Connected Educators are known for sticking with an issue, problem, or project. They value exploring ideas and concepts, rethinking, revising, and continuously repacking and unpacking, resisting the urge to finish prematurely.

In this video, Sheryl unpacks one of the values and dispositions of the connected educator from her and Lani Ritter Hall’s book, The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age.

In times like these many of us find ourselves ready to give up and quit. Life is too demanding. We are having to figure things out and being asked to do things that we never have before. And in the midst of trying to find our way in the land of unnormal, we are being evaluated and our students are being assessed like everything was still business as usual. This is where the connected educator disposition of “resisting the urge to finish prematurely” really comes in handy.

Developing the Value of Resisting the Urge to Quit Prematurely

Values and dispositions are habits that grow into beliefs. When we value something we regard it as something that deserves our attention. Valuing something says we acknowledge it’s importance, worth, or usefulness. In order to make something a habit we have to practice it. One way to grow in this area is by practicing our self talk and recognizing the emotional and physical urges that are pushing us to quit.

1. Self-talk. Negative talk is all around most teachers, especially now. I remember sitting in the teacher’s lounge as a young teacher and hearing negative things being said about the students I loved. I learned early that the first thing I needed to do was be aware of my self-talk and self think. When we listen to others and then rehearse in our own minds that it is ok to quit we are setting ourselves up for failure. We justify mentally for 100 reasons that we do not have to stick with the issue, challenge, or promise. We begin to think it is ok, no one else cares, and quitting is self love. What you think about, you start saying, and what you say, you do. We tell ourselves that it’s OK to quit, that there’s no harm, that we can try again later, that it would be so much easier to stop and rest. Become aware of that kind of self talk. Learn to hear that voice, and to realize that it’s not you, that you don’t have to listen to it. Rather tell yourself you got this, you are strong, you can do this. Rehearse in your mind pictures of you doing it and seeing it through.

2. Urge Awareness. Urges will happen at the same time as your negative self-talk, but they’re more of a physical or emotional feeling rather than a voice. You will feel like quitting. You will experience mental or physical fatigue. You will determine that it is self love to quit because you feel exhausted and a knot in the pit of your stomach or pressure in your chest. Most of the time it is simple anxiety. Become aware of these feelings and recognize them for that they are and not give into them and quit.

3. Last, learn that the urges will pass. The urge to quit prematurely, especially now, will come as a wave that builds up, then crests, then dies down. Once you’re past the crest of the wave, you’re OK. Push through. The more you do not give in, the stronger you will become in your resolve.

Connected educator push through- exploring ideas and concepts, rethinking, revising, and continuously repacking and unpacking, resisting the urge to finish prematurely.

Want some help in developing the values and dispositions of the connected educator?

Get your life back and end stress and overwhelm. Let us help you resist the urge to quit by having the support you need now.

We are currently accepting enrollment in our newest cohort- Instant Impact Collaborative. Enrollment closes Nov. 8, 2020. The yearlong, job embedded experience includes:

  • 1-1 coaching
  • small group coaching
  • self paced course
  • monthly live meetings
  • downloadables and printables
  • membership in an online community of practice

FREE Downloadable
Free downloadable with videos for all the values and dispositions that support the Connected Educator.

The following two tabs change content below.
Sheryl is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Powerful Learning Practice. She works with schools and districts from around the world helping them to infuse technology into their curriculums and by leading other digital conversion efforts. Sheryl also consults with governments, educational organizations and non-profits in development of their various professional learning initiatives. Sheryl is a sought-after presenter at national and international events, speaking on topics related to digital and online learning, teacher and educational leadership, online community building, and other educational issues impacting children of poverty. Sheryl served on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Board of Directors for six years. She co-authored The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age with Lani Ritter Hall. Sheryl has four children and four grandsons, Luke, Logan, Levi and Tanner and a trio of dachshunds. You can find out more on her blog and on Twitter @snbeach.

Latest posts by Powerful Learning Practice (see all)

Share this: