January 10, 2021

By Aleta Margolis, Founder and President, Center for Inspired Teaching

Hooray for Monday is a weekly blog filled with questions, ideas, reflections, and actions we can all take to remodel the school experience for students. 

Trout Fishing in America, one of my favorite music groups, opens their concerts with the song Happy That You’re Here. Once they welcome their audience with that first piece, they go on to sing more songs, and share more rich artistic content that appeals to listeners of all ages. But they start by letting those of us who have traveled to see them know how happy they are that we’re here.

As we gather with our students this week – in person, online, or ping-ponging back-and-forth between those two situations – we have much important content to share. There’s curriculum to catch up on, projects to begin, diagnostics and assessments to administer, COVID protocols to reinforce, the list goes on. All of those things are important.

And, it’s equally important to start the week by letting our students know we’re happy that they’re here. Saying “It’s so good to see you!” or “I’m glad we’re back together!” or “I’m happy that you’re here!” sets the tone, and maybe even the intention for the day. It’s like taking a big breath before diving into that long list of things that must be done. The simple act of welcoming students (and for school leaders, welcoming teachers!) with appreciation goes a long way toward making everyone feel glad they showed up.

This week, on Wednesday, January 12, we host our first of two January Inspired Teaching Institutes on the theme All Ideas Count. For those of you who are signed up, we’re happy you’ll be here! If you haven’t signed up yet, please do! It’s free, virtual, and we promise you’ll be happy you came. We’ll be so happy to see you!

Wishing you a peaceful week.