Transcript

Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, caregivers, what are you waiting for?

What would happen if we started questioning, what if? What if we had a positive perspective on education? What if we flip the switch on education? What if we were the solution?

Hello listeners. We are excited to BLaST the Airwaves with you today and provide educational solutions for all. My name is Rebecca Gibboney and I am the Curriculum and Online Learning Specialist here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. I am thrilled to welcome you to this episode of BLaST the Airwaves. Today, during the episode, we will talk about one my of most favorite things: passion. How well do you lead with passion? Is your passion contagious? We’re about to find out! Let’s BLaST the Airwaves.

Passion. What are you passionate about in your personal life? In the classroom? In your career?

I find myself super passionate about a lot of things in life. I love travel. It is something about wandering into the unknown, completely not in control of the outcomes. It is enthralling to me.

I am passionate about sports. Any kind of sports. The adrenaline rush, the emotion, the dedication, and commitment.

And, of course, I am passionate about education; but, even deeper, I am motivated to empower change and ignite passion in my fellow educators. It is part of my why. It brings me happiness, but it also brings me fulfillment.

We all are passionate about something and some of us, many things. Yet, during these times, it is hard to be truly passionate. Our capacity surge (remember that term?), our capacity surge is running on empty. We are drained mentally, physically, and emotionally.

How ironic though…when I think about what ignites me, it is usually someone else and their passion. I know that is me personally, but think about it. Usually, when you just need one spark to light the flame, it comes from someone else who’s acting through passion. For example, I have amazing colleagues here at the IU. Sometimes, when I am just exhausted (yes, there are days where exhaustion sets in) but when I feel exhausted and feel I cannot do one more thing, someone comes into my office with another brilliant idea. That’s it. It’s all I need. No matter how exhausted I am, I am in. I am in to support and see their idea through! My passion is ignited, because their passion is ignited.

It is so important, during these times, as educators, that we continue to teach with passion. In fact, it’s one of those aspects that help build your teacher credibility. Dynamism, another word for passion, your ability to communicate enthusiasm for your subject, and your students.

It makes me chuckle because when I think about myself in the classroom, I was that over the top teacher. My classroom was bedazzled with bright colors and piñatas. My music was always playing, sometimes too loud. My voice carried down the hall. I tried every single day to bring my content to life for my students through authentic lessons and activities. But, not just for my students, for me. I needed to feel the passion. I know that if I was bored, my students were bored. I did not care what my students thought of me; I was truly enjoying what I did every single day…and, for the record, I still enjoy what I do every single day. My passion for teaching, more so, my passion for my students, is what carried me.

Yet, how can we show passion when we are so restricted right now? When in some schools, personal belongings are not allowed? Or, we can’t bring in small personal touches of appreciation, like treats, for your colleagues? Field trips are nonexistent. Visitors are limited. Protocols after protocols after protocols. How do we show our passion?

Fisher, Frey, and Hattie share some ways to increase your passion and, perhaps, reignite that spark.

For starters, rekindle your passion for your content.

Think back to when you were a student and you were in the classroom of your favorite class, your favorite content. Hopefully and maybe it is the same content you are teaching now. For me, it was Spanish. What got you excited to be in that class? For me, I loved the community feel, the games, the thrill of saying just one Spanish word right.

Now, let me ask you… if it is the content you are teaching, why did you want to be a teacher of this specific content? What makes you excited about this content?

Think about this past week, how did you deliver your lessons? What vibes did you give? If you were bored, the students sensed that…I’m sure. Remember, they are a lot smarter than we think. Was your lesson a checklist that they just had to get done or did you awaken something inside of them that perhaps awakened you when you were their age?

Sure, it may be harder to do this in a remote setting. I am not ignoring that fact. But, there is a way. There is always a way. I see educators recording themselves out in the community doing lessons for their students. I see educators adding fun add-ons to their presentations and videos. I see educators making it work. How will you make it work for you and your students?

Make the content come alive! Make the students feel it! Make it interesting.

Second, how relevant really how relevant is your lesson? Often times when there is no relevance in the lesson, the students view the lesson as a checklist, like I mentioned before. One more thing that just needs crossed off the list. Is that why we became educators? To cross one more thing off the list? I do not know about you, but I know I did not. I wanted my students to have experiences that connected with them on an authentic level. I wanted my students to check in and not check out. I wanted them to be committed to their learning and the content. I wanted my passion to become their passion. I found the only way to do that was to make it relevant. How? Virtual field trips, classroom cooking (now, I would encourage that at home now), real-world homework, and more!
Find a way to make it relevant and when you can’t? Ask. There’s tons of communities out there right now. Ask your colleagues. Ask your students for feedback.

Which brings us to our last point, seek feedback from trusted colleagues, and your delivery. And, I would take this even further. Seek feedback from your students, too. This would be a great opportunity, and even in this virtual world, probably more so in this virtual world, to invite a colleague or a coach into your lesson. Ask them to focus on your energy. How does your energy impact your students? Is there an impact?

You know, after reading this section in the Distance Learning Playbook, I realized something. It may seem really minimal small to you, but to me…if I was still in the classroom, I would make the change. Okay, here it is, confession: I used to always tell my students, “my energy feeds off your energy”. If you comes in tired, I’m probably going to teach tired. “My energy feeds off your energy.” Woah! Red flag. No, no, no! While, yes, I may have felt that and it may be 100% true, why would I say that to my students? It is not their job to bring my energy, it is my job to bring the energy. It the same right now as I deliver virtual training. My classroom, my trainings, my energy. I cannot expect others to bring my energy. So, point noted for the future. Point noted.

The list can go on: how you dress (believe it or not), your tone, your stories, your presentation techniques. Have you ever thought about your presentation slides? I mean that is how detail-oriented we are getting here, folks. You can show passion through all of those things.

But news flash: your passion does not change just because you are teaching from a distance. Your passion should be the same whether you are in the classroom, face-to-face, or from a distance, through a screen. Your passion is always your passion.

All we need to do (and I know, easier said than done), is commit to keeping that passion alive. When you feel that passion dwindling, find a way to light it again. It comes back to that self-care. Remember, your passion is contagious. Like the other episode when I said, how do you want to leave people feeling when they walk away from you?

I know, for me, it is my hope that my colleagues leave our conversations feeling and seeing my passion to help them grow, to help them feel inspired, to help them be the best educator they aspire to be. I hope they catch on to my passion, ignite their passion, and spread that passion. Even just on this podcast, I hope I ignite something within you that says, hey, this is my passion. Education is my passion. This is my why. This is what I was born to do and I am completely capable of this. I’m going to go rock it today. Because you will rock it today.

Our students need to see the passion because they need to find their passion. They need to know what it means to act with passion and live with passion. And you, you my friends, you are the perfect role model for that. Imagine a world that was ignited by passion?

Can you see it?
Can you feel it?
Today, tomorrow, go light up the world with your passion!

We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solution for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.

Additional/Suggested resources mentioned in the episode:

The Distance Learning Playbook by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie

BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 – www.iu17.org 

Professional Learning Opportunities at BLaST IU 17 – https://www.iu17.org/professional-learning/ 

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