Wednesday, January 27, 2016

10 Reasons You Need Teacher Friends



Teaching is not a “go it alone” proposition. I am often advised to “shut the classroom door and just teach”, but to me that feels like a recipe to wither on the vine. A recent trip to New York City with a few of my Planning in Paradise friends, in the midst of an epic blizzard that brought the city to a complete standstill, made me realize why teacher friends are important.

Seeing New York in winter will be FUN, we thought. The city won’t be as crowded in January so it will be PERFECT, we thought. Flights and hotels are so much cheaper so we are being THRIFTY, we thought. 

This was the thinking that brought a few Florida natives and teacher authors, to New York City in an unprecedented blizzard that brought the city to a complete, bone-chilling, stand still. In the end, despite the challenges it was PERFECT. 

This trip also made me realize just why having a great set of teacher friends is important to surviving the land mines and pendulum shifts in education. 

I am so grateful to my friends Robin (Class of Kinders), Cara (Kindergarten Boom Boom), Elaine (Kitty, Kitty Kindergarten), and Cristina (McCrone Love) for this once in a lifetime trip. I still have not stopped smiling!

10 Reasons You Need Teacher Friends

(Everything I Need to Know About Teacher Friendships, I Learned in New York City)

1. When plan A fails, they help you remember that there are 25 other letters in the alphabet.


Things in life (and teaching) don’t always go the way you thought they would. Good friends can help you see the blessing in them. Instead of lamenting that the whole city shut down and there was a total travel ban, we took this once in a lifetime opportunity to dance in the empty streets of New York City!


2. They make their own weather.

In the midst of a storm, you can still have sunshine on the inside.


3. You help each other live your dreams.

A rising tide lifts all boats. When you work together you can make something amazing. 


4. You come together to celebrate victories great and small.

Teacher friends are each others cheerleaders. No. Matter. What. 
In this picture we are celebrating getting tickets to see the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon!



5. You share the belief that attitude is everything.

You can not control the ups and downs on life’s roller coaster, but it helps to ride with people who will face it with a positive attitude.



6. You celebrate and encourage each others passions. (Using jazz hands whenever possible.)

We had the privilege of visiting the Teachers Pay Teachers offices in New York City! We all knew that this is a special place, but visiting the offices took it to a whole new level. They are truly passionate about supporting teachers, building a community that encourages and uplifts everyone who is a part of it, and helping connect teachers with resources to support them.  It is synergy at it’s finest! We all walked away feeling honored to be a part of it!



7.  You all bring your talents to the table to make it work.

This picture shows our friend Cristina who is “in the know” about all things technology and NYC and our friend Elaine who makes us laugh (sometimes until we can not breathe). We needed both of these gifts during our trip. 



8. They know how to laugh and make the best of any situation.

When the city closes, laugh and make the best of it! 


9. You combine your resources to make it all work.

Individually, we can not always make it work, but when we combine resources, the possibilities are limitless. Who knew 2 halves of a sled from the trash could make a “whole” sled?


10. You help each other imagine the possibilities and inspire each other to be your best selves!

This. 




20 comments:

  1. Teacher friends help you through the day, the week, the month…the year! Thankful for mine. :-)

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    1. So true! I can not imagine teaching with out my teacher friends!

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  2. Inspiring! I loved watching your epic trip from FL. I am privileged to call you my teacher friends!!!

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    1. Ahh! Thank you Christy! We are privileged to teach with you! You are amazing!

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  3. It looks like you all had a great time... blizzard and all! :)

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    1. It certainly taught a great lesson in making our own weather! It was lots of fun!

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  4. I'm so glad you had so much fun! It is so important to have real true connections with people. I know the friends I have, teachers or not, are a significant part of my life. This post reminds me to value the people in my life that love me for me flaws and all even when I have a hard time finding my weather. :) Thank you for reminding me that true friends are who I want in my life and people for which I want to share my time and energy. Great reminder of that!

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    1. So true about friendships in general! I agree "making your own weather" is a huge challenge. Leaning on friends with a great sense of humor helps a great deal. Thank you for being an amazing teacher friend!

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  5. I'm so glad you had so much fun! It is so important to have real true connections with people. I know the friends I have, teachers or not, are a significant part of my life. This post reminds me to value the people in my life that love me for me flaws and all even when I have a hard time finding my weather. :) Thank you for reminding me that true friends are who I want in my life and people for which I want to share my time and energy. Great reminder of that!

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    1. So true about friendships in general! I agree "making your own weather" is a huge challenge. Leaning on friends with a great sense of humor helps a great deal. Thank you for being an amazing teacher friend!

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  6. Loved laughing so much. Everyone needs time away to make snow angels in the middle of the street!

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  7. What a great post!! Looks like You gals sure know how to have fun!

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    1. Thank you! I still smile when I see these pictures. It was certainly a once in a lifetime trip!

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  8. This trip was a memory maker for sure!! Teacher friends are lifelong friends and I'm thankful for your friendship and support!

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    1. Thanks Elaine! I am grateful for your friendship and all the support, laughter, and fun that comes with it

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  9. What an awesome post!! My teacher friends are some of my best friends!! This looks like such a blast and I am so, so jealous you got to see a taping of Jimmy Fallon!! Love him!!!

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  10. Thank you! Seeing Fallon involved lining up at 4:30 a.m. for stand-by tickets and a lot of luck, but it was worth it!

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  11. Thanks for sharing! You all are making lifetime memories!!

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  12. I absolutely love this! So much truth :)

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