Reflections

Guest post by Erin McMahon, MS, BCBA, LBA and Mom I was not my best me today. Yesterday was a rough day and I hadn’t fully recovered. I stayed up too late watching Tiny House Hunters and getting annoyed with the hunters every time they said one of the tiny houses was “way too small.” This morning wasn’t a smooth one. My own kids were slothlike and I was frustrated. So, like I do, I got mad at myself for being impatient and frustrated because obviously that helps (sarcasm font needed). I had back-to-back meetings scheduled at school this morning and usually that’s not a problem. Meetings are good, we learn from them and get ideas and solve problems. We make plans and help kids. Meetings result in more work but that doesn’t scare me because I really, really love my work. But I wasn’t a good version of me this morning and I’m still thinking about two times in these meetings when I screwed up- not huge screwups, but I struggle to let stuff go when I’m the one who made mistakes. ...

We gathered like every other edcamp session group had before. We were casually choosing our spaces at the table, putting down our phones, and hanging our bags off the chairs. Each of us waited patiently for someone to begin the session. I can't remember who began the conversation but I can remember parts of what she said. I remember the words because I couldn't believe it. Right there, in front of the entire group of strangers, she admitted these situations caused her some anxiety. She admitted while others saw her as this outgoing, confident leader that sometimes she felt like the complete opposite. She identified as an introvert and shared that putting herself out there, out here , took methodical effort on her part. I could barely believe my ears. This was someone I looked up to with great admiration. I had seen her work crowds as a professional development facilitator and was amazed by her ability to manage a varied group. I wanted to have the skills she had! Sittin...

She stands before the group and begins to tell her story. It's a deep and dark collection of memories. It's her story and the way she is sharing it with all of us is just so raw. It's so sad. It takes me back to different days. Still, that rawness makes it beautiful and real. I want to tell her I can relate to some of it but I don't. Another warrior I know asks me to sit with her and she begins to tell me a story about her marriage. It's messy and complicated. I do little more than listen and remind her how incredible she is. I want to tell her I have felt that same messiness before but I don't. He keeps repeating the same lines to me about what has happened and I fade in and out of listening trying to remember what it's like to be a teenager. I think about how hard it was. How many mistakes are made. I think back to the many I made. I'm still ashamed of some all these years later.  I want to protect him from growing up too fast. I think about just ...

Recently, the #compelledtribe published a collaborative post about building relationships with students. It was a neat experience to be part of a writing team that combined ideas from so many authors. It got me thinking about the power of collecting thoughts and inspiration from everywhere including those we work directly with every day! With that in mind, I posted an open blog post to the Google Classroom I keep for our Special Education Department. I invited anyone who was interested to add to the post. I asked them to think about our work and why we do it. “What motivates you to continue to be an incredible special education teacher/provider? How do you find the inspiration to continue to support and advocate for some of our most neediest students?” Here’s what some of the amazing people I have the opportunity to work with every day wrote: 1. Our similarities to our students and their families are far more powerful than our differences. My motivation comes from t...

It all goes back to relationships! Relationships are the essential element in our schools. The old adage, “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” is true especially in today’s society when kids are used to so much choice in their world. Also, in today’s busy world, it’s important for teachers and school staff to make positive connections with students. We must be intentional and taking time with these relationships must be purposeful. Members of the Compelled Tribe have teamed up to share practical ways for educators to build relationships with students. As connected educators we also embrace the notion that it is the power of the team that drives much of what we do. How do you build relationships with those that you serve? See the list below for ideas to add to what you may be already doing in the buildings and districts in which you work. Greet students at the door. Smile and call them by name. Tell them you are glad to see them. ...