One of our gifted educators tweeted about a book she was recommending.
When a great teacher recommends a book, I’m all in. So I bought it and am about halfway through.
Because of this great teacher’s recommendation, I found these words on page 68.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space, and in that space lies our power and our freedom.”
-Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Wow. I really wish I had read these words before. Especially earlier in my career, the ‘space’ didn’t really exist and I would respond to the stimulus without thinking. Sometimes not to great effect. As we work with kids coming from increased levels of trauma, that space becomes all the more important for the kid….and for us.
I absolutely love that our educators continue to read. Continue to seek new skills, resources, research, and ideas. All in the name of helping more kids, at deeper levels, to achieve higher levels of success.
In the space, realize your power and freedom to choose a response to understanding that the kid is struggling.
Reminds me of this:
A good thought to occupy your space before the response.
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Author: Jnelson
Jeff Nelson
Fife School District
Assistant Superintendent:Teaching-Learning-Innovation
39 years as an educator.
16 years teacher
3 years assistant principal
12 years principal
8 years Assistant Superintendent
BA, Washington State University
MAEd, Washington State University
Previous member of AWSP Legislative Committee
Previous member of UW Tacoma PEAB, Administrative Certification
Established and maintained Fife’s first website for 7 years
Present work includes establishing the first Teaching/Learning/Innovation department in the Fife School District. Examples of responsibilities include: teacher/administrator professional development, assessment, TPEP, curriculum/materials review, 24 credit requirement, technology levy leadership, teacher/administrator bargaining.
Initiatives underway in Fife, as a result of new TLI Department: AVID, OER, Curriculum and Materials reviews, Student Perception Pilot with CSTP, Google Expedition
Cofounder of Educational Internet Communications, LLC. Marketed and sold one of the first online grade checking programs in the US. Consulted with Seattle Educational Internet Company for 2 years.
jnelson@fifeschools.com
twitter.com/jeffnelsonTLI
View all posts by Jnelson
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