Do you ever get tired of keeping going? You know that you’re onto something that could make a difference, but you’re not sure if others get it? You know you can’t accomplish your mission if you’re doing it alone, but where are the others going to come from?

“The IEP must be reasonably calculated to enable the child to make appropriate progress in light of the child’s circumstances. ”

— Endrew F Supreme Court ruling, March 2017

Have you heard about the Endrew F. vs. Douglas County Supreme Court ruling? Get ready for a tsunami of change.

Have you discovered Brene Brown? I have eagerly read her books and embraced her wisdom. She is a researcher at the University of Houston, exploring the debilitating force of shame and the power of courage. She has popularized discussion of vulnerability. Her work inspires me to admit what I don’t know, to ask others for their perspectives, to care about their struggles, and to request personal support for perseverance on my journey.

If you’re like me, you wanted to block out everything related to your career so you could enjoy family and friends over the holiday break. We sometimes need to remind ourselves that those connections are the most important aspect of our lives. Congratulations if you were successful! I really hope you enjoyed precious moments.

This is a busy time of year. We are all pulled in so many directions and REALLY looking forward to a well-earned holiday break. Thank you to those who participated in last week’s webinar “Problem Parents: Our Untapped Asset” in spite of the timing. Several of you asked if I was planning to record the session. Sadly, I forgot to push the record button, but (luckily) that provided me a chance to record a shorter version for sharing.

Congratulations to the organizers of the Delaware Transition Conference, which I attended today. Nearly half of the 800 participants were middle and high school students who stepped into leadership roles. They introduced speakers, presented on panels, and performed songs from Boundless, an amazing musical written by the talented George Tilson. There were also more than 50 parents supporting the participation of their children.

“We don’t receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.”

— Marcel Proust

OK – true disclosure – it’s only my 49th year, but 50 looked catchier in the title. OK?

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches,

but to reveal to him his own.”

— Benjamin Disraeli

I’ve been pondering how Disraeli’s wisdom applies to the teaching profession. Most teachers work their whole careers to become masters of the first half of the quotation, but only a few even consider the second half. Most of us adults can name only one or two teachers who truly impacted our life – who were able to reveal to us our own riches.

“Keep a civil tongue!” I can hear my grandmother’s stern but gentle voice when my sisters and I would get into periodic sibling squabbles. Or maybe some of you were raised with the phrase my parents used, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” When our feelings were hurt -or- we felt unjustly criticized -or- we thought life was unfair, we would express ourselves in ways that weren’t always kind.

Since 1995, I’ve been deeply immersed the dilemma of family partnerships, especially for secondary youth with disabilities.

That topic has been my focus in more than 60 presentations/ workshops across the country, 8 book chapters, 4 journal articles, and graduate courses taught at two universities.

Last week, I was listening to someone describe her day when I was startled alert through her use of the word “delight.” She said she looks for delight in her day. It got me thinking…

I attended the Delaware Vision Coalition Conference at University of Delaware last week. The conference title inspired me: Strengthening Collaboration. The speakers and panelists invited us to look deeply at collaboration from multiple perspectives and in a variety of dimensions. While there were many highlights and lots of stimulating discussion, I left with four takeaways that haunt me. I’m curious if they will affect you the same way.

I DARE YOU TO GO FIRST!

Are you a role model for learning?

We know that students are always watching the adults in their lives. From an early age, they mirror the attitudes and habits of their parents. That’s how they learn to walk and talk. That’s why they speak with an accent and why they bring unquestioned attitudes and beliefs with them to school. But then educators present them with new information, new ways of thinking.

We are all bombarded by so many competing priorities for our time, our attention, our energy. We launch initiatives that are important…. emphasis on literacy, on math skills, on higher order thinking, on character, on social justice, on developing 21st Century skills…. the list goes on and on. But what’s important?

Let’s be honest. When two teachers are scheduled to be co-teachers, it’s not easy. There are issues with expectations and communication, with differing perspectives about students, and with establishing mutual classroom routines for instruction and management. Over the years, I’ve witnessed all sorts of things that can go wrong. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Many schools and districts have instituted a position of Instructional Coach to support teachers as they improve their instructional practices. Coaches are everywhere in the fields of athletics, performing arts, and business leadership. Most books and experts on personal development recommend finding a coach to support your own professional learning path.

What does a special educator bring to a team?

I have been puzzling over this question ever since I first heard of the new special education law in 1975. Exactly what is a special educator supposed to do?

Does your school have an Instructional Coach? Many schools have added such a position, either for general or discipline-specific support to the faculty. The person hired is usually an exceptionally strong teacher who has existing influence in the building.

Last month, during a conversation of possibilities, I asked a school leader about his practices for family engagement.

“Would you be interested in expanding your practices to build stronger partnerships with your families?”

“Leaders don’t know where they’re going.”

I was deep in my daily reading time – this time the topic was leadership – when I stumbled on this statement. Leadership expert, Orrin Woodward, went on to explain.