James Kiger, M.Ed

Grading YOUR Final Exam

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:34:00 +0000

It's that time of year again, when the cherubs are scurrying about stressing their final exams! Just today our seniors are finalizing whether or not they will be walking down the aisle to recieve their sheepskin or await the dreaded "You are not graduating" call. Underclassmen are reviewing for the chance to move up a grade or spend time in summer school... Exciting times!

As you reflect on your school year, how would you do on this final exam with only three questions:

1. Did I make a difference any students this year?

2. Did I make a positive difference in my school this year?

3. Did I grow as a person?

4. Did I incorporate principles in my life to help me grow or did i burnout again?

5. Am i excited about my future or dreading teaching anymore?

Our goal as educators is to take our hopes of our Septembers and make them the realities of our Junes. In other words, the renewed optimism of a new year sustaining itself through the dog days of April May and June so that we can go out in a flame not in a fizzle.

Let this summer be a time of recharging, remotivation and re-evaluation. Don't let your final exam determine your grade throughout your school year.

Have a great summer!

Inspirational Movies May Be Your Ticket

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Movies are a wonderful way to help us escape the "real world" and put us in a place of wonder and imagination for 2 or more hours. From the thrilling escapes of Luke Skywalker in the stars to the land of Orks and Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings... movie makers can make what seem so outlandish become real right before our eyes. Perhaps a trip to your local blockbuster or an order from Netflex might be what the doctor ordered for you to help you "spark" your passion.

Why not take the time to rent or buy:

Dangerous Minds

Dead Poet's Society

The Great Debaters

Stand by Me

Take the Lead

All of these movies will stir up that sleeping passion to teach that lies dormant below stacks of term papers, reports, and homework assignments.... Do yourself a favor... turn off your cell phone.....Grab some popcorn and spend a Super Saturday taking the time to get inspired again.......

It's Time to Face The Truth!

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

It's no use candy coating anything. If you are tired, sarcastic and negative; you are suffering burnout. The one good thing you can take from being "afflicted" is burnout only affects passionate teachers. Those that don't give a rip never get burnout!

So what do you do if you are suffering from burnout? First, realize this isn't really you. No one set out to get into teaching to be grumpy, dis-engaged or to hate kids. This is only temporary.

Second, you must find the time to get away and recharge. Whether that means a (cough, cough) sick day or a personal day just for you..... getting away, re-organizing, taking a nap, reading at a park... something, anything... will be what you need to begin a recharging process.

Third, begin to take care of yourself FIRST. Get out and exercise. Care for your body. Read, relax and journal. These are the natural ways in which to replenish your passion and start to rediscover who you really are.

Last, remember the adage your mom taught you "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing" As long as you are grumpy, sarcastic and aggitated... nothing good can come from it.. so better to say nothing than say something you will regret!

Know Your Rhythms

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Do you get the winter blues? I sure do. The colder weather, the shorter days, the end of football season.... all these things are depressing thoughts. In fact, I find that my passion often takes the time to hybernate along with the bears!

I have learned over the years, my life in a year goes in rhythms. When my birthday rolls around (tomorrow) it begins a new awakening in me.... March Madness (basketball) is about to begin, the days are getting longer and warmer and something awakens inside of me. I can expect now to watch my reading level begin to rise, my new ideas begin to blossom and I get a new sense of optimism that had eluded me for about three months! It gets even better in April through June! My favorite time of year is the months of September and October and my passion is sky high, often as a result of the beginning of my other passion, West Virginia Football!

My point is... you may not be burned out. You simply may have just gone through another rhythm in your life. Don't force things that aren't there. It does me no good to write in the winter, my mind is not up to it. Instead I spend much of that time researching and reflecting. But during the spring watch out.. I am a reading and writing machine. Learn your own rhythms, schedule your growth times during those times when you are at your peak. Then, if possible, stretch those times out by one week every year. You will soon see that for at least nine months out of the year, passion won't be a problem and burnout will seem like it never happened!

Great Books For Burned Out Teachers

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:52:00 +0000

If you desire to reclaim your passion for teaching, I suggest NOT reading any books about teaching. Instead, read books that will develop YOU. Personal growth is the best investment you can make in restoring your passion. There is just something about reading a book, in a quiet place with some nice soothing music, that will get your juices flowing. May I offer the following suggestions?

The Spark:Overcome Burnout and Reclaim Your Passion for Teaching - James Kiger
The Traveler's Gift - Andy Andrews
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
Today Matters - John Maxwell
The World's Greatest Salesman - Og Mandino
Think and Grow Rich- Napoleon Hill
An Enemy Called Average - John Mason
Imitation is Limitation - John Mason
Winning with People - John Maxwell
The Success Principles - Jack Canfield
How Full Is Your Bucket - Tom Rath and Donald Clifton
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life - Brian Tracy

Any or all of these books will begin to stir something inside of you (Passion) and begin the process of restoring what is hidden inside of you!

The Spark!

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Do you know that 1 out of every 3 new educators are leaving the profession of teaching within the first 5 years?

Stressed with the demands of larger classes, high accountability and low morale, the atmosphere around many schools is more of poison than passion.

It is with this in mind that I began to research how bad the epidemic of burnout has become. It is pretty bad.

Over the years, I have been a student of the motivational guru's of our time. Men like Tony Robbins, John Maxwell, Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield, Ken Blanchard and Brian Tracy.

I began to think "who needs to be motivated more than a teacher?" So, all the things I have learned from these masters I began to apply to my own life and lo and behold, soon the idea for the book came out.

It is an easy read and I hope that when you purchase it, you can carve out the time to read and allow the truths I share to re-energize you and restore your passion!