Winning Hearts & Minds

15 students. 6 schools. Preschool-12th grade. I have it all and I love it! However having it all makes it all makes it quite difficult to have time for myself. I have not cooked many exquisite meals, ventured out to many new places, rode my bike, kept in touch with many of those that I love, nor wrote in this blog! The only tasks that I was accomplishing seemed to be school paperwork: lesson plans, schedules, data charts, IEPs (individualized education plans- every student in special education has one). Before beginning yoga this week, I felt as if everything was rushed--cooking, showering, driving, working out, eating, sleeping, even teaching and writing lesson plans. Yoga has helped me learn to live in the present, relax, recognize my success in the day, and give my body a workout like never before. If this hot, power yoga doesn't give me strength and muscle, then I am not sure what will! It is amazing what it can do for you though--give you a great workout while also allowing you to feel the most relaxed that you can be! (I have even began to incorporate a bit of yoga into my teaching)

My favorite book (A Homemade Life) states exactly what I have learned in the past week:

"What it all comes down to is winning hearts and minds. Underneath everything else, all the plans and goals and hopes, that's why we get up in the morning, why we believe, why we try, why we bake chocolate cakes. That's the best we can ever hope to do: to win hearts and minds, to love and be loved."

Determining that one positive teaching moment of the day where I was able to win the heart and mind of one student in that one moment is all I need at the end of the day. Anything from...
1. allowing my student to act like Hannah Montana to complete a survey or
2. allowing my student to listen to a Justin Bieber song after receiving an A on a math test or
3. receiving hugs after only introducing myself to students (just being there meant something) or
4. witnessing the desire and drive to learn that my student has gained after simply setting high expectations for her, giving her independence, and creating goals with her

That last one is what sticks in my mind from day to day. This pertains to the student that I focus the most on and teach each day. Although I observe her desire to learn each day, it was one moment where that lightbulb went off for her and she not only realized why I get up each morning to teach her, but she also realized the importance in trying her absolute best for herself.
Maybe that's why she cried when she missed one letter in a word on her spelling test.