Sunday, June 30, 2013

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Where have I been???!!!??? I have been lost and trying to find my blogging heart again. If I really think about it, I have really not blogged much this year. I am sure I could come up and share with you oodles and oodles of excuses to help explain WHY I have not blogged but excuses only help one to understand a problem....they do not make the problem go away...for that problem to go away, you need to take action and make a commitment.

Do you know people who make excuses for a child's behavior or even their own behavior?

Do you think there are excuses for a person's behavior?

The last month of school I heard this phrase often....I even said it myself once!!!!

We have been in school 167 days! You should know how to walk down the hall quietly by now!!!
or
I just don't understand why you cannot sit still and on your bottom when you have been doing it ALL YEAR long!

I think often we think to ourselves Well, they should know better than to do that!!!

I know there have been many, many, MANY times when a child has done something and I looked at that child like they must have lost their mind. Seriously, there are many times when I have no words to say to a child after some of the crazy things they have done or said....but then I have to remind myself they are 6 and school is so much more structured than what they face at home. They need our high expectations but those also need our patience.

Think to yourself for a minute if you have ever done something recently that you know you should not have.......

Anything pop into your head???

Have you driven 1, 2, or even 5 mph over the speed limit?

Talked or texted while driving?

Sped up at a yellow light when you really had time to stop?

Stood in the Express Line at the Grocery Store when you have more than 20 items?

See...just like our kiddos that "forget" how to walk quietly down the hallway, we all do some things that we probably shouldn't...but we are human and get caught up in life or forget to see how our behavior and actions might effect someone else.

Those are some things I have done before but they are also things that I have been frustrated about when someone else did it and it effected ME. We all make mistakes, do things or say things that are hurtful, make excuses when we just to do a better job.



It is so easy to make excuses for ourselves and even easier to blame others or become judgmental of their behavior....especially when it effects us and our expectations.

I know at times we might find ourselves making excuses or saying things like My kids cannot do that! or If you understood their home life, you would see and understand why they are acting this way.

Teaching at-risk kiddos can be tough because so much of what they see at home are the behaviors they are repeating in the classroom that we don't like.

Yes, their home environment helps me understand why that behavior is happening but I need to let that child know that I love them enough to let them know that a hurtful behavior is not okay.

Have you ever heard someone say this:
Well, they just don't understand me if I talk to them in a quiet, calm voice. The only time they get I mean business is when I yell at them and get in their face.

I have watched adults yell at a child in a mean and ugly way about the child talking to another child in an ugly way....um, do as I say but not what I do doesn't really work. One of my favorite things about Conscious Discipline is the reminder to be the person we want others to become. We are mirrors.

Commitments are a HUGE part of Conscious Discipline. We talk daily about making commitments to be kind and help keep others safe. We make commitments as a School Family and we have made individual commitments.

I hope to share with you this summer a post about how to use commitments in your classroom because it will really make an amazing difference.

I am making a commitment that I will post more often. I have missed everyone and your sweet and encouraging words. =)

Here are some pictures to help you think of your week ahead and to reflect on any excuses you might be making:




Google Reader is going away tomorrow... 
I would love for you to...


Thank you for always being here for me. You are each a treasure and a blessing.

From My Heart To Yours,

35 heart notes:

Learning with Mrs. Parker said...

I hope this summer gives you the time and break that you need to be the best you can be for yourself and your students.

Lyn Goff said...

Heather, this post came just when I needed to be reminded of the need to be the person I want others to be.Thanks
Lyn
Mrs. Goff's Pre-K Tales

Rachel said...

This is such a great post! I too am guilty of saying, "We have been doing this all year!" Glad you're back and hope to hear more from you.

Rachel
Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens

Amber O. said...

well, that was a little dose of reality that I truly needed! Love those pics! Have you sen Cara's throwback linky? THIS post would make a really good throwback come March or April when we're all short of patience...just sayin! thanks for the reminder today, Heather!

The Polished Teacher said...

I am so glad you are back! Your posts are always a great reminder to slow down and re-think things. You truly are a blogging gem!

The Polished Teacher

Mrs. Corbitt said...

Wow, your words are so true. I hope that you have a wonderful summer and I look forward to continuing to follow your blog-whenever you post :)

:) Nicole
Tadpole Tidbits
www.mrscorbitt.blogspot.com

Carolyn Kisloski said...

I've missed you, Heather, and even though I just started following you when I started my blog not long ago, I have enjoyed your blog so much and your heart that you put into it. This is a wonderful post and a great reminder. :) Just be as loving and patient with yourself as you are with your students! Sometimes that's the hard part.:)
Carolyn
Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together

Elizabeth said...

Blessings to you, Heather. This is a lovely post and a great reminder that we should take time to think about our actions before reacting to things around us. So glad to see you again, too! And...I'm following on Bloglovin' :)
Elizabeth
Fun in Room 4B

kinder-gardening said...

Heather, I'm so happy you're back. It's funny how your posts come at the perfect moment for me. My little blog is not doing so well and I was thinking about giving up when I read your post. Thank you so much. I'll hang in there a while longer. I doubt that you remember but when I first started this blog journey I was very discouraged and you told me to consider my blog more as a journal for myself than anything else-best advice ever!
Happy summer!

Sara said...

I'm so glad you're back! You always have the best advice and are a nice reminder.
Sara
Polka Dot Kinders

The Tally Tales said...

Welcome back! Those pictures break my heart and put me to shame! Thank you for sharing!

~Leslie
http://thetallytales.blogspot.com

Mrs. Nunley said...

Your post really made me think...especially the pictures at the end. Thank you.
-Megan

First Grade Magic

Mrs. Nunley said...

Your post really made me think...especially the pictures at the end. Thank you.
-Megan

First Grade Magic

Mrs. Griffith said...

So glad you are back. Your posts are so inspiring to read and really help get my mind back on track when I need it most. We are adopting CD this year so I am looking forward to your post on commitments.

Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade

K. Almaraz said...

What an incredible post. Thank you for sharing your words and the images!

Mrs. Arentz said...

I'm so glad you're back! I sure have missed you! Your posts are always so meaningful and appropriate. I'm looking forward to more.

Wendy
Read With Me ABC

Jeannie said...

Welcome back! Thank you so much for this post. I love that you make us think. The pictures are great reminders.

Jeannie
The 2nd Grade Surprise

Jessica said...

This a powerful and touching post. I know have been guilty of saying some of those things. Thank you for the wonderful reminder!
Jessica

Apples and Papers

Erv said...

There is an old saying that "It's not the quantity,but the quality" that counts. Whether you post every day or once a month does not matter to me. Your posts often say just what I need to hear and I appreciate the time and thought you put into your blog.

Shelley H said...

Well said Heather,

I'm blog lovin' you.

Shelley
The Perks of Teaching Primary

Almost Their Height Teacher said...

Its lovely to see your thoughtful posts back, I have missed them especially as I have learnt so much from reading them over the last year. You comments are so true, how often do you see an adult modeling the exact behaviour they are telling a child off for when telling the child off!! We often need a mirror held up to our own faces to see what we are doing before we start correcting the behaviour of others.
Enjoy your summer break, and I look forward to reading your blogs over the next year...

Paula Harrell said...

Welcome back! Thank you for the reminder! I will take your words to heart and to school this year.

Paula
Learn + Play = PreK

Holly said...

Yup, I've definitely uttered those words {we've been in school xxx number of days...why would you do that?!?!} but mostly because I'm human. HA. Glad you're back and hope you are having a wonderful, wonderful summer!!!!!!!

Our school is jumping on the CD train starting next school year. We'll have a CD trainer at all of our staff PD's...

Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

Miss May said...

Heather what a great post! You should repost this from time to time as a reminder to people. Wow!! Love it!

((HUGS))
Tiffany

Mrs. Landry said...

Oh my goodness I've missed your great posts! I'm planning to finally crack open that Conscious Discipline book once I get one of my other book studies done a week or two. I hope you get refreshed and remember how wonderful you are to those kiddos. Hope your summer is good!
Shibahn
Mrs. Landry's Land of Learning

vicky1970 said...

Hi sweet Heather,
I have missed you and when I saw your new post pop up on my blog roll I was SO excited. Love your heart!!!
<3
xoxo,
Vicky

Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After

Love, Luck and Laughter said...

Heather, So nice to see you back in blogland. Thanks for the comments that you have left on my blog over time. :) Em

Susan said...

Wow Heather! Such a great post! We all need these great reminders! Unfortunately, I have been guilty of a lot of the things you mentioned. I look forward to getting to know you! I'm your newest follower!
Susan
www.thoughtsfrommrss.blogspot.com

Mrs. Ziegler said...

I just LOVE your wise words Heather! This past year, working with at-risk students was so challenging and I DID say many of the things mentioned in your blog but I am happy to say that I never took it out on those sweet six year olds! I never yelled. But, boy did I see a lot of other teachers yelling. Most of the "yellers" were those teachers that have been at this school for many, many, years. I think they have forgotten these kids are human (just like the teachers) and as you pointed out, we ALL make mistakes and sometimes even consiously choose to ignore the rules (like speeding up to get through a yellow light)we all have learned.

--Rachel
teachingwithz.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Heather you have such a big heart. Nearly each time I stop by I get a great reminder of how attitudes may need an adjustment. Especially my own. I find myself getting easily frustrated when kids don't act like a grown up. I have to mentally shake myself and remember they are children who just want to have fun. Being in charge of them is a great responsibility and opportunity to show them love and kindness along with the correct way to treat others. And it all starts with us!

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