Saturday, June 15, 2013

Saturday Sayings: Excellence is a Habit


I recently discovered this quote, and I just can't shake it.  It's hauntingly brilliant to me, if that makes any sense.  It's so wonderful I wish I were its creator.  In 18 words Paul Bambrick has summed up what a teacher's world is all about during the first several weeks of school.  Make that months or why not just all year?  It all starts on day one though. 

On the first day of school I have a special tradition.  I always let one of my best secrets out of the bag.  "Guess what kids?  Don't tell anybody, but Mr. Graves always sends me the best kids in the whole school."  I then proceed to spend the rest of the year teaching them how to be the best kids.  Before they even show up, I have a vision in my head of what that looks like, but I must remind myself that these little people can't read my mind.  They must be shown what excellence looks like, over and over.  When I just assume that they know what excellence is, I might end up with big pink erasers that have been attacked by pencil tips or that are dismantled in shreds on the floor under desks.  (Not that that's ever happened in my classroom.  Ugh.)  They need me to repeatedly teach them to be the class I want - the best kids in the whole school.  The excellence I'm looking for is a habit.  It's my job to teach it daily.

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24 comments:

  1. This is so true. I saw this well last summer when I worked at a summer clubhouse, which resembled summer school but was more fun. A big thing that we stressed was manners at lunch. We led by example and praised them for using please and thank you. We also have a torch (Olympic theme), and the class with the best manners and helpfulness got awarded the torch at the end of the day to carry around the torch the following day. My class was the last one to finally be awarded the torch, but I sure did see huge improvement. By the end, most of the children had improved in manners and going out of their way to help others.

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    1. Meghan, your story is proof that excellence can be learned. It usually depends on what the adults commit to teach.

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  2. Love this! Modeling, modeling, modeling...we can't just show them what we want from them the first day. It is a year long process. What a great reminder to keep the positive teaching through out the year!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, over and over and over, huh? It's sure worth it.

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  3. I love that you tell your kids they're the best on the first day of school. I think I may be stealing that in August! :)

    Rachel
    A-B-Seymour

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    1. Rachel, you're more than welcome to. The kids enjoy hearing such a great secret.

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  4. I love that quote as well. I have a small poster with that quote on it that I bought at a teacher store several years ago.
    Connie Anderson:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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    1. Connie, although the idea isn't new, this is a new quote for me. Pretty cool that you've had your hands on it for so long. :)

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  5. Tammy, I agree that the quote is hauntingly brilliant. I believe that so much of our behavior is habit and I love the idea of teaching and personally striving for "the habit of excellence." Thanks for another post that I'll keep thinking about.
    Lyn

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    1. Lyn, thank you for another supportive comment. I'm glad you find it hauntingly brilliant as well. :)

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  6. As usual, great food for thought. I need to remember that the modeling never ends!

    Crystal

    Teaching Little Miracles

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    1. Crystal, there are days I wished it would end. :) I think in some ways it does tend to get a little easier as the year goes on though.

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  7. Thanks so much Tammy for the words of wisdom. I think I do not do enough modeling, I honestly never thought of modeling how to use an eraser correctly and it's obvious my kids don't use them correctly. Thanks!

    Kelly
    I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher

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    1. Kelly, it's usually those things that end up driving me batty that I put on my list of things to model, like the erase problems! :)

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  8. I never have that problem with erasers either...*sigh*. This is one of those things I think I know, however I forget to put into practice on a daily basis. At times I honestly just "give up" on certain things because I feel like I'm a broken record addressing it again and again. But we do want them to strive for excellence and instill in them that drive to want it for themselves. Thanks for sharing the quote! :)

    NotJustChild'sPlay

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    1. Miss Trayers, someone else with the eraser problem? It's good to know I'm in great company on that one. :)

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  9. An excellent reminder, Tammy! I love your first day "words"!!

    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

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    1. Barb, thank you. The kids enjoy those first day words as well. :)

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  10. Love your quote and your secret! It is such a simple thought but so powerful!
    Sandi at Literacy Minute

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    1. Sandi, you're right. It is both simple and powerful and when implemented, sure makes a world of difference.

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  11. I love your secret you share with your class. I think sometimes it's hard to keep that vision in our view all year long - thanks for the reminder that it's worthwhile! And excellence - sometimes I just think they know what I'm seeing in my head. I need to communicate that with them.
    Another great Saturday Sayings!!
    Sara

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    1. Sara, I do wish they could just read my mind. It would make things a lot easier sometimes. :)

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  12. I think this has been my favorite Saturday saying! What a reminder to keep that vision...so when things get awry...I can ask myself if I did everything I could to help students see excellence....before getting frustrated with them. Must pin!

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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    1. Laurie, I'm glad you like this one. I like the quote too. It's such a good one. I also must remember that I can't get frustrated if I haven't shown them first what I expect.

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