August 18, 2021 · 7:16 PM

Thank You…Over 1 Million Views

As of June 2023, this blog has had over 1 million views, thank you! I am in the final stages of conducting my research for my dissertation and I appreciate the kind messages of inspiration sent. This platform was created in 2012 to share the good in education. Please feel free to share what inspired you this year. Sharing the good is synergistic and good for us all!

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

August 2020

Thank you to the 580K+ visitors to this blog. This blog is a creative way I use to share the good I see and find. Once I defend my dissertation and earn my doctorate, I hope to spend more time sharing the best practices that readers share with me. I appreciate the teachers and educational leaders that share tips and recommendations they find helpful in the classroom, school or district they serve. Thank you to the parents who leave comments and suggestions too.

When we train our eyes to see the good, we can do ANYTHING!

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things-

Denise

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August 6, 2021 · 1:32 PM

Calling all Educational Leaders…Preparing your School Team for the 2021-22 School Year

Educational leaders, as you prepare to bring your teams back together, now more than ever, we need to work with our school teams to develop a sense of collective responsibility to contribute to a positive school environment (Towers & Maguire, 2017).

Our teachers desire a sense of belonging (Kelchtermans, 2017). We need to seek to hear teacher voice, allowing our educators to take an active role in developing, implementing and engaging in professional development that will enhance the educational experience for all stakeholders holders and increase job motivation amongst team members.

Regardless if the role we serve is teacher, janitor, secretary or principal, we all teach in word and action. However, collectively, a school team needs to be of one mind, one unified team to serve the students and parents placed in their care. A positive school climate is synergistic. It takes having intentional discussions as a school team and developing a framework, a road map to team success now before the students return.

The school year can be a road with many challenges (COVID) and obstacles. However, a unified team, determined to create and maintain a positive school culture can do ANYTHING!

May this upcoming school year be filled with new discoveries and developments for your school team…

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things-

Denise

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May 7, 2021 · 4:58 PM

Words of Wisdom

Seeing and sharing the good as I find it!
This was in a bathroom in a fun Grand Rapids establishment.

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February 13, 2021 · 5:47 PM

The Importance of Building a Positive School Culture

It is a joy for me to serve in education and I wanted to share some slides from one of my latest professional development sessions. As educational leaders, it is essential that we are reflective in practices and take the time to enter the difficult conversations and modeling this for our school teams. A positive school culture can not only make a difference in building a strong educational team and retaining teachers, but studies show that a positive school culture has a direct effect on student learning. Exemplary leaders understand how to create a climate of collaboration, they must determine what the group needs to do their work and build the team around a common purpose with mutual respect (Kouzes, 2017).

As we walk through this pandemic, take the time to invest into the discussion of developing or strengthening your school cultures…it will make ALL the difference!

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

Reference

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B (2017). The leadership challenge-how to make extraordinary things happen in organizations.

Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

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September 20, 2020 · 7:54 AM

A Positive Team Creates a Positive School Culture

Mature development can occur within a team with a clearly communicated mission, defined expectations, intentional professional development and team building moments.

A positive team creates a positive school culture.

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December 3, 2019 · 1:01 PM

Recommended Christmas Novels and Short Stories for Students of all Ages

It is that busy time of year where classroom instruction seems to fly by and engaging students of all ages can be challenging. Exhale and know that you are making a difference. Intentional planning can really help maintain the calm in the classroom these last few weeks leading up to the holiday break.

For those looking to enhance their students’ reading surrounding this season, I thought I would share this great website that offers a comprehensive list of recommended Christmas Novels and Short Stories .

I love to share the good when and where I find it!

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

 

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April 20, 2019 · 1:08 PM

A Book Recommendation for Inspirational Leaders…“Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek

While on vacation, I am looking for books to read to enhance the Ethical Leadership class I am taking. I stumbled upon, “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek. After reading for a couple of hours, I am comfortable in HIGHLY recommending this book.

Two talking points I am reflecting on from this morning’s reading, is (1) The importance of creating circle of safety among a team to eliminate individual silos, and (2) A child’s sense of well-being is not effected so much by the hours of work the parents put in, but the attitude of the parents when they arrive home from work.

I 100% agree with this author. I have spent the last 8 years as an educational leader building up my team and working with other schools on team building strategies. Regardless if in a school or in a home, a positive attitude can change and transform any environment!

This blog has had over a half a million viewers read one blog posting or another- thank you! The blog postings on this Unlock the Teacher blog that has had the most views, are the posts directly promoting positive behaviors with students, in the workplace or among the family unit.

Sharing the good is synergistic. Thank you for reading and sharing the good with me to post on this blog, and for striving to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things-

Denise

SharingTheGood

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December 4, 2018 · 9:10 PM

Sharing The Good

As those who read or follow this blog know, I love to share the good.

This blog has almost reached over 400,000 views, thank you!

As a doctoral student, my time has been a little busier than normal. However, I will be making time to find, reflect on and share the good in this upcoming year. Thank you for the continual encouraging comments and requests.

I find a lot of joy by sharing the good, so if you have a good idea or best practice to share to enhance education or team empowerment, please share.

Bless your holiday season…

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

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November 20, 2018 · 10:08 AM

Words have Power…let us be Intentional

Words have power…let us be intentional in teaching and modeling for our leaders of tomorrow!

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February 20, 2018 · 5:06 AM

Be a Leader that Creates Bridges and Chooses to See and Share the Good

Tuesday Reflection:

Not everyone has the skill set to lead others. However, we all have it within us to choose to see and share the good. When a team adopts this type of philosophy, of intentionally focusing on the good in one another, it can transform a work environment. If you are that person with whom the gift of leadership has been given, may you choose to be a leader that creates bridges and models for the team on what it looks like to be a positive builder of men and women! #ShareTheGood

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