Allow me the opportunity to take a different approach with this blog. I am going to share 3 valuable lessons that I have learned from my dog, Charlie, and highlight how they can support teachers and administrators to be better educators!

1. The first lesson is from one of my mentors in the canine community – Cesar Millan! After struggling with Charlie for the first six months, we quickly learned from Cesar about discipline, exercise, and affection.

The same lessons can be transferred over into our classrooms when we are working with students. First we must establish clear and consistent expectations in our classrooms. The first few weeks with a new group of students is crucial in establishing routines and expectations for the entire school year. Similarly, as administrators, if we are fair and reasonable with student, parent, and teacher expectations then we are setting up all stakeholders for success. Next, we need to allow students the opportunity to exercise during the school day and to take a break from learning. During this time, students will actively engage in a variety of activities and strengthen their social skills. So, think twice next time before having a student stay in at recess to finish work or as a punishment. Lastly, we need to show affection toward our students for their willingness to learn and create both individually and with their classmates. Setting clear expectations, establishing a culture or respect and openness, and working individually with all students to support their learning will show students how much you care about them as individuals.

2. The second lesson is to think about how we greet people when they enter our classroom or office. Undoubtedly, whenever I enter my apartment door, Charlie is there to greet me with excitement, expectation, and anticipation (even if I am just returning because I forgot my keys). Take a second to think about how you respond when someone steps inside your door. Do you continue staring at your screen and ask them to hold on? Do you stand to greet your visitor and say hello? Do you close your screen and give your visitor your undivided attention? Your initial response to visitors in your classroom or office (whether students or parents or colleagues) can set the tone for the type of interaction you are about to have and the type of learning that is about to take place.

3. The third lesson is that you can indeed, “teach an old dog new tricks”! After six months of chewing walls, shoes, and anything else he could get his mouth around we set clear and consistent expectations. In a short period of time, with proper exercise, we had Charlie trained and didn’t need to worry about the drywall in our hallway anymore. It is extremely important to have classrooms where students are free to explore and create and innovate. Students consistently want to be learning new tricks and going above and beyond expectations. The best part is that all of this new learning does not need to come directly from the teacher. If we provide a variety of learning opportunities and spaces for students, and further provide them the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas with others, then they are able to reflect upon and be the catalyst of their own learning.