He says, “120”.
I place the groceries down and look at him inquisitively.
He says, “France… 120 dead.”
He says, “Shootings… bombs….dead…”
I feel sick.
My heart says, “Not again”.
I jump online.
The Eiffel Tower transforms into the centre symbol of peace.
This is social media’s superpower.
My heart says, “In times like these, is social media the only superpower we have?”
 
I brought a new shirt two weeks ago.
It says, “Love is my superpower.”
I couldn’t resist it.
My heart knows that these words speak the truth.
When I wear it I feel lighter.
Like I can fly.
Like I can save the world.
 
But who is really saving the world?
Who held the people during the bombing in Beirut?
Drew their cape across the victims of Paris?
Sheltered Syrians from impending doom?
Batman never showed.
Superman is invisible.
Spiderman spins another tale.
And let’s not start on Captain America.
 
So I ask the question again.
Who is really saving the world?
 
You have seen the other t-shirts on social media right?
The ones that say ‘I teach. What’s your superpower?’
Every time I see them I wonder who the hell buys them;
Yet something about them strikes a deep cord.
 
Teachers have superpowers.
 
Malala knows this to be true.
She says, ‘One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.’
My heart says, ‘Love is my superpower’.
My heart says, ‘Joy is my superpower’.
My heart says, ‘Hope is my superpower’.
And as a teacher I can change the world.
 
Call me naïve.
Idealistic.
Too optimistic.
But I ask you,
Who empowered future leaders this week?
Who took the sting out of that one grazed knee?
Modelled compassion, love and empathy?
Drew their cape to shelter the kid in their class from hurtful words?
Showed a child the meaning of faith?
Of grace?
Explicitly taught collaboration and communication and respect?
And most significantly, opened the eyes of the student who had never had the opportunity to see the world from anywhere but their front door?
 
Teachers.
 
So in this world marred with hate and evil,
Teachers put on your capes.
Fight with love and hope and joy,
And teach.

Image by Rob Potvin (Unsplash).

We all long to be seen. Truly seen.
 
As adults we crave the stare of our partners, the acknowledgement of our employers the acceptance of our peers. This parallels with the world of a child, a teenager. Replace the word partner with parent, employer with teacher.
 
I often have colleagues say to me, “I can’t believe little Johnny does Drama. He doesn’t say boo in my classroom.” Meanwhile, ‘little Johnny’ is never quiet in Drama because for the first time he feels visible. Teachers also say, “Oh little Annie is a ‘drama queen’. I bet she does Drama.” I want to let those teachers know that little Annie is never a ‘drama queen’ in Drama because she doesn’t have to fight to be seen or heard.
 
As teachers we are spirit builders.  We have the power to build the spirit of a child and we have the power to knock it down. The most significant way we can be builders is by quenching the thirst of our students to be seen.  We must let them know that we see them and provide them with opportunities to become visible.
 
There are many ways we can do this as teachers. The first step is by identifying the students that possess the invisibility cloak.
Which students were invisible in your class today?
Which students kept their head down?
Remained silent?
Didn’t smile?
Which students misbehaved?
Called out?
Played the class clown?
Which students fought for your attention or completely avoided it?
At the end of each day as I drive home from work I run through these questions in my mind and I begin identifying those students that lack visibility.
 
The second step is letting them know you see them. I purposely go out of my way to have a conversation with them as they enter my classroom, during the lesson or as I pass them in the corridors. I call on them in class when I know they are able to contribute. I say things like, “I think the class really needs to hear what you think about this topic….”, “I know you spent a lot of time on this task can you share your awesome work with everyone…”. Common sense huh? It may be, but it is so easy to pass them by or only call on the keen hand risers in the class.
 
Let’s take it one step further. How can we make these students visible to others?
 
I started making this my personal mission. The kid with no confidence but all the potential in the world would get the lead role in whatever production I was working on. The boy who every other teacher had written off as ‘trouble’ or ‘a waste of time’ would just about be guaranteed to play Jesus in the Easter Liturgy. Shakespeare was my ally. Every kid that was known as ‘stupid’ or ‘dumb’ would smash out soliloquies in front of large audiences changing others perceptions almost immediately. I make kids that can’t perform for whatever reason film directors, assistant directors on the school production, team leaders, stage managers, designers or writers. I work to find their strengths and give them an opportunity to remove their invisibility cloak and shine.
 
Regardless of which subject or age group you teach, there are always opportunities to move the spotlight onto each and every student. You just have to seek them out and be willing to take a risk on these kids.  
 
We, as teachers, can make the invisible visible.
We can turn ‘no confidence’ into ‘flowing with confidence’.
We can take E’s and turn them into A’s.
We can transform the bad egg into a 5 star dish.
We are spirit builders.
 
And we begin building the spirits of our students by really, truly seeing them.

mantra (noun),  a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation; a blessing; words that empower us on days we feel discouraged; a prayer; a breath of strength.

Yes, a breath of strength.
 
A mantra can ground us in ourselves, strengthen our purpose and act as a daily reminder of where we are heading or what we are striving for.
 
A few years ago I was introduced to this practice by the wonderful Hannah Marcotti. I developed a morning mantra. I said this every morning to myself for as many days as it took until I just lived it, felt it. Some days I still call on it when I need some extra strength and other days I feel it echo in my heart. These words now just roll off my tounge.
 
Good morning beautiful day.
Today I will be true to myself,
strong of heart,
kind in action,
a mother fuck tonne of awesome.
 
Yes, a mother fuck tonne of awesome.
 
This is my personal mantra, but what about my teaching mantra?
 
I was speaking with a primary principal this week. He is a kind, gentle man and we love to share a laugh together about teaching. Jokingly I said, “Who would be stupid enough to do this job right?”. He smiled and said, “When I am having a bad day, when I have just got of the phone to an angry parent or something has happened, I just take myself into Kindergarten and sit with the kids. I am quickly reminded why I do this job.”
 
Isn’t it easy to forget the 'why' when you are up to your neck in paper work, running from class to class barely keeping afloat? When you have been stung by harsh words from a parent or a disapproving glance from a colleague?  A mantra can be your reminder, an opportunity to return to the core of your practice.
 
This week I played with words until I found my teaching mantra. This is how it happened:
 
Passion
Inspiring
Fueled by JOY
 
Nourishing
Giving
Advocating
Driven by LOVE
 
Love for what I do: Education, teaching, learning, growth
Growth equals HOPE
Through creativity and innovation
 
My mantra was found.
 
Fueled by joy,
Driven by love,
Growing through hope.
 
What is your teaching mantra?