Tag: teaching

Posted in Good Stuff, Just Talkin', Positive Flow

Every Little Step I Take. . .

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Good Morning Most Awesome and Wonderful World Changers! I remember a song we used to sing at church when I was little. It said, “ If I take just one step, then God will do the rest.” As a child, I truly believed that God actually comes to get involved in our daily lives. As I grew up and had many prayers unanswered, I started learning the laws of God and the universe. So it is a little true that God will do the rest. It’s the laws that God set in place in the universe that does the rest. The law of attraction says if you take a step there mentally, it will come to you. Take step toward joy and believe that you have joy; and it comes to you. If you’ve been there in your mind, you’re a step closer. Although it seems easy, it is not. Sometimes you go 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. It’s easy to settle into the fantasy of God that we learned when we were children; thinking that we can sit back and watch God do everything. It’s so freeing to realize that we can take action mentally, which will bring us steps closer. Every little step we take, gets us closer to our dreams!

Daily Affirmations: today is a magnificent day. I am taking steps closer to my dreams. I am growing and learning every day. I love myself. I love my life. Great things are flowing my way. I am one with God and God is everything. 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

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'

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 Positive Flow

Happy Juneteenth!

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Good Morning Most Awesome and Wonderful World Changers! Juneteenth.com says Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/06/15/what-is-juneteenth-explained-orig-mg.cnn

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Wonderful Day! I am free to be me. I am proud of my history and culture. I am strong because of my ancestors. I am great and there is greatness in me! I love myself. I sprinkle love into every encounter that I have today. 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

Posted in All About Self Control

Release the Peeves 1.2

Posted on by dembysplayfulparables76

Good Morning Most Awesome and Wonderful World Changers! I’m going to continue talking about these “pet peeves” that rule our beliefs and behaviors. As a teacher, we have to learn to let it go. The classroom is the place for mistakes and learning. Through those mistakes we find teachable moments. That’s true teaching, when every experience turns into an opportunity to learn and grow! That’s the type of teacher I aspire to be.

Step 2: Stop yourself. When we are learning to release the peeves, you are going have internal battles. The old you will be begging to come out. “ Let me yell at them, they’ll get right!” While the new you is saying, “ Let’s give them room for mistakes and learning.” Personally, sometimes the old me wins out. In those times I have to stop myself before the situation escalates any further. Teachers many times it’s us that escalate the students not the other way around. You can almost see the life drain from the children when they are yelled at. So only you can stop yourself.

1. Stop in mid-sentence if you have to

2. Think of a way help the children understand that this is something you’re wrestling with

3. Breathe in and breathe out. Give yourself time to calm down. Put on a short video or story for the kids to watch, while you calm yourself

4. Make the right choice to use every moment as a teachable moment for you and the students. Don’t escalate a small mistake into a big blowup.

Everyone has to be able to Stop, Think, and Breathe and Make the Right Choice for themselves.

Daily Affirmations: Today is a Totally Terrific day. I choose to move forward with joy and ease. I live in a safe a secure world. It is safe to let the people around me make and learn from their mistakes. I release the need to control their lives. I love and approve of myself exactly as I am right now. 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