Teacher of the Year Stop #1 The Winking Lizard

For the next year, I will officially hold the title of Teacher of the Year for the Fairview Park Schools. It comes with a primo parking space, much closer to the door so I don't have to drag all my bags so far each morning. In addition, I received a $100 gift certificate to a fancy restaurant, so my husband and I can actually go on a date, which is good because I spent so many hours doing school work after school that I think he forgot what I looked like sometimes. One of my colleagues told me that since I have won the award, I have to live up to it this coming year too. So I have decided to take the award on a year long tour and with each stop, share with my blog readers ideas and information that will help them in their classrooms and in their professional lives.



Stop 1 The Winking Lizard Tavern in Avon,Ohio

After winning the award, I celebrated with my family at the Winking Lizard. We had fun at dinner. Everyone wanted their picture taken with me and my plaque. My family made a lot of sacrifices this year because of the hours I was putting in on the job. I really appreciated all of their support!

In education it is important to celebrate success, whether it is in your classroom, with an individual student, a professional accomplishment or a school accomplishment. I have found that it is so easy to got caught up in the daily tide of activity that I often forget to stop and focus on what went right that day. This coming year I am going to keep a professional journal to help me keep track of what was good about a lesson, a unit, interaction with my peers or with my students, some new idea I had or something new I learned. On those days when I am wondering if I have accomplished anything at all, I can pull out my journal and remember all the good things about being a teacher. On those days when I am sitting at home working on a new lesson or unit, I can open my journal and look back through my brainstorming ideas. Journals can be kept electronically by creating a blog or using Google Docs or in a notebook. If you want to find out more about journaling, try the following links:

http://www.infed.org/research/keeping_a_journal.htm

http://journaling-portal.com/journaling-your-work.php

http://teacher-mentorship.suite101.com/article.cfm/five_minute_activity_for_teachers

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/509381/journal_writing_for_the_new_and_experienced.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/37655/journal_writing.html?cat=4