What DRIVES You To Carry On?

Hey team, I have a question for you! How do you make it it through your day? Make it from one place to another? One task to the next? What DRIVES you to go on? I hope when we are talking about our job...it's the kids! Everything we do is focused on ways to help them achieve and show them that the skys the limit! It's not the pay...or the hours of planning...or the paperwork...that keeps us coming back. The fact of the matter is, we are all here because we KNOW that we can make a difference. It is so important that we are building our kids UP...letting them know that their "DRIVE" can take them anywhere. Our tone, our body language, and our words...can make or break them...as Team RMS I choose to "MAKE" them! Make them feel that we expect them to give their best...everyday, and that we wholeheartedly BELIEVE in their talents and are here to do "whatever it takes" to ensure that we are setting them up for the "DRIVE" of their life! Check out this video...and share it with the kids...they need to FEEL Richie Parkers DRIVE. Too many times we allow our mind to take over our thoughts...when it should be our heart! Our BELIEFS must be greater than our DOUBTS! Kids will out perform their IQ everytime for a teacher that believes in them. So never, ever give up...even when the going gets tough. (that's when they need you the most ) We can do this...you are the right people for the job! Thanks for all you do!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/qiLDMBDPCEY?rel=0

Walk Your Talk!

So todays motivator was taken straight out of a few fantasy football draft videos! Since we are the RMS Longhorns (and as long as I am driving the bus) we will continue to PUSH hard and BELIEVE in ALL our kids...I think you will find some great messages in what these pro football players are saying. (I know I did) For example, they talk about finding balance (my word), trusting your strengths and instincts, you never know what you are capable of until you try, and my favorite (courtesy of Andre Johnson)...ACTIONS always speak louder than words! As educators we must play on our strengths (even admitting that other ideas might be better than ours, so we might need to talk less and listen more). We also, need to trust our instincts...you were born for this job so trust your gut...have no fear...and go for it!!! It is SO VERY important that we push our kids (and ourselves) to always try...no matter if it is new and we make mistakes...that's where the REAL learning takes place. In the end it's not about what's easiest...it's about the end product (our students success) that makes it totally worth it! Lastly, we need to remember that kids pay way more attention to what we DO than what we SAY! If we don't walk our talk...we lose credibility...and we work just too hard for that to happen! So make every moment count..and make it memorable!

http://youtu.be/FRLfWlC_3lQ

ONE Person CAN Make a Difference...And In Just 5 Minutes!

Since our RMS motto is "Be the ONE" I thought that this picture was a great reminder of what ONE person can do. ONE person can show, change, give, cure, offer, share, save, etc... It only take one, and this is a lesson that we must continue to model for our Longhorns. Have you ever hear the saying...your ACTIONS are speaking so loudly I can't even here the WORDS coming out of your mouth? Like it or not, they are watching us....I know scary....but they are. So that is all the more reason that we must MODEL what "being the one" looks like. It is having a filter...and using it. It is putting others feelings ahead of our own...even when we don't want too. It is going the extra mile...even when we are pooped. It is being flexible...when things don't go exactly as planned. It is about realizing that making a difference may only take 5 min...like in the short video below. (It's one that I want you to show the kids during 3rd period...and have then write about it in their interactive teambuilding journal..write about ways they could/WILL make a difference in just 5 min right here at RMS this year).

Thanks for all you are doing... I LOVE the spirit that each of your teams are bringing on Fridays at our color chant pep rallies! And the moves that you are busting out at the end of the day! Fun times!!! Now that classes are getting leveled out....you can get your teaching groove on! Go forth and do what you do best....push our kids to the highest academic level possible...and make a name for the RMS Longhorns starting year ONE! I have no fear that I have the right people on the bus to make that a reality! Enjoy this video from these inspiring kids from Australia....I expect the next video to be coming out of RMS! :)

http://youtu.be/oROsbaxWH0M

Not Everything That Counts...Can Be Counted!

Below is a video that some of you may have seen before. If not, you may need to grab a few tissues! It is the perfect example of the RMS way...putting the needs of OTHERS ahead of our own...because it's the right thing to do. (And no, it's not always the easiest thing to do.) That's how blessings work....the MORE you do for OTHERS expecting nothing in return...the more blessed YOU become! It means even more to see kids doing this, because they "learned" it from someone and I like to think that that "someone" just might have been a teacher like each of you. Our RMS Longhorns are watching...and soaking up EVERYTHING we say and do...so it is our responsibility to model the "right" way to handle situations and examples of "paying it forward" moments...without expecting anything in return! I can't even begin to count the ways that this team has blessed me in the short time we have been together. Your hard work, flexibility, and understanding when things don't always go as planned...has meant so much to me. You are some of the funniest people I have had the pleasure of working with, and when I walked into that teacher workroom this past Friday morning to find ya'll "jamming" and laughing..it made me love my job even MORE! A work family that can have fun together can get through anything, and will accomplish amazing things! I have no doubt that we are gonna knock the socks off of the scores....as well as set the bar SUPER high in every aspect for the rest of our Longhorns academic career in LCISD! I hope you had a chance to relax this weekend...you earned it. We made it through the first two weeks, so by this week we are hoping to have the new sections opened up and classes leveled out. Now is the the time for all that planning to turn into great bell to bell teaching. See ya tomorrow for a marvelous Monday! BTW...I actually think that this video would be a GREAT teaching opportunity for our Longhorns...especially during 3rd period after the Longhorn Essentials! :) Feel free to use it as a conversation starter...modeling the "right way"....the "RMS way" of doing things that COUNT! :)

http://youtu.be/sTaB-hPg0P4

Adjusting the Sails and Fitting It All In - The Mayonnaise Jar Story

WOW!! We (as one big RMS united FAMILY) made it through an exciting...exhausting...emotional... and oh so eventful first ever week of O-CEAN school! :) I can honestly say I couldn't have done it without all of YOU keeping calm and ROLLIN' with the waves! I really appreciate your positivity and flexibility as we continue to ADJUST our SAILS...to ensure the SEAS will be SMOOTH soon!

As educators, we know that the first week of school is always the craziest, throw in opening a new campus with a couple of comedy act "captains" (being Petunia and Buttercup..in case you couldn't guess..lol) and that just might make you want to walk the plank! Lucky for you we have “life-savers”...just in case! :) This 3 day weekend came just in the nick of time and it was what each of us needed to refuel our Energy Bus back up! I hope you were able to relax this weekend and take a lesson from the "Mayonnaise Jar"...it's about BALANCE! (my one-word) We have to successfully juggle the "big things" and the "little things"...and find a way to "FIT" it all in!! :) Thanks for being such an amazing team, it makes coming to work each day a lot of fun! :) See ya Tuesday...for a cup of coffee! :)

 

MAYONNAISE JAR LESSON

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was…

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was….

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up all the space between the pebbles and golf balls.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand, pebbles and golf balls. The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – family, children, health, Friends, and your favorite passions – the things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else–The small stuff. ‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ He continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.’ The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So…

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. ‘Take care of the golf balls first — The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked’. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.