (student response is a mumble that sounds to me like a combination of nowhere and jail...yikes!)

"Do you think that I got to be a teacher by making excuses my whole life?" (blank stares, wide eyes, I had their attention!)

"Now I am going to tell you a little bit about myself, I don't mean to be emotional, but I think that this is very important so listen up! I did not have an easy childhood growing up. I had to take on a lot of responsibility for my younger siblings, and I had to take care of my mother. Do you think that I went to school and made excuses about this? Do you think that I got into one of the best colleges in the country by making excuses?" (The students sat up, looked at me, I had struck a nerve)

"Now that I've shared this I want you to think about me as a person, because although I am a teacher I am also a person and I expect to be treated that way. Do you remember learning that someone in my family passed away a few weeks ago? (nods) Well, do I come into school everyday and tell you I can't teach because of this? No, I do not. So stop coming in here and thinking of every excuse you can in order to get out of doing work, because I am over it, and I am not accepting any excuses anymore, because it's not doing you any good."

Although, I would usually never share one of these lectures to my students on my blog, I felt that this one was very important. Through this little outburst I learned how to inspire my students through my grief and positively influence them despite this.

Tomorrow we are going to begin our NO EXCUSES campaign. In every block I am going to give a similar lecture as today and then I am going to have students write down all of the excuses they have ever made on slips of paper. We are going to display these excuses, and say goodbye to them forever. I am going to share short bios of leaders who did not let excuses stand in their way, and then I am going to let the students share their own stories and how they are not going to let excuses stand in their way. This will be an ongoing campaign for the rest of the year. Please feel free to send any ideas or resources that you have my way!

The Little Things

When you wake up in the morning you never quite know what is going to be the thing that makes or breaks your day. I know that so much of the time my students are the ones to cause me pure joy, or copious amounts of stress. As I am grieving, I find myself waiting for the little things that will really cheer me up. The other night my dad and I talked about all of the cards that we've received, and how just a small note can make all of the difference to us. I look forward to these cards, to phone calls, texts, and emails from my incredibly supportive friends, to the wonderful and remarkably joyous moments with my students, to losing myself in my kitchen, to the Saturday farmers market, and to yoga.

I must share one of the best cards that I've gotten with all of you (The pictures are a little funny because I am trying to hide the student's name):

The front says: "As long as you are out I will read every book on.... EARTH"

The first inside cover says:

"Dear Ms. Samuel I know your sadder than ever. Since your my favorite teacher, and the nicest person I know. I made this card. I love you like my own family. I know how you feel my great grandma died in 09. You are indeed important and a special person in my life. Hope you like my poem!!!!"

The poem goes like this:

Title: I am used to tears

"1 My mom wets up my shirt. I am used to tears. I turn tears into smiles when cries are near. It's impossible to keep the cries out my ears.

2 Sniff and shiver. I will share all the pain. Sharing is more beautiful than a horse's mane. Lot's of others do not feel the same

3 Ms. Samuel...I am used to tears !!!"

I wish I could say that I taught him to write like that, but he did that all on his own!