I’ve been thinking about all those resolutions that people set as the New Year reveals itself and usually abandon about now.  As I look at my Facebook and Twitter feeds noting others’ resolve, I wonder what I should focus on this year.  What I see from the many shares and re-tweets is the desire to do something that matters.  Whether you want a new look, to be healthier, improve your relationships, get a new job, or to simply make a difference, there is one thread that seems to weave through all of the resolutions out there that will increases the chances of success:  Lean In.
 
What if we spent the entire year (and beyond) leaning in to whatever we set out to do?  How might our relationships improve, our understanding become deeper, and our awareness increase?  How much better would our health and fitness be if we leaned in to be more consistent with our healthy eating choices and increase our effort to exercise more?  How might the quality and quantity of our work improve if we leaned in to tap the wisdom of colleagues, work smarter, or reflect on performance before planning the next steps?  How much better would our attitudes toward each other be if we leaned in to find out a little more about the person or issue we are judging before we make statements or decisions that might not be valid?  What if we leaned in every day to simply make a conscious decision to make a difference?
 
Think of the times you want to hear or see things more clearly.  What do you do?  You lean in.  I’ve been taking my parents to their many appointments in the last few months.  I don’t know if I’ve suddenly began to talk more softly or their high priced hearing aids aren’t quite up to snuff, but I find myself leaning in so they can hear a little better.  I lean in when I take their hand or arm to steady them when they walk on uneven ground instead of walking at my normal pace which would be 20 feet in front of them.  Just as we lean in to hear better or to lend a hand, we also lean in to see better.  I love the screen option on my phone where I can “zoom in” and make the print or picture details big enough to see clearly.  It suddenly makes things more interesting or informative!  The added benefit of leaning in is a little more closeness and personal contact too. 
 
Leaning in means looking into the eyes and seeing the expressions of others.  It means having a face to face conversation when the important stuff comes up instead of a text or email.  Leaning in increases our personal contact, ownership, and empathy.  As a teacher, I would lean in as I spoke to elementary students who were half my height by squatting down to their eye level.  In meetings, sitting side by side allows you to lean in more than sitting across the desk which acts as a silent barrier.  Even the strategy of proximity to adjust behavior implies that you lean in as you walk toward the situation, not away. 
 
Relationships would be stronger if we would lean in more often.  We go about our cram-packed daily schedule and forget about the little things that make relationships thrive.  We take for granted our spouses and friends, assuming that they will continue to be there for us or pick up where we left off regardless of whether we make an effort or not.  Leaning in requires a determination on our part to do those little things that make others feel appreciated, remembered, and cared for.  We may not have time for those long dates or leisurely lunches, but a text, a note, a phone call, or a random hug makes a world of difference to not only the other person but in us too.  Lean in on a regular basis and see how that good relationship can become great again.
 
Like my cats in the picture above, we lean in to stay warm and to calm us in times of crisis. We may snuggle for warmth or comfort under a cozy blanket, or convene a meeting of like minds to resolve a situation.  Collaboration is leaning in to set and achieve goals, solve problems, or improve performance in a small group.  There is safety in numbers, but there is also comfort.  Together we achieve more (TEAM) if we lean in.
 
Leaning in also makes a difference in the success of change initiatives, events, or the organization itself. Our small local church begins our annual “Souper Bowl” on Sunday.   We collect cans of soup and pasta for area food pantries over a 3 week period ending on Super Bowl Sunday.  We have a friendly competition with a nearby church and each year collect more and more cans.  The excitement and energy of this event arises because everyone leans in – to buy soup, donate money, spread the word, and deliver the soup after it’s all over.  We walk our talk to serve others.  What if we leaned in like this the entire year for everything we do to serve our mission and community?  Could we sustain that enthusiasm and benefit from the increased attendance that comes during this time of year, and ultimately accomplish more? 
 
The Kansas State Department of Education has a new slogan that Kansans Can.  It supports the vision and mission that all students can achieve success and be college and career ready.  It won’t happen because they made a clever video or have a cute logo.  It will happen because all stakeholder groups, educators, and even students, will lean in and do the work to realize this goal.  Lean in is not an initiative, but an action.
 
With any initiative, whether it is at work, school, church, or within the community, the more you lean in, the better the result.  When I was in college, I sat on the back row, as far away from the instructor as possible in most classes.  The result was what you might imagine.  I did OK, but in no way was I leaning in to my coursework.  As I got into more difficult, albeit interesting classes, I moved closer to the action.  I achieved the best grade in one of the most challenging courses in my undergraduate work because I was in a small class, actively engaged, and spent each day after class reteaching the math part of the content to my friend who just didn’t get it.  I was in the thick of things.  That lesson helped me later on in my graduate work where I no longer was content to get by.  I leaned in to the content, worked diligently with a colleague, and was actively engaged.  The result was more than a degree, but a level of satisfaction that was much more rewarding.  As a public school teacher in the past and an adjunct instructor and consultant today, I work really hard to help my students/participants lean in and become active learners.  Leaning in isn’t something we naturally do in uncertain situations and sometimes takes a little encouragement.
 
Last of all, leaning in requires you to make an effort and accept responsibility.  It’s easy to sit on the outside and make comments or suggestions without really being involved.  It’s easy to criticize or judge others when we don’t lean in close enough to get the full context of their situation, opinions, or beliefs.  With the political season in high gear, many decisions are being made by those currently in office, and will be made by those running for office.  Lean in folks!  Be informed on the issues and stances of those you will elect by listening to and learning about all sides of the issues.  Most of all, take the time to vote.  I can’t believe how few people voted in the last Kansas statewide election and now how many people are complaining about the subsequent decisions that have been made as a result.  Lean in or be left out.
 
So regardless of the resolution you choose to pursue, or the everyday task at hand, lean in.  Get close to the action.  Make it personal.  Invite others.  Make a difference with your interest and your effort.  Then enjoy the results:  improved health, better relationships, successful events, and happier communities.   Lean In every day!

In World War II, and probably in other wars too, American bombers sought to destroy the bridges of our enemies.  This single act served to thwart their movements and cut them off from supplies and each other.  It was an effective strategy and theoretically, no one had to die (although I'm sure many did).

A few years ago, the state highway department replaced a bridge near our house.  Who knew how often we drove across that bridge on a daily basis?  It was the most direct route to town, to work, and school, and also went right past my parents' house.  A detour was provided, but certainly was not the preferred route.  My mother often complained during this construction time that we rarely saw each other any more.  It was because the detour didn't allow us to easily go to their place even though we were less than 1 mile apart.  We had to back track and make the effort or they had to go the long way around to get to us, and apparently we often fell short.  Bridges are significant infrastructures.  They connect us to others and the services we need.  They make our lives more convenient and surprisingly, more meaningful.  Sometimes we fail to appreciate those bridges until they are unavailable.  When confronted with those large orange detour signs that warn us "ROAD CLOSED AHEAD - BRIDGE OUT" -  we realize reaching our destination just got a little more difficult, and we might not be the only ones who feel cut off.

One of my passions in education is moving from knowing and doing.  With this in mind, it is important to remember that the very nature of bridges helps us connect, getting us from point A to point B, whether it's through travel, learning, or taking us from knowing to doing. Examining and creating connections to real life or things that are familiar, makes learning meaningful.  Personal connections make everything we do more fulfilling as we feel a part of the larger group where we can receive support while working toward common goals.

Personal connections are indeed bridges to understanding.  My favorite teacher in middle school and high school was certainly knowledgeable in his field (English) but it was the relationships he built with his students that built the bridges that helped us understand and feel connected.  We cared about what he wanted to teach us because he cared about us.  He made it a point to know us and make us feel that what we thought and did mattered.  When we were seniors, we dedicated our yearbook to him.  Simon and Garfunkel's, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" had been a big hit during my high school days (yes, that makes me old) and we used that theme to honor this man and the influence he had on us.  I often use the following quote from Teddy Roosevelt in my workshops and with my students, "People don't care what you know until they know that you care."  Caring is the first step in building bridges.  This is a valuable lesson we must take with us everyday as we go to work or school, work within the community, and especially when we are with family and friends. Taking the time to build those bridges is truly worth it in terms of how it makes us feel, others feel, and how effective we can be.

New situations would be made easier if we worked harder at building bridges.  When we enter a room with unfamiliar people, making those personal connections during introductions helps us remember their name and immediately builds a bridge.  Extend that to the work place or a group that you are set to lead.  As the new "boss," the first priority should be building bridges, relationships if you will, with the staff/employees/members. It is imperative to take the time to woo their hearts so you both believe they matter, both as people and as workers or members, much like we woo the affections of a potential mate.  Those team building activities at the beginning of meetings or class may seem like fluff, but they are important to building those relationships that will make a difference in how well the organization will run. You may have big dreams and high expectations for those you oversee, but to paraphrase Roosevelt, until they know you care, they won't care what you know or what you want them to do.   We have great power at our finger tips if we realize that everything we do and everything we don't do matters.  

New employees or members would also benefit from our efforts to build bridges so that their experience as a part of our team is beneficial to both them and us.  They will learn the required processes more quickly if we have established mentoring relationships and a framework to provide information and support so that their transition to this new role will allow them the opportunity to be successful.

Answering "Why" questions helps build bridges to understanding the need for change.  It helps make the "how" and the "what" more meaningful by defining the purpose more clearly.  Taking the time to address the "why" questions - proactively if possible - builds bridges by recognizing the individual needs, questions, and concerns of those involved.  Leaders, including parents, often start with the 'what" or the "how" and only address the "why" if asked.   Again, everyone needs to feel like they are being heard - that what they think and feel matters.  As a result our responses to those questions that are voiced matter too.  And FYI, despite what you may have heard, "Because I said so" isn't an effective bridge-building response either. 

Then there are those times we must rebuild bridges that have been damaged or destroyed by our own words or actions.  The Marshall Plan was enacted to rebuild war-torn Europe after World War II.  One of the first things that was addressed was to rebuild the infrastructure (roads and bridges) to connect people and reduce their isolation.  These were the very bridges that we had bombed just a few months or years earlier and now we were set to help rebuild them.  We have all had moments where we have said or done things we wished we could take back, but the damage was done.  How we respond will determine if the relationship remains strained or ruined, or if we can find ways to re-connect.  We can't undo the damage but we can go forward and rebuild.  As our babysitter used to tell our kids, "Sorry doesn't fix it, but you can change that behavior."  A few years ago, I reconnected with my childhood best friend, after years of estrangement over some stuff that happened in college (pretty silly as I look back), because she reached out to build a bridge across our strained relationship.  I am thankful every day that she took that chance and that I was able to respond in kind so that we could rebuild that friendship.  That new bridge is priceless.

What bridge will you build today?  How will you be a better friend? How will you be a better leader?  How will you make a difference in the lives of others?  As you find a way to make someone feel like they matter, remember YOU matter too!

Did you clean your room?  "Kinda, sorta..."
Do you work out during the off season?  "Kinda, sorta..."
Did you study for the test? "Kinda, sorta..."

These are responses that I have received from my "kids" over the years (both my own children and my students).  In all honesty, it's an answer I have given too, probably more than likely to my doctor or dentist in response to whether I'd regularly exercised, watched my diet, elevated and iced that sprained ankle, done regular breast exams, or flossed my teeth. 

Kinda, Sorta Translated.  What does that really mean?  When my kids told me that, I knew they had done less than expected.  Maybe they started but didn't finish.  Maybe they gave it a lick and a promise.  Maybe they did it once in a while.  Kinda, sorta may have seemed like a better answer than "Yes I did" when you knew you didn't do what was expected; or "No I did not" which failed to reflect that you did something, even if it wasn't exactly right.  We use it as a way to soften or justify the reality. When I told my doctor that, I was attempting to avoid what he/she already knew.  I was more talk than action.  Kinda, sorta.  Not really.

Kinda, Sorta Understanding.   Sometimes kinda, sorta really does express the level to which we understand or "get it."  If a student kinda, sorta understands the lesson, it means they have some knowledge or skill, but not enough for clarity or to effectively apply the learning to other situations.  People often stop at our house to ask for directions.  I give them the directions they want, all the while knowing that I have something to connect to - a mental map if you will - and they are just listening, trying to keep it in order.  I'm pretty sure when they leave, kinda, sorta is all they really understand and the result may be that they are still lost. So to answer the question, "Do you understand?"  the correct response might truly be, "Not really."  That is our cue to help clarify or reteach the content so that it becomes clear, and meaningful connections are made, so that the knowledge and skills can be used.  Then kinda, sorta becomes "I get it"  and the lost is now found!

Kinda, Sorta Efforts.   Too often, kinda, sorta is more of a reflection of the time or effort we put into a task.  I used to tell my basketball players that we had to "walk our talk."  It didn't do us much good to talk about what we were capable of accomplishing if we didn't act in ways to prepare us for that journey.   We lose focus or become complacent and then kinda, sorta stop attending to details, or making what should be a regular behavior, irregular.  We stop doing our best and settling for something less.  We procrastinate and make excuses. Success that ends with a quality product involves purposeful intent, hard work, and consistent effort.  Kinda, sorta  just isn't the same thing.  Not really.  Not ever.

Educators expect students to do their best on assignments or tests, and actively participate in class activities/discussions.  They are typically not thrilled with kinda, sorta efforts.  Not ever.  Yet teachers can fall into the kinda, sorta trap too.  When new instructional strategies are presented, teachers are asked if they have implemented them.  When their response is "kinda, sorta," you'd be correct to assume that means they tried it once and haven't given it another thought.  So when their students are not showing the intended benefits of that new strategy, one only has to look inward to realize our kinda, sorta implementation probably netted those kinda, sorta results.

Kinda, Sorta Results.  The results we get from "kinda, sorta" are not really what we want and certainly not what was expected.  What if your surgeon kinda, sorta took out your appendix or put in that stint?  Or what if your hairdresser kinda, sorta cut your hair?  Would we be happy with those results?  Of course not.  We want to look good, feel healthy, achieve all of our goals, and be successful!  But if we are honest,  most of us would admit that we would like to get the best results with the least amount of effort.  If we try, isn't that better than not doing it all?  Kinda, sorta.  Not really. 

Would you be happy with your child's teacher if they just kinda, sorta taught the lesson and then sent the child home for you to help them with their homework?  Of course not!  This works both ways too.  It is important that parents facilitate the child's completion of the task instead of kinda, sorta doing it just to say they got it done.  We have to teach our children at home and at school from an early age that kinda, sorta just isn't going to cut it in real life.  Not ever.

Kinda, Sorta Lifestyle. Unfortunately, kinda, sorta can become a way of life if we're not careful.  There is less pressure on ourselves if we choose to be good but not great, or act in ways to just "get by."  The farther away we get from doing it right, the harder it is to get going again.  I use these blogs to hold myself accountable sometimes.  This one is no exception.  My exercise program has been less than regular over the summer.  I was busy with hosting workshops and then went on vacation.  Oh yes, there's that new bad habit I have of drinking coffee first thing in the morning and playing on my phone while I watch the Today Show.  That would be OK if 30 minutes didn't quickly turn into 2 hours.   So my one time religious habit of 30 minutes on the treadmill every morning as soon as I got up has turned into a "sometimes" event.  So when I fill out the paper work at the doctor's office and they ask me if I exercise regularly, lately I'd have to say "kinda, sorta."   How's that working for me?  Not good.  Not really.  And honestly, not ever.  

Eliminating Kinda, Sorta.   To get that kinda, sorta mindset out of my lifestyle, I must decide that what I want and what I'm getting just isn't in agreement and that only I can do something about that.  My keys to making this change: Focus; Motivation; and Action.  So this week, I have been better.  Not totally focused, but moving in that direction.  My once a week exercise became 4 days this week.  Progress.  Kinda, sorta is turning into most of the time.  Will I be perfect in this endeavor?  Of course not.  But I'll be a lot farther away from kinda, sorta than I was a month ago if I just keep making movement a priority.  

What kinda, sorta thought process or activity do you need to eliminate from your life?  How's that working for you now?  Get the results you want by getting focused, deciding a course of action, and making it happen.  Don't let that kinda, sorta response slip back in.  Not now.  Not ever.

What does it take to survive life's storms?  To stand tall when faced with new opportunities or when others around you take a different path?  To remain grounded when others would suggest faster but weaker options? What questions do you have when you consider this lone house surrounded by devastation?

Our pastor showed this picture during his sermon a few weeks ago and I was captivated by the impact of this solitary house surviving the destructive winds of a hurricane.  He definitely had my attention... but then my thoughts drifted to the possibilities and questions this picture inspired. and the blog I knew I would soon write.

My first thought went back to words from an old Bible School song, "The wise man built his house upon the rock...the foolish man built his house upon the sand."  Was the location for the house in the picture on more solid footing than the surrounding sandy soil?  How does that analogy apply to our lives too?  Can we not survive life's storms more easily if we have a solid foundation of faith, values, and support of family and friends?  No one can avoid life's storms, but how we plan for, respond, and ultimately move forward from those storms is often based on the things we can hold on to... and maybe more importantly, the things that hold on to us.  When we believe in ethical principles, strong values, and have faith that will anchor us, we are better able to weather those storms.  Those "things' are not tangible, but yet provide us context and hope.  They help us make decisions and plan for a better tomorrow.  The relationships we build with family, friends, and colleagues embrace us during times of joy and in times of despair.  We may be likely to reach out to help others, but reluctant to seek the same help for ourselves, yet that is critical to our survival of the storms that roll through our lives.  

Another thought that came to mind was that sometimes we feel like we are alone, standing out, with no one around us to whom we feel connected.  At times, the alone feeling happens when we begin a new venture...a transition if you will... an opportunity for a new job, move, or regrouping after a life changing event, whether good or bad.  Even amid the throngs of people that may surround us in our life or new location, we feel alone, facing this change without our usual supports.  How do we get through these times?   I believe it goes back to the foundations and relationships we have built that ground us, support us, and provide us with the hope and tools to stand strong and emerge to better times.

Finally I thought about how sometimes we are tempted to take the easy road because it is faster or the trendy thing to do.  When we stand our ground and do what we believe to be right, we may feel like we are standing alone.  Cautious or prudent behavior is not always popular or fun, but often can keep us from making hasty decisions that come back to bite us later.  Students frequently hurry to get their work done so they can race out the door for recess, not taking the time to ensure accuracy or learning.  What we do and how we do it matters.  Did the builders of the house in the picture use better materials, or have a better blueprint to fend off storms when they erected that house?  Consider the 3 Little Pigs children's story.  The pigs that used sticks and straw to build their houses because it was fast and easy made fun of the pig who used bricks, but in the end, when the Big Bad Wolf came knocking, trying to blow their houses down, it was the house made of bricks that survived and sheltered that pig from the threat of the wolf who pursued all of them.

In the end, what we believe in, act on, and how we do it really does matter.  Some might say it was luck or the grace of God that resulted in the house being spared.  And while that may be true, there may be an explanation whereby we have some control over how the bumps and storms of life impact us.  Find faith.  Determine what is important that you will believe in.  Build relationships that are helpful to you and the endeavors you seek.  Then act in ways to support your faith and beliefs and nurture those important relationships.  So when "the rains come down and the floods come up, your house on the rock stands firm."

"No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world"...."That powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.   What will your verse be?"....  "Carpe Diem!  Seize the day - make your lives extraordinary."  Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poet's Society, 1989

This week, world has lost an incredible talent.  Robin Williams could entertain us and make us laugh uncontrollably just as easily as he could inspire and bring us to tears.  Today we mourn the passing of an icon, not taken by illness or accident, but by his own design.  He wrote the ending for a script that we were not prepared for.  Like everyone else, I stopped when I heard the news, wondering if I'd heard correctly, and immediately started thinking about the many ways that he had entertained me, and yet wondered about the incredible inner struggle he must have had going on inside.

The blog I was working on just wasn't coming together and I hoped my walk this morning would bring the words that had been out of my reach.  But instead, my thoughts kept coming back to Robin Williams - the characters he played and the life he probably led - and how all of those things could provide us with so many powerful lessons as teachers, parents, and just people.  And so I have given in to those thoughts... and I hope you choose to read on.

Inspiration.  The quotes I used to start this blog are from one of my favorite movies, Dead Poet's Society.  I was inspired by Williams' character, English teacher John Keating, who defied the standard, dry, uninspiring, instructional delivery system as he worked to help students create meaningful connections to the literature they read and created.  I have always wanted to stand on a desk and get kids' attention, without falling off and creating a scene!  He challenged their thinking and encouraged them to take risks, think beyond the boundaries to make a difference, take charge of their own lives and become extraordinary.  What more could teachers or parents aspire to do with and for our children?  What more could we want our children to achieve?

Doing.  Mrs. Doubtfire, another fabulously entertaining movie, provided us with gales of laughter, but more importantly a message of love and how we must take a stand, and stop talking about what we believe to be true, but take action instead.  There was never a doubt that Williams' beloved character Daniel Hillard, turned housekeeper and nanny Mrs. Doubtfire, loved his children.  But it took the loss of those children during his divorce to make him act on that love, doing what was required to see them and nurture them, no matter how outlandish the ploy seemed.  What will we DO for others?  What are we willing to sacrifice for those we love?  We know parents will go to great lengths to protect their children in emergencies, and we have also seen many examples of teachers who shielded their students from the wrath of a tornado or gun-toting shooter.  But what about the everyday advocacy that we all must do for our children to help them develop into learned, worthwhile citizens?  Who will DO what is needed to make them feel loved, valued, and that who they are and what they do matter?

Beyond the Surface.  Robin Williams made us laugh, but struggled with his own inner demons.  Did laughter, or making others laugh, provide him relief for his own bouts of depression?  Or did these attempts just mask the real problems?  I have listened to and read many things about Robin Williams as tributes are paid to him and the pundits attempt to explain why this happened.  My take on this is that we often show the world the side we know they want to see and mask our true needs or pain.  We cope.  We find ways to help ourselves feel normal or numb.  We laugh when we are stressed or feel like crying.  We act like we don't care when we really do care - a lot!  Sometimes we medicate or drink or find some other artificial means to take away the pain, and then medicate some more so we can feel again.  And sometimes we just say, enough is enough.

We must look around as educators, at the students and colleagues with whom we teach and work everyday.  Do we take the time to know them well enough to see how they mask what is below the surface?  Do we assume their outward facade is the real them?  I love the quote that floats around on Facebook from time to time because it reminds me of myself.

             "I'm a strong person, but every now and then I would like someone 
                 to take my hand and tell me everything is going to be alright."  

Those of us on whom many depend also have vulnerabilities but we often mask that need and brush off attempts to help us out.  I had a principal once, who in his typical unprofessional way, was berating me for some imagined thing I had done or wasn't doing, and I started to cry.  He then railed at me even more and asked why I was crying because I was always so tough nothing ever bothered me!  I had covered my own insecurities quite well and his assumptions cracked that facade.  What caused that final crack for Robin Williams'?  We will probably never know.  We would all like to believe it wasn't because he wasn't loved by his family and adoring fans but maybe it was because of the pressure that adoration caused.  It would be an assumption on my part to think that maybe he didn't love himself as much as we did, but then again, mental illness makes us believe things that just aren't true or clouds our judgment of reality.  

Today and Beyond.  We must be willing to take the lessons of Robin Williams the man and learn from those as much as we learned from the characters he played.  Life is not without struggle and hardship as we wrestle with our strengths and weaknesses, loves and losses, successes and disappointments, in order to find balance.  What verse will you write today?  How will you make a difference or change the world in some small way?  Seize the Day and seek to live an extraordinary life!

At the recent Big 12 Football Media day, K-State's renowned and beloved coach, Bill Snyder, was cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. For Snyder, this is a rare admission.  But it was quickly countered with a recurring message, "don't take anything for granted." He specifically referred to talent, the opponent, summer workouts, performance levels, and living on past success.  Not only is that good advice for his football team and the frenzy of purple-bleeding fans, but for each of us individually too.  We get too comfortable, too used to winning, and then boom - a North Dakota State team walks on the field and steals a victory, or the person you always counted on leaves (or worse) and you didn't get a chance to tell them how much you appreciated them, and now you are left with a lot of what ifs.

School starts in a few short weeks.  Teachers report sooner than that and Administrators are probably back at work this week.  Stores are loaded with school supplies and kids and parents are eagerly waiting to see how this new year will go.  Snyder's advice to his team "to not take anything for granted" about the upcoming season also applies to educators, students, and parents about the upcoming school year, and really, to all of us about life in general.  We take for granted here in the Kansas that everyone has an opportunity to go to school, that most people can afford school supplies, and that there will be enough quality teachers to staff every classroom.  But recent lessons from the political front have demonstrated to us that if we sit on the sideline, those things we take for granted may just be taken.

Teachers and coaches should not take for granted that what worked (or didn't work) last year will have the same results this year.  In a couple of weeks, a whole new group of students walks through the door or steps on the field.  Sure the faces may be familiar, but life has happened to these students since you last saw them, and those experiences will shape their attitudes, their hopes and dreams, and how they respond to the task of learning.  Bodies change.  Maturity happens (or doesn't) and those same students we last saw in May, have a new set of variables for us to deal with.  We should take the time to listen to what students have to say and what they are not saying.  We should get to know them as people first and students second.  We will need to see them for what they can do this time around and not assume that they will act and perform in the same way we remember.  Most of all, we should challenge them to dig deeper, to ask more questions, and to persevere when learning is hard or obstacles block their path.  We cannot assume or take for granted that they will know how to do any of these things well without our guidance or support.

I had a very good basketball team one season, more than a few years ago, that achieved state rankings and notoriety (levels of team success that our school was unaccustomed to at the time).  The following year, we returned the majority of our varsity players, so expectations were high.  But by the mid-season tournament, we were just a .500 team.  I blamed myself as much as anything because I had allowed them to rest on their laurels because I, as everyone else did, assumed we would just pick up where we left off.  We took winning for granted because we had been successful the year before because we had many of the same players.  But during that tournament we had a meeting of the minds and emerged with a new resolve to no longer take for granted that the success of the past would automatically propel us to success in the future.  We redoubled our efforts in practice, revised some strategies, and changed our attitude from one of entitlement, to one of humility and renewed our sense of purpose.  And that effort, that change in our thinking, produced the results we had expected all along.  But it didn't happen until we stopped taking things for granted and started doing the things we needed to do to  achieve the goals we had set forth.  That is the message Coach Snyder was trying to convey.

Appreciating what we have, the people who are dear to us in our lives, or the people that provide us with needed services is something we should be cognizant of every day.  But many times we fall short.  Taking something or someone for granted happens because we get comfortable.  We get accustomed to "the way things are" or we fail to see what is right before our eyes.  I think of how excited I am to see the sun after several days of rain, and how I miss the rain after weeks of hot dry weather. We do this with people too.  We go about our daily lives and fail to show or tell the people around us how much we appreciate them, need them, and love them.  We assume.  We get busy and distracted.  And we take them for granted.   

So how will we change?  It usually takes a "North Dakota State" moment, or a loss of someone close to us before we wake up and realize what we knew all along.  So purposeful planning, a resolve to not overlook the details, and the commitment to do the work and effort required, is step one.  Step two is to have an attitude of gratitude.  Notice what is all around you:  what you have, nature's gifts to us, and who is important in your life.  And Step three is simply reflected in Nike's slogan - "Just Do It!"  Getting beyond taking things or people for granted requires action on our part.  We can't "hope" it will happen, we must make it happen.

I have high hopes for the upcoming school year.  There is nothing greater than the optimism and excitement that greets every teacher and student on the first day of school.   It is up to us to ensure that we leave no stone unturned, no job undone as we work toward success both in and out of the classroom.  Assume nothing.  Plan purposefully and do what needs to be done.  As an exclamation point to this idea, I'll leave you with one last thought from Coach Snyder's interview, 

"I know what we have capabilities of being and whether or not we can reach that level or not is dependent upon a lot of things, and the biggest thing is not taking anything for granted." 

This past month I have been a total busy bee!  The last 3 weeks in particular have been a non-stop whirlwind of activity.  And it wasn't just busy work - that dreaded school term! Much of my time was focused on adult learning that will lead to improved student learning...or at least that is the plan.  

Just as the bees bring nectar from the flowers to the hive to create honey, the educators I have been with during the last 3 weeks will take their new knowledge and skills back to their own classrooms to make a difference in the learning of their students. But as we have learned in my Baker University curriculum course, new knowledge and skills do not necessarily translate into effective implementation.  We have to plan with the end in mind - backwards design seems to work best - so that we provide clear goals, room for inquiry, a plan for assessment, and quality, focused learning experiences to effectively achieve the goal.  But it doesn't matter what we are planning, whether it's our summer vacation, the holiday cookout, adding onto our church, or crafting legislative action, having a vision as to what the result will be must come first or we will unlikely have the end product that we desire! Bees are not random or hope to create honey.  They are on a mission, know what the outcome will be, and DO create honey!

Being busy doesn't mean the goal will be achieved effectively either.  Bees never seem to stop working, buzzing around their hive in a flurry of activity. Their work is purposeful.  They aren't just buzzing to be buzzing.  They are creating honey and each bee has a role to play in that process.  Planning for learning, or any other significant endeavor, also requires careful planning, clearly stated expectations, and fulfillment of the roles and tasks needed to achieve the goal.  When I go to the store each week, it is imperative that I have a list, otherwise I may not come home with the items I really need, or I end up buying things I didn't really need (or already have on hand).  Purposeful planning sets up effective doing!

Which brings us to another lesson from the bees:  one can accomplish a lot more when we work together.  Rarely do you see a hive with only individual bees randomly flying around.  More often than not, you see a thriving, buzzing group of bees busily working at their assigned task.  As I listened and watched the participants in our workshops during the last 2 weeks, I saw a lot of buzzing as they discussed and collaborated to learn as much as possible so they could implement this new learning.  Even as they were mulling over ideas, they were eager to share their new understandings with those in the class and take back to share with their colleagues.  My husband and I would have never been able to remodel our house and transform it from a farm house to a log house without a collaborative working relationship.  As I've noted in previous blogs - he has the ability to take our ideas and make them reality.  Whenever we work together on a project, we utilize each other's strengths to spark ideas, reflect on and revise our plans, and ultimately get the job done.  It is so much easier when we ask for help, or include others in our planning and implementation.  Rarely do any of us have all the answers or all the tools needed to accomplish a task well!  

Bees are persistent too.  The new buzz word in education today is to develop grit. A lot of us lost that skill some time ago when technological advances made life much easier.  But bees can be our inspiration as they continue to find sources of nectar, even if it's a dry year and the flowers aren't blooming like they usually do.  They are focused on the end result and they continue to work until the job is done.  In education, one way to practice and achieve the trait of "grit" is through project based learning.  This involves so much more than just studying or doing research and then writing or answering questions about it.  It involves real world (authentic) application of knowledge and skills to produce a project of value and one that demonstrates true understanding.  It took us nearly 10 years to remodel our house and make the transformation complete.  But persistence won out over limited funds and the temptation to take a break and never start up again.  We started with the end in mind, and found ways to overcome the obstacles and achieve the desired result.  Even today, we still tweak that final product to make it even better.  But then that's another topic for another day!

And now I must get busy.... grading projects awaits!

When I was a kid, I had a bad habit of saying, "I know" when my dad would talk to me about something.  He would then say to me, "Well if you know, then why aren't you doing it?"  How often do we "know" but fail to "do?"

After spending the morning in a planning meeting with the executive director of Learning Forward (a professional learning organization for educators), I began to think about the bridge between knowing and doing.  She challenged us as a state organization to get busy, with no excuses, and move from knowing to doing in order to impact the direction of professional learning for educators in our state.  Schools and organizations are notoriously slow to change because we often don't want to leave our comfort zones or fail to provide the necessary education and support to facilitate effective implementation of the desired change.  But schools are not alone in this problem.

I think about how many times we know better, but either don't do what we know we should, or do nothing at all!  The other day when I went to teach my college class, it was seriously raining, yet there were so many cars who didn't have their lights on!  In Kansas, it's a state law to turn on your lights if you are using your windshield wipers.  There are blinkers on every vehicle to signal your intent to turn, yet so many drivers fail to do this simple step.  All these things are designed to keep us safe, to let the other drivers know you're around or your intention to make a change, and yet although we "know," we don't follow through with the "do."

Sometimes we "know" a lot of stuff, but we don't know when or how to use that information.  When we know how to do something and when to do it, then we are applying our knowledge and skills.  The knowledge becomes more than useless trivia, it becomes useful.  When we ask students to do more than memorize and perform rote recall, we are deepening their understanding because now they can actually use what they know.

Doing requires sufficient motivation to act.  No one can make you do anything!  So maybe the first thing we should examine is WHY do we avoid the "doing?"  Sometimes it's because doing means we will become accountable or responsible.  Doing means we have to stop gathering information and move forward. Doing might mean we make a mistake.  Doing makes us uncomfortable when it's not what we usually do!  We know we should be exercising and eating healthy choices and portions.  But we often do - or fail to do - what we know to be the right thing.  Doing may require some discipline on our part, and sometimes it just isn't fun.

But doing is also active and engaging!  Doing makes us feel useful and worthwhile!  The more we do the more experience we gain and the more confidence we build.  Talking about doing something happens all the time and is usually just an exercise in futility.  Letting others do it for you makes you feel helpless or unworthy and offers you no investment.  But doing WITH others is also beneficial too.  No one expects you to do it alone.  Doing requires you get dirty, sweaty, and involved.  And in the end, you can smile and say "I/we did it!"

So instead of just thinking about it, or talking about it, or know you probably should, - just get up and do it!   Cross that bridge from knowing to doing and see what results you get on the other side!   

                                                              **************************

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and putting one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world. 
                                                                     Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet


Action alleviates anxiety.
                                   B.J. Gallagher, Power of Positive Doing


Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.
                                                                         Victor Kiam, businessman