#boldlylove

#boldlylove

If you have ever mentioned love to a room full of middle schoolers, you would know that more explanation is needed. I have learned that even with the best of intentions there are many people who do not know me or my passion for education and a future that involves everyone working together for the good of everyone.

Below is my explanation for how I am using #boldlylove for the 2018-2019 school year.

WE ALL NEED TO BE BOLD IN OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

I believe, in our world today, that we have moved away from civil discourse and a general love for other human beings that we should be engaged in daily. I see, as an educator, that we have too many students concerned about their world and making themselves feel happy and good and many times at the expense of others. We are all required to be at school, my requirement is for my career and students/parents are required by law, so building a common love for everyone is a way that I want to build culture with my students. 

#boldlylove means that we do not have to all think the same, we do not all need to agree with everything that is happening in the world or how to fix it, but we do need to show others that we care about them, we will listen and engage in conversations and want good for others.

#boldlylove transcends any political party.
#boldlylove transcends any one religion.

#boldlylove means understanding, that at times, each of us will be alone or standing out from the crowd at some point in our lives. Framing this within #boldlylove means that I want my students to think about standing out, for good, in the way that they treat others.

Below are examples of what #boldlylove looks like in an educational setting for students;
befriending someone who does not have many friends,
standing up for someone who is being bullied,
working with others who you may disagree with, 
accepting others the way they are,
forgiving others if you have been wronged in the classroom, hallways, lunchroom,
talking with others to help the group have success,
showing others you have empathy for what they have going on in their lives,
expressing a perspective that has not yet been expressed,
allowing classmates to get to know you through your expressed strengths, struggles, interests or passions,
listening to others and their ideas,
advocating for those who do not have a voice,
seeking solutions to community, city, state, national problems,
speaking out on issues that are relevant and important to young people's lives,
doing what is good and right when others are not stepping up to do it,
and living with personal values, beliefs, goals and wanting to do what is right.

Below are examples of what #boldlylove looks like for me as an educator;
treating each and every student as an individual, 
listening to the concerns of all students and parents,
living with empathy for all students and what each student brings into the classroom,
allowing each student to have a fresh slate each and every day,
empowering students to use their voice for good,
giving opportunities for students to have voice and choice in the work they complete,
building positive relationships with all students,
recognizing the good that each student demonstrates throughout the day,
calling home with positives that are recognized with each student,
breaking down barriers for what is preventing students to be successful,
giving of any resources that I have access to for students to be successful in their work,
providing opportunities for students to stretch their comfort zones,
allowing for human dignity and allowing students to go to the bathroom without having to ask,
giving all students the opportunities to do real, authentic work,
demonstrating positive adult collaboration throughout the day,
trusting that all students are good people and want to do what is good and right,
assuming that students are doing the best they can,
instilling a positive growth mindsets,
correcting negative self-talk to help students understand that the most powerful words they say are the words they say to themselves, 
celebrating student work in a public space that allows for parents and others to join in the celebration,
and providing opportunities for students to develop a positive social media presence.

This is what #boldlylove means when I use it.

I want my classroom to be a micro-version of what the possibilities could be of the relationships inside and outside of school. 

Living out #boldlylove will never be easy. If it was, this idea would not be a thing.

I believe each one of us plays a very important role building a better future and that starts with how we view and treat the people around us. 

This is my goal for the 2018-2019 school year.

#boldlylove