Bloom with Aubrey

Tag: teachers

  • The Brave Middle of Teaching

    The room had that familiar hum.

    Twenty-four middle school voices layered together — pencils tapping, backpacks rustling, whispered side conversations that weren’t exactly off task… but weren’t helping anyone learn either.

    I stood at the front of the room thinking about the carefully designed lesson plan—and felt completely disconnected from the moment unfolding in front of me.

    I had done everything “right.”

    Clear objectives
    Organized materials
    A solid pacing plan

    And yet… I felt it:

    The students weren’t with me.

    I felt myself slipping into that teacher autopilot:
    Tighten control. Move faster. Talk louder. Check more boxes.

    But instead… I stopped.

    I sat on the edge of a student desk and asked,
    “Okay—what’s going on in here today?”

    No perfectly worded script.
    No redirect protocol.

    Just a pause.

    It was awkward. And incredibly vulnerable.

    That moment reminded me of something Brené Brown teaches:

    “Connection is why we’re here. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”

    I had planned for instruction… but I hadn’t planned for connection.

    When Courage Meets Clarity

    Later that afternoon, as I reflected on that foggy lesson, I thought about Stephen Covey’s words:

    “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

    Connection wasn’t missing because I didn’t value it—in truth, it was missing because I hadn’t designed for it.

    I expected courage to magically appear in the moment—
    But courage needs systems to survive the daily pressure of teaching.

    I needed more than reflection.

    I needed a reset.

    Reset & Recharge

    When classrooms feel off, teachers often turn the frustration inward:

    Why can’t I manage this class better?
    Why doesn’t this lesson ever work?
    Why am I so tired?

    But what if we paused and asked new questions?

    Try This Reset:

    Brené Brown reflection:

    • Where am I protecting myself instead of connecting?
    • What am I afraid to try—or admit I need help with?

    Stephen Covey reflection:

    • Is what I focused on today actually what mattered most?
    • What one habit or routine could help my priorities show up consistently?

    Neither courage nor clarity alone will sustain us.

    Teachers need space to:

    • Reconnect with purpose
    • Refine their practice without judgment
    • Rebuild their energy

    Teaching isn’t meant to run on emotional exhaustion and compliance-driven systems.

    It thrives on community, courage, and clarity.

    Try This Tomorrow: The 5-Minute Courage Reset

    Tomorrow, don’t change the whole system.

    Just try this:

    Step 1: Start Human (2 Minutes)

    Greet students at the door and ask one genuine check-in question:

    • What was the best part of your day so far?
    • What’s something you’re proud of this week?

    Brown reminds us:

    “People are hard to hate close up. Move in.”

    Move in—emotionally and physically—before diving into content.

    Step 2: Anchor Your ‘Why’ (1 Minute)

    Before starting your lesson, write this on the board:

    Today’s purpose:
    Not just to learn _______, but to build _______.

    Examples:

    • Build confidence in explaining our thinking
    • Build persistence with challenging texts
    • Build collaboration skills

    Covey taught us:

    “Begin with the end in mind.”

    Let your instructional goals always connect to human outcomes.

    Step 3: End with Strength (2 Minutes)

    Close class by naming something that went right:

    • A student taking a risk
    • A group collaborating
    • A class refocusing after a tough moment

    Brown again:

    “What we don’t appreciate devalues.”

    Students deserve to be noticed—
    and teachers deserve to remember the good they’re growing.

    Courage + Clarity = Sustainable Teaching

    Brown gives teachers permission to show up imperfect but whole.

    Covey gives teachers a structure so their values aren’t buried under busyness.

    Together they remind us:

    Teaching is not about being flawless.
    Teaching is about showing up with heart, anchored in purpose, guided by habits that protect what matters most.

    One Last Question

    So I’ll leave you with the questions I ask myself often—especially on hard days:

    • Where do I need more courage to connect?
    • Where do I need clearer habits to protect what matters?
    • How do I become the teacher (coach) my students (teachers) need without losing myself in the process?

    Because the greatest educators don’t choose between vulnerability or effectiveness.

    They lead with both.

    Help Spread the word:

    When prompted with “how are Brene Brown’s thoughts on inner work and Stephen Covey’s work on outer work connected?” The ChatGPT-generated quotes on their connections. https://chat.openai.com/chat

  • Keep the Spark:High Yield Strategies to Engage Students at the End of the Year

    As the school year winds down, it’s tempting to think the finish line signals a time to coast. But in reality, the final stretch is one of the most critical moments for student engagement, motivation, and connection. It’s when we either solidify the year’s gains—or risk letting them fade.

    The good news? You don’t need a massive overhaul. You just need a few high-yield strategies and a little bit of intentionality. Let’s dive into some practical, research-backed ways to make these last weeks count, along with insights from some of education’s most trusted voices.

    • Keep Expectations High—and Visible
      “What you permit, you promote.” – Brian Mendler
      It’s easy to relax your standards when the countdown begins. But students need boundaries more than ever when structure starts to fade. Consistent routines, visible behavior expectations, and clear consequences reduce anxiety and prevent springtime chaos. Mendler reminds us that consistency is compassion—especially for students who rely on structure for success.
      🔹 Try this: Revisit your classroom norms with students. Make it a class discussion and have them reflect on what’s helped them thrive this year.
    • Keep Participation Techniques Tight
      “Technique trumps charisma.” – Doug Lemov
      Doug Lemov, author of Teach Like a Champion, emphasizes that strong, intentional strategies outperform personality alone—especially when attention spans are short. High-engagement techniques like Cold Call, No Opt Out, and Everybody Writes aren’t just for the beginning of the year. They’re especially powerful now.
      🔹 Try this: Use “Turn and Burn”—have students write a short response, turn to a partner, and share immediately. This combo of writing, movement, and discussion keeps the energy up.
    • Add Purposeful Creativity
      “Don’t just teach a lesson—create an experience.” – Dave Burgess, Teach Like a Pirate
      By late spring, students have seen hundreds of lessons. Break the pattern. Use thematic days, role-play simulations, menus, or project-based tasks to bring relevance and novelty into the room. Burgess advocates for teaching in a way that’s unpredictable and unforgettable. Engagement doesn’t have to mean silliness—but it should mean curiosity and connection. When students have authentic opportunities to contribute, their engagement skyrockets. Use choice boards, book tastings, genius hour, or student-led discussions to allow space for reflection and exploration.
      🔹 Try this: Create a “Real World Remix” week where students apply what they’ve learned in authentic ways—pitching solutions, designing campaigns, or teaching a mini-lesson to peers.
      • Try this: End the year with a “Pass the Torch” activity—students create advice and encouragement for next year’s learners.

    Try a Book Tasting with a Menu Board or a Autobiography Google Site

    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/bloom-with-aubrey

    • Relationships Over Routines
      “Connection isn’t just part of the work—it is the work.” – Brian Tolentino
      Brian Tolentino reminds us that the best instructional strategies are only as strong as the relationships they’re built on. Use these weeks to intentionally restore, reconnect, and reaffirm relationships with students. Ask about their goals. Laugh with them. Tell them what you’ve noticed they’ve improved on.
      🔹 Try this: Set a goal to write or say something specific and positive to five different students per day. Be intentional. Name their growth.

    The final weeks are not a time to “wind down”—they’re a chance to leave a lasting impression. Lean into structure, spark curiosity, strengthen relationships, and let your students finish strong—because they deserve your best until the very end.

    “The job of a teacher is not to cover the curriculum. It is to uncover the potential.” – Dave Burgess