My Advice to You Linky Party

Are you there friends?  It's me, Crystal!  

I have seriously decided that I have SAD.  I have been in the dumps and barely hanging on all winter.  But now that the sun is shining and I can walk the dog at 7 pm and it's still sunny, I'm GREAT!  Terrible sentence but I'm so happy!  Haha!

I have gotten more accomplished in the past 3 days than I have in months!  I have blogged three times today but before I published one of them, I saw this linky from Ms. Fultz's Corner.  

Click graphic to join linky

How perfect!  I have a dear friend who is looking for a job and we just talked about much of this.  

My advice to you:

1.  Communication  
Keep the lines of communication between you and parents WIDE OPEN.  I give out my cell number to my parents.  This allows them to tell me dismissal changes, why folder is missing, little Johnny had a tummy ache in the morning, etc..  I have been able to nip many problems in the bud very quickly that would have otherwise resulted in a furious parent yelling at me or the principal the next morning.  For those of you hesitant to give out your number, check into getting a Google Voice account for your school.  We got one set up at our school last month.  It allows parents to email or leave you a voicemail at your Google Voice number.  It looks great but I honestly haven't used it much yet.

2.  Make Allies
It's a great idea to get on the good side of the secretary and the custodian.  They can be so helpful to you and are more likely to help you in a timely manner if you have been friendly and respectful. Just saying...lol.

3.  Be Open to Change
If one thing is true in education, it's that this too shall pass.  Trends come and go.  If you don't like something, be as positive about it as you can and hang on!  

Don't get complacent.  Always be learning and striving to be the best YOU can be.  

4.  Love, Humor, and Fun
Play games when you can instead of "paper" work.  

Laugh with them often and much.  My favorite books to read are funny ones.  Those are the ones that stick with them.

LOVE...your hugs and love might be the only ones that they get on a daily basis.  You might be the only constant in their life.  And the one that is making you want to pull out every hair in your head is the one that needs it the MOST.  I'm living this one every minute of every school day this year.  

5.  Sisterhood
Those of us in the trenches need to stick together and support each other.  Our first grade team is now trying to go out as a group once a month at least.  We are going tomorrow night and I CAN'T WAIT!  I know I will get an ab workout just from laughing.  

6.  Thank God and PRAY
We have the best and most important job in the world.  Pray for patience, love, and to see the sparkle in each one.

Go join the linky!

Much love and cyber hugs,