#vulnerablility

This morning I got to drink some coffee and go sit on the back porch with a blanket and the pup. I was reading in the devotional SAVOR by Shauna Niquiest and I did two days worth this morning because of the way they went together. AND BECAUSE I CAN.

THINGS I DO: an overview taken from my journaling. 

“Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:36-39 

I have to love myself before I can love others well or to full capacity. 

List what I do:  Intentional, a good listener, sympathetic, show love by cooking, notes, listening. I draw, do lettering, journal, and listen to music.

What do  I feel called and committed to do this season of my life? 

Love Myself by :

Health (working out, eating healthy, and just taking care of my body)

Spending time alone every day,

 tuning into my heart (journaling, scripture, reading, praying) 

Being crafty.

Being there for the people closest to me. 

Being more in touch with my feelings and expressing them. 

Things I don’t Do: 

“one thing I do: forgetting what s behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ” -Phil. 3:13-14

“I do not spend time with people who routinely make me feel like less than I am.”

What things could you intentionally leave undone so that you can focus more deeply on the things you feel called too and passionate about?

no more letting the worry/fear of others ideas/opinions dictate what i do and how i respond.

less social Media

no more trying to be anything other than me

worry & fear 

Classroom culture is established by the teacher and students starting on the first day of school. The teacher needs to be purposeful in communicating expectations and procedures. Students are welcomed in developing those expectations. This allows the whole class to experience a sense of belonging, recognizing that the classroom is for everyone. All members of the class are welcome. Once the culture is established, learning can take place. Students feel safe and understand they are a valuable part of the classroom.

There are some practical steps to creating a welcoming environment. Recognizing all students in the beginning of each day is simple to implement. This is one basic strategy to help build rapport with our students. Also, using terms like “our” instead of “my” when referring to classroom and supplies will support the inclusion of everyone and provide a sense of ownership.

Another important concept is to cultivate positive relationships among the students. This can be implemented by using a strategy like Turn and Talk during instructional time. Students have a guiding question to discuss related to the lesson topic. This allows quick moments of conversation to help them grow comfortable with each other.

The Pineapple Project is beginning of the year lesson I learned about from my daughter’s teacher. Students learn about the history of the pineapple, symbolizing welcome and the values of friendship, hospitality, and warmth. In the lesson activity, the students interview each other. The become the specialist of the student they interviewed and share about what they have learned about their new classmate. Questions they can ask each other are related to favorites. For example, telling about favorite foods, animals, and hobbies.

Reading books about friendship, discussing expectations to establish norms, and practicing procedures at the beginning of the year are all effective strategies to creative a classroom culture which allows learning to take place. Dr. Brene’ Brown stated that learning is a vulnerable process. Allowing students to have a sense of belonging, feeling accepted and valuable is necessary to remove barriers students may come in with.

Creating a classroom motto or affirmation is an exciting and meaningful strategy for helping students to have a classroom they desire to learn in. The affirmation is a positive statement which supports the norms established and encourages a healthy perspective about the classroom. Some examples of affirmations for cultivating the classroom culture can envelop many important beliefs about belonging, self-worth and growth mindset.

We Tried Brutal, Now Let’s Try Compassionate Honesty

Your recovery is directly dependant on your honesty and to some degree your ability to be vulnerable.

This, for many people and for any number of reasons can be especially scary.

Although, I don’t have to fact check to tell you that being emotionally vulnerable won’t kill you.

Sure, it’s uncomfortable and difficult, but definitely not deadly.

I guarantee there has never been a “Cause of Death”…