From the album: "November 09" by Hannah Svebakken

A little reminder…teaching students is a step-by-step process. Days will come when we stumble, fall down, but other days will be filled with the freedom of an unhindered walk! Enjoy each day, each step. After all, teaching with aloha is about process more than product!

Courtesy: Rosa Say

It has come to my mind today that teaching students is all about love. Granted, it is not always easy to love students or parents or colleagues. But, if you desire for your teaching to be transformational, it must be grounded on love.

Six simple observations about love…

1. Love is not easy or convenient. In fact, when a student is most difficult or a parent is caustic, love is needed then more than other times. And, more than that, it is likely that such love will be needed at an inconvenient time.
2. Love is costly. I don’t mean having a treasure chest of toys and trinkets to give to children who earn them. I am thinking of a love that might humble you. It might mean reaching down and caring for a child who has old, dirty clothes. It might mean crossing a cultural barrier to visit parents.
3. Love rises from the heart. This is the only real love – that which is from the heart. You will probably find that your desire to love your students is greater than your ability to show it. This is wonderful! A heart-based love is not cautious but remains wise.
4. Love initiates. It does not wait for love to come from another. When love is withheld, it might mean that a child does not know how to love. It’s amazing what children face today! Don’t wait for them to love you – initiate love. And, when they love you, reciprocate it. Either way, love is active!
5. Love is sacrificial. Not easy, inconvenient, costly…all these point to the sacrificial nature of true love. An aloha heart is a sacrificial heart!
6. Love is life giving. True loves gives from within and inspires those who receive it. Give your life and you will find that what you receive is a deeper and broader love for others.

Do your students know you love them?

Do your parents know you love them?

Do your colleagues know you love them?

Teachers are leaders (of people) and managers (of processes). Both roles require significant effort and attention. Those who are most effective and transformational are those who are:

1. Visionary: They create solutions to meet the problems their students face. They inspire hope when things look very hopeless. They are imaginative and creative when facing the future; they often say, “Hey, I have an idea!” These teachers are innovative with their insights. They are perceptive and intuitive, which are especially helpful because not all students articulate their needs.
2. Utterly relentless…unstoppable. The teachers never give up. If there is a way, they will find it. Children need such a passionate cheerleader in their lives.
3. Positively impatient. They can’t wait to get where they are going, because they can see what’s possible as clear as day. They take this expectant attitude into their teaching and enthuse students to look ahead and anticipate the next chapter.
4. Full of purpose. These teachers work with Ho‘ohana (intent and purpose). How they work complements how they live their lives. They bring meaning, fulfillment and fun to their classrooms. They not only personally work this way, they encourage their students to do their work with the same intent and purpose. Work becomes meaningful and worthwhile and satisfying.
5. Leaders of students. These teachers know they lead by example and seek to be the very best model possible. Leading students is a great responsibility. It focuses on character development, building trust and earning respect. They inspire with optimism and hope!

As you are most likely in your second semester of this school year, it’s time to focus on being an Alaka’i leader. Think about these five qualities – how are you doing? Which students need more of your attention at this time? Who needs to be inspired and encouraged? If you answer, “The entire class!” then focus on what would impact the entire class first. Then, look for the individual students to need extra attention. Dear teacher, lead the way!

Preparing for a new year and living the new year can look like very different. Perhaps you have already met a roadblock to your plans and are wondering what to do next. Or, a challenge has come your way and you have no idea how you are going to be able to meet the expectations. I would like encourage you to avoid a danger: making excuses.

The word excuse can be a verb or noun. As a verb it can mean to attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify. Or, it can mean release from a duty or requirement. As a noun it can mean a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense. The origin of the word is Latin meaning ‘to free from blame,’ from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘accusation, cause.’ In summary, it means to lessen blame or responsibility.

What has been asked of you lately? How did you respond? How quickly did you create an excuse to justify why you could not obey? Did you defend your rights to do something your way instead? Or, did you seek complete release from the request? What bargain did you try to negotiate?

Oh, that we would free from a life of making excuses to one that is open and free! Let’s rid our vocabulary of phrases like, “Well, not now…”, “But, I’m not as gifted as…”, “This is just not the right time…”…

Are you ready to seriously deal with your excuses? Here are five steps to take:

1. Emphasize the positive. Forget your feelings; negative decisions usually rise out of negative feelings. Instead, look for the fun in something, the joy in it.
2. Take responsibility. You cannot blame others on this one. It’s your responsibility to do your part. Focus on what you can and should do.
3. Find a solution. This might take some thought but problems have solutions. Take the time to figure out the best solution for the situation. You might want to brainstorm with others, too. Just be sure that the people you select are can do people.
4. Set your goal. After planning, start walking. Set your goal and move towards it. You might not reach it today or even this week but start with the next right step.
5. Choose an accountability partner. Hopefully, you have someone that will help you stay on track. If not, don’t let that become an excuse! Move forward anyway. However, if you have a friend to walk the journey with you, so much the better.

Are you ready for an off the wall encouragement? Look at this commercial and then take a little time to consider the excuses you have been making. Then, turn around and go for it!

The 2009 college football season is underway. The kickoff to the season took 5 days and nights! There were surprises, shocking plays, disappointments, rising and falling in polls – an exciting beginning. As there were major distinctives to each game, I noticed something missing. In not one game did a coach put on a jersey and put himself in the game.

Effective teaching is increasingly being identified as engaging students to learn through interactive research. This positions the teacher as a coach, mentor, cheerleader instead of the one who does the work and distributes it in a student-passive format. In fact, one of the significant challenges of 21st Century learning will be teacher training. Teaching yesterday is not like teaching today. It’s time for teachers to step off the field and take on the roles of coaching and mentoring.

Transition times can be extremely challenging. In fact, I have seen a known negative being embraced more than an unknown positive. Transitions lead to unknowns. One of the things that helps during these unsettling times is having a constant that is not changing. To me, this is the heart of the teacher.

Teaching is a work of art as well as heart! A heart that approaches education as teaching students rather than teaching subjects is the key. Teaching with Aloha puts the students in the middle and structures the education around them.

Attitude during teaching is also key. Students respond to a teacher who ”goes for it” on 4th down instead of punting the ball away. They love teachers who are high-energy and pleasant in character and promote enthusiasm, believing that something good’s just about to happen.

So, I encourage you to step off the field of play. Set the stage for students to thrive. Teach them how. Excite them to try. Support them when they fail. My guess is, if you seriously take on a coach’s role, your students and you will have a winning season!

What expectations did you have for your students this past year? Were your thoughts about them higher, broader and deeper than their thoughts about themselves? What about your goals and dreams for your school? Have you acquiesced to a lower expectation nothing will ever change attitude? Or, are you expectant, believing that something good is just around the corner?

Being our best and aiming for the highest can only be realized when we will not settle for less than the best. And, to realize the best takes time. Timing is a big part of the Ka lā hiki ola (reflection) and KÅ«lia i ka nu’u (empowerment) processes.

The season of reflection (Ka lā hiki ola) is often a period of waiting, like a flower which must have a budding time before opening. A new year is about to open to you. What expectations do you have?

Here’s a practical place to start. Change the way you look at the previous accomplishments of your students as a floor, not a ceiling. If a student tends to do poorly on standardized testing, avoid seeing that as a ceiling (He’ll probably do just the same in my class.) Instead, look at it as a floor on which to plan the greatest year of his life! This is the attitude of Teaching with Aloha!