Ever give yourself the gift of rejoicing when you’ve hit the mark?

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.

— Lily Tomlin as “Edith Ann”

I love it when a plan comes together!

This last weekend I taught a class that I’ve taught a couple of times a year for the last six or seven years… AND I taught a totally new class – Huh??? Well of course, part of the riddle is that the group of students is always new to the class and new to me.  But this time I was also teaching to a new text and a new set of objectives and a new syllabus – all selected by somebody else.  A very talented somebody else… good choice on book, objectives and syllabus.  Kudos Professor K!

And of course, as usual, I wanted to add my own brand of teaching to the learning process.  I really like something called “action learning” which means students use the new information learned in the classroom to solve a “real life” problem – and I like to make sure that my students leave well-ready to complete their out-of-classroom assignments.

I have to tell you – it went really well.  My students’ feedback already tells me that my plan is coming together – my students are telling me things like:

• they’ve never thought so much in class before
• they wish more of their classes were like this one
• they haven’t worked so hard since Dr. J’s class (a lifetime best teacher award winner)
• and they’re enjoying learning in this class

WOW!  Does a teacher’s heart good. BIG SMILE!

And no, I’m not going to believe they’re shining me on – they’re engaged and working the program.

Love it, love it, LOVE it!

And I’m gonna keep on enjoying it while I pedal as fast as I can to prepare for our next weekend of classes – don’t want to disappoint! (Them or me…)

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan in which we must fervently believe and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.

— Pablo Picasso

And the beat goes on.

I’m giving myself the gift of rejoicing – And I recommend that you do the same for yourself: Acknowledge your successes (large or small) and give yourself a pat on the back. And then get back in the game.