Thursday, August 3, 2017

2017-2018 One Word: SAIL

Every year, I choose One Word to be my driving force. Some make resolutions, some choose three things. I typically choose one that can encompass a lot. It's me trying to make things more simpler.

 

Here are some from the previous years. 

 Pursue things that matter. 
 Be present in each moment. 
Be joyful.
 Shift my thinking. 

Building off of the previous years, I'd like to take what I have learned these past couple of years and SAIL. 


The Word: Sail

The Quote: "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." John A. Shedd

The Verse: "Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go." James 3:4

The Logo: It's a boat made out of the letters in Sail. S for the bottom. A is a sail. I is a pole. L is another sail.

The Meaning at School: Over the past couple of years, I've really been able to change the way that I taught. I've placed more emphasis on creating and innovating and less on content. I've been blessed with a position that lets me do this. While reading and diving deeper into how students learn today and presumably in the future, those that merely know content are going to be left behind. No more is the go to college, get a great job, have a great pension, retire with a lot of money the norm. There are young entrepreneurs making a lot more money than I am. I was listening to Tim Elmore on the EntreLeadership podcast the other day and he always blows me away with insight into the young generations and how they learn, communicate, and are successful. It's time I embraced more of that mindset in my teaching. I'm going to do a little more PBL this year. I read Hacking PBL over the summer to get a better idea of PBL.  Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy do a great job of breaking it down into 10 hacks to help you on your journey. I do some already, but I'd like to incorporate more of that into my current things. I want my students to sail. I have always thought that it's interesting that a very small rudder can steer a huge ship. (I've also watched Moana a ton this summer. So that may have influenced the word Sail.) I'm just a mere rudder. A catalyst. Showing the way. Aligning my students to the path. Take risks. Go deeper. Innovate. Create. Do stuff that really matters.

The Meaning at Home: The OneWord is geared to encompass all your walks of life. SAIL will be used in the same format in my personal life. I need to sail in my marriage, with my own kids, and in learning personally.

The Meaning while Coaching. I'm already looking at ways to help my basketball team come this winter. How can I tailor my system to meet the needs of my players for this year? How can I mold leaders? How can I help my team SAIL?

The Meaning while Designing: This past year, I started working doing a lot of sports graphics in Photoshop. I'd like to continue that. I come alive with that. I'd also like to combine my sports photography and design work a little more this year as well.

We can get by and play it safe while just being mediocre, or I can choose to SAIL and make a huge impact on others.










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