Editor’s note

EDITOr’S NOTE

Ilove yoga, spin and kickboxing classes; the first one and, although I really pushes me mentally (compulsive thoughts must pause wanted to play it cool to strike that pose perfectly!) and the second two again, a smile crept onto challenge me physically (heart and thighs must persist my face. through pain to experience that “I-did-it” high!). But after “That’s it!,” she said. two years of being fairly dedicated to these three types of exercise, I’ve been finding excuses to sit in my leather chair Next I had to go on and eat Pop Tarts every morning instead of venturing to my back and hug one the Y. Finally, with the New Year quickly approaching and leg as I kicked with the my desire to get serious about fitness, I decided to try a new other and reverse it for class – one that would challenge my fitness level and my a final lap. As awkward fear of putting my face in water. as scratching your own back, but I did it. Who cares that A “Finning” class sounded fun when a friend mentioned it last year. She’s like me – a fairly regular exerciser but not a fitness fanatic. Surely, if she could do it, so could I. It took me awhile to realise that I might have to, for the first time since I was 11, actually swim with my face in the water and get my hair wet. The class description was what made Wouldn’t it be great if you could quickly skim the contents of Teachers Matter and suddenly become the teacher of every student’s, parent’s and principal’s dreams? Not possible, right? We know that the process of becoming an • Let students call the shots (don’t be scared; read Simon Evans’ article) • Invest in solutions, not standards (imagine the possibilities with Barry Musson) I was the last one to finish – and stupidly attempted to do the end-of-class cool down stretches with my flippers on: I had somehow managed to only get one quarter-size splash of water on my face; my hair was mostly dry; and I made it through the whole class. No need to harp on the fact that it was only 45 minutes long. me worry: it mentioned “high cardio” and “total body,” exceptional teacher takes openness, research, • Follow a GPS and map it out (Bena Afterwards, I reflected on how much the Habits of Mind which sounded like a lot of splashing. practice and commitment – in other words, a Kallick suggests that you take hints had helped me through the process. I was subconsciously As Stacy, the smiling teacher, rolled out the rubbish bin filled with fins, I tried to play it cool and follow the experienced finners. They flipped over the flippers, looking for a size close to their shoe size, so I did, too. Some then headed to the “fast” lanes on the left and others to the “slow” middle section, after sliding on their fins as they sat on the edge. One woman demonstrated her gloves – which were webbed and rubbery-looking – to two women (no men in this class of 15). She had brought her own gloves, and I wrongly guessed that my laps would be easier if I had a pretty pair, too. “They increase resistance,” Stacy explained later. “It’s a harder workout.” significant investment of time. But there is something you can do right now to at least start the process. Here are some quick teasers – a few words to summarise what the experts in this issue are sharing – to spark your interest. Take a deeper look at their articles later and then go even further by reading more about their techniques, taking a class, trying the techniques and then eventually mastering them. Step by step, you’ll be on your way to communicating clearly, motivating your students and helping them develop a lifelong love of learning: from technology to stay on track in the classroom) • Freeze the positivity (tips on keeping kids excited, compliments of Chris Kerr) • Be the community kind (how to go beyond a good student to a good citizen with advice from David Koutsoukis) • Slip, Slop, Slap (from the master of catchy phrases – Glenn Capelli) • Get personal with your students (Kevin Mayall tells you why) using them – which I understand is the ultimate goal of the 16 Habits: you practice them enough so that they become part of you and you rely on them to grow in all situations. I was definitely persisting (despite thinking about quitting!); listening with understanding when the teacher spoke; thinking flexibly (I sort of had an open mind, right?!); thinking about my thinking (realizing my “self-talk” and encouraging myself); striving for accuracy (I really wanted to kick my legs the “right way”); thinking and communicating with clarity and precision (I clarified things the teacher told me); taking responsible risks (I was smart to not attempt this in an ocean for starters); remaining open to continuous learning; and maybe most important, finding humour (I hope you can see that I can After 11 minutes (yep, I looked), I wanted to quit. I was • If it’s not broken, still fix it (Martz Witty keeps you improving) poke fun at myself!) with the gloved woman and her two newbie friends – Art Costa spells out the Habits in this issue, and many of who looked to be 20 years my senior. They were going • Share your “view” with everyoneour other writers specifically mention them or indirectly faster than me as we alternated laps between going on (Ngahi Bidois uses an analogy to show you show how putting them to work makes a difference in the our side, our stomach, our back and a weird sitting-in-athe rewards) classroom and in life. If you’re not already familiar with chair position and did different kicks (straight-leg flutters, • If you’re ready, the “not-ready” child the Habits or not yet practicing them, the start of the year, bent-knee kicks, mountain climbing-like kicks). I am not might still grow (Maggie Dent explains with all its promise and possibilities, is the perfect time to proud to admit this but I am competitive: I would hate to how the right teacher makes a difference.) do so – and I think reading this magazine is the perfect be falling behind with people my age. I nearly wished for way to get started. I hope you’ll agree. death as the adventurous seniors left me behind. Until …well…the turtle that I am started to see the hares hesitate. “I have a cramp,” said one about 10 minutes later. (Stacy suggested putting mustard on it after class. I confirmed in my cardio-crazed state that she really said that. Something about countering some chemical that causes cramps?) Kristen De Deyn Kirk Soon after, the other newbie woman said she had to rest. Stacy focused on me and said to do this crazy, on-mystomach move: My hands were behind my back in a downward prayer-like position and my legs were kicking like a frog. I think. As I finished the lap, she cheered me on