Tag: school

Posted in Just Talkin', Positive Flow

Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be Ready!

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Teaching our kids to be responsible and respectful are two of the most important concepts you could ever teach! Oh what a wonderful world we would live in, if everybody learned to be responsible and respectful. Which really means mind your own business! Take care of the things you need to do. “Secure your mask first, then help someone else” as they say before you go on a flight! But literally, that what being responsible and respectful means. The old church members used to say, “ sweep around your own front door, before you try to sweep around mine”. As educators, it is important to teach our children these lessons. If we are going to raise up the next citizens, this is what we need to teach!

Posted in Just Talkin'

Mixed Feelings About MLK

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Don’t get me wrong, I think the civil rights movement and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr did some great things for our country. Black people were at least allowed to eat in restaurants and not be made to sit in the back of the bus and other things like that. I know the civil rights movement was much more than that. It changed laws so that people were treated equally. However, just because laws changed, doesn’t mean hate is dissolved. I just wished the civil rights movement would have focused on building up the black community and making sure the black communities got the same funding as white communities. Especially it education. The civil rights movement essentially turned the education of black children into the hands of people that didn’t like them. When we talk about the achievement gap, there it is. I feel that merging schools caused a since of not being good enough for black people. Where at black schools, the teachers, administrators , and staff were seen as professionals; but when merged with white schools they were back to being seen as “boy” and “gal”. Those who were in prominent positions at blacks schools were now demoted.

I should note that these are just my thoughts. I just don’t think communities or schools should have been merged; I think people should have the choice to move fluently from one to another. Just like churches. Church is still the most segregated institution in America. I don’t think this is a bad thing because people have choice. When I went to Bethune- Cookman which is an HBCU (historical black college and university) I chose to go. I wasn’t forced to go because blacks were not allowed at FSU. Originally that’s why black colleges were started. But it’s all about being able to choose and being able to move fluently within various communities. I know the civil rights movement was doing the best they could at the time. I just wished the would have fought to make better communities of color, rather than merge them. I’m just talking about what I’m talking about and it’s just my opinion.

Posted in Just Talkin'

Mr Demby’s Teaching Philosophy!

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Teachers. Don’t overlook teachable moments trying to teach! Many times we’re so busy trying to follow the curriculum, that we miss major life shaping lessons. Your teaching should inspire your students, so if they are asking questions; help them find the answers. Even if the question doesn’t pertain to to this particular lesson you’re teaching. If children are excited about something enough to ask about it, go with it. It is my belief that children don’t really learn from what you teach, but from how you teach. Case in point, we were doing a piano lesson in class. We were learning to play D-F-A. One of my students said, “ I wonder how pianos makes sounds”? I instantly took the top off the piano and call the students over and showed them the hammers and mechanisms. Then I allowed them to touch it. They were amazed. That wasn’t the lesson. The lesson came the next time someone had a question about something. “Let’s take it apart and see, just like we did the piano” ! That was the lesson!

Daily Affirmations: Today is an Awe-inspiring Day! I look forward to what every new hour brings. My life is divinely guided and I am always headed in the best direction. Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in Just Talkin', Positive Flow

Mr. Demby’s Teacher Tip Rant

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Children can tell! Children can tell if you, the teacher, don’t like them. They can tell what you think of them, the moment of your first interaction. Most times, their instincts are not wrong. People always look at me weird because I fuss at my children. Sometimes if you walk by my classroom, you may hear me yelling. However, the majority of my students knew, that I was pulling the best from them. Many of them have come back to me, thanking me because I was the reason they wanted to come to school. I’m one of those teacher that is going to keep it real. I even had a few students that I told. “Look I don’t like you, and you don’t like me but since we have to coexist, let’s make the best of it.” by the end of the year we were a lot closer! Be real with your students, they can tell!

Daily Affirmations: Today is an Amazing Day! I am my authentic self. What others do and feel have nothing to do with me. I am guided by infinite love and I am always headed in the best direction. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in Just Talkin', Positive Flow

Mr Demby’s Teaching Philosophy

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Many people feel like it’s bad to be firm with students. Other teachers tell me, “You can’t yell at kids, it might make them feel bad.” But I yell at them, then talk to them. Sometimes I feel like as adults we have to force kids to do something’s until they are responsible enough to choose for themselves. Just like with brushing you teeth and taking a bath. Our parents have to force us to do it because it’s just the right to do. Then as we get older, they don’t have to tell us because it has become apart of us. Case in point. The first time I made my kids sit quiet and close their eyes and have a meditation moment, they weren’t taking it seriously. So I had to force them to do it and do it right. Now they request the meditation time. So it’s okay to have a “ don’t try me” as you teach. Kids know when you’re trying to help them versus trying to hurt them.

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Marvelous day. I choose to move with joy and ease. Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. I love myself. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in Good Stuff, Just Talkin', Positive Flow

Mr. Demby’s Teaching Philosophy

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Freedom is given when you’re responsible enough to handle it. Freedom should not be given with age. The saddest classrooms are those 5th grade classes that the teachers treat like 5th graders but they still behave like 3rd graders. Teachers have to learn to only give freedom when it is earned not because of the age of the students. Even sadder, there are some high school students who have been given the total freedom of high school and they still need 5th grade treatment. Note to all teachers…. “ Freedom is given with responsibility, not with age!

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Wonderful day. I choose to move with joy and ease. Life is simple and easy. I love and approve of myself. I am learning and growing more and more everyday. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in Just Talkin'

Mr Demby’s Two Cents

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Just ask me a question about teaching, and I’ll tell you the Demby way to do it! I have my own quirky way of handling things in my classroom! I’m going to share it with you!

Daily Affirmations: Today is a fabulous day! I love myself more and more. I am worthy of all the good in the universe. People listen to me. My thinking is sound and solid. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE.#IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in Just Talkin', Positive Flow

All the Single Teachers!

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Good Morning Most Awesome and Wonderful World Changers! It’s almost time for school to start back. I heard we’re going to the school year digitally. Here are some tips to help you not get bogged down. Most people who have children or partners get up and do things with them. As a single person it’s easy to get bogged down and just end up staying in bed all day!

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Wonderful day. I take joy in the present moments. I love and approve of myself. I am full of life and energy. I am excited to see what each new hour brings. I am healthy, wealthy, whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove

Posted in All About Self Control

Release the Peeves 1.3

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Good Morning Most Awesome and Wonderful World Changers! We’ve been talking about letting go of our “pet peeves”. Which really just something we use as a means to control others and an excuse to get angry. So this week we’re learning some steps to let them go. As teachers, we really have to work hard to release our peeves. But it makes the difference in classroom full of peace or a classroom full or anger. You choose. Anger begets more anger!

Step 3: Ignore The “pet peeve” behavior. What we give our attention to, is what comes to us on a continuous basis. Therefore it is a good choice to ignore the behavior that makes you the angriest. Through my 17+ years of teaching experience, I’ve noticed that once children realize they can get under your skin, they will seemingly do it more and more. So years ago when learned this trick, it did wonders in my classroom. “ Now I must say I’m still not all the way there. I can ignore about 70%, the other 30% . . . Get ready to meet the angry 😡 Mr. Demby”. The point is, I’m still working on it.

1. Stop focusing on the person doing the wrong thing. Don’t even acknowledge them or they’re behavior.

2. Think of ways to focus on the right behaviors. Don’t even say, “I like the way . . . Is sitting” or something like that. Just totally start talking to your students about the lesson or a current event.

3. Breathe as you will need it. Because as you ignore, the behavior will probably become more intense in order to get your attention. Turn on a video or have the children read a book, if you need to step away.

4. Make the right choice to stay the course. Don’t give in to the old angry you. Stay cool 😎, calm, and collected!

Try this relaxation video. https://youtu.be/m1q93OOdj5E

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Wonderful day! I am at peace. My happiness is bubbling over from within. I have so many reasons to rejoice. I love and approve of myself this very moment. I release all of my pet peeves. I am healthy, wealthy,whole, and complete. ALL IS WELL IN MY CLASSROOM. ALL IS WELL IN MY SCHOOL. ALL IS WELL IN MY WORLD. ALL IS WELL AND I AM SAFE. #IBlessMyWorldWithLove