Sub•space

"A smaller space within a main area that has been divided or subdivided" (http://www.dictionary.com/). How do you recharge emotionally? You might be physicaly, mentally, and even financially fit, but how is your emotional health? Any people-intensive job requires emotional energy. Teachers are at the forefront of vocations that interface with the public everyday and can, at times, demand sustained emotional energy. I’ve been teaching in a wide variety of venues for over 25 years. In the private sector I traded on my teaching skills. I had to learn (mostly the hard way) how to maintain and sustain emotional energy.  For many years I abused my body by driving and pushing limits that nature had not intended any human to sustain.  I had ignored my emotional wellbeing so long until eventually my body (predictably) revolted in the form of severe panic attacks. Now, if you knew me, you would laugh at that, because, by nature, I love stress.   For most of my life I ran toward stressful situations.  I relished in the challenge of singing before an audience of 6,000 or speaking on a radio and TV broadcast (all of which I've done).  Shoot, I ate stress for lunch!!! But I had ignored a few blinking warning lights on the dashboard of my life for so long that eventually, like a car engine that overheats, I had to pull over and take a serious look under the hood. 

Our bodies are designed (like the battery of a car) to be “trickle-charged” – meaning that we need to build space into our monthly, weekly and even daily agenda so that we can stay emotionally dialed-in -especially to those we care about.  I'm told that when a car battery is "quick-charged" too often (a "short-cut" way to recharge car batteries) it will lead to an internal damage and a premature death of the battery!  Our emotion reserve is designed to recharge in the same way.  We must have spaces -even "sub spaces" that we carve out in our lives for the purpose of recharging or refueling our emotional reserves in a way that will ensure sustained emotional health. The greatest gift you can give your students, your school, your family, your spouse and yes, even you, is a healthy, fully energized you!

Perhaps, like me, you've tried "quick-charging" for far too long --maybe even while ignoring the blinking warning lights on the dashboard of your life.  Quick-charges like downing comfort food or caffenine to sustain energy or cheat sleep. Take it from me (someone who had to learn this lesson the hard way), if you keep up that kind of folly, you will eventually break down and may even cause permanent internal damage to our inner core.  Sustaining emotional health is not easy -especially if, like me, you are a people-person or extravert.  It will require an enormous amount of self-leadership on your part.  You will need to employ advance decision-making skills by envisioning ahead of time, how you will respond when tempted to "quick-charge". You need to find out what activities or practices recharge your emotional batteries (and they are different for all of us) –then lean into those practices and do so guilty-free! That's right.  If, for you, that means playing golf every-other-weekend --then play your brains out.  If you like to dance --then plan for and guard your dance times.  Here is a quote that I've personally had to live by with my penchant to overextend myself in people-work: "Ruthlussly eliminate hurry from your life" -John Ortberg.  The wisdom in that little quote has helped me (someone who used to live life at mach-five speed and recoverying adrenaline junky) extensively.  Here are a few practical ideas I employ to boost my emotional fuel tank when working at a school (or any "people-intensive" role): I try to get outside and walk around when I have a break (lunch, prep hour, etc.).  If your schools are like the ones I work in, they tend to get stuffy (poor ventilation) and remind me of an oversized "petri dish" from sophomore biology.  If possible, I get off campus and enjoy a few moments (especially when it's sunny) of quiet solitude in a nearby park, to be still, silent and simply breath deep fresh air. These are not practices that come naturally to me -I'm still working at them.  But I am learning that if I want to give my best over a sustained period of time, I must practice these disciplines and act on these decisions -knowing that I will experience positive compounding results of having done so.How you find a “Sub•space” in your life and where or how do you recharge emotionally?

Sub•sti•tute

One of Hollywood’s favorite movie themes is “The Substitute”. I’ve counted at least 8 feature films in the past 15 years! But what you may not know is that most of these movies are within the genre of “Horror” films. Wonder why? If I were honest and the truth were known, when I think back on some of the substitutes I had when I was a kid I can easily envision a new take on Zombieland.

Weather you’re a new Sub or a battle-scared veteran, at times you’ve probably wondered (as have I) if you might be in a real-life horror flick as you fulfill your job in the classroom. I've sometimes thought I was on an episode of "Punked" and actually looked around for hidden cameras.  Let’s be honest. Most substitute teachers are doing the job out of necessity rather than choice –especially in today’s tough economy. School districts are reporting record high number of substitute teachers (a stark contrast to the diminished pools of just a few years ago) and this reality makes us expendable! I’ve worked in a wide variety of jobs spanning over two decades and I can honestly say that there seems to be very few jobs that can leave feeling more like the “scourge” of humanity than that of Substitute Teaching. Think about it. Between disparaging slurs from students, to school administrators who obviously never spent a minute in an actual classroom -to the reduction in pay due to “budget cutbacks” –we can easily feel like we’re part of a living nightmare from which we cannot awaken.

This blog is designed by a Sub for Subs. A safe place to encourage those of us who may be venturing out into unchartered and sometimes, unpredictable waters that can often be fraught with tumultuous waves of uncertainty. At different intervals of my career (over a 20 year span) I have invested nearly 5 years substitute teaching (mostly High School) and I can honestly say that the good experiences of positively impacting students, far outnumber the sometimes “frightening” moments.

Teachers, school administrators, school board members, students –are all welcome and invited to share insights that might help those of us who truly care about the learning process and want to represent the teachers we support with excellence of service in all that we do (and say!). This will NOT be a site for bashing individuals or catty name calling. When commenting, be intelligent and respectful --in this business, good humor and levity are more than welcome -they're needed!  Inappropriate posts will be removed, period.  I truly hope this will be a safe place where we can all gain clarity (not necessarily agreement) on making a positive impact on the lives of students not matter how brief our precious moments with them may be.  In instances when we may disagree, I expect us to do so, agreeably -with discourse that is becoming of the high standards of mutual respect we so often seek to elicit from the students we serve.  This sidte will be a fluid-montage of inspiration, focused on building a caring community of educators who are not in it just for the money. I will do my best to update and amend as needed. Please spread the word, share your views, experiences, and pearls of wisdom. Let us know what you’d like to learn about and please send us links to check out for posting.