Dear Leaders:
I was driving to work the other morning and a song came on the radio and I thought to myself...this would be a great topic to blog about....so here we go!
In a song by Jason Gray ("With Every Act Of Love"), Jason has a lyric in that song that really hits home with me - "we have a million doors in this world for people to walk through and one of those doors is you." What is Jason saying? What could we as leaders, parents, brothers, sisters, teachers, or individuals learn from this song?
I think of the word opportunity (door) when I hear this song. Think about your day. From the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Think about the title of the song "With Every Act Of Love". How many opportunities do you have each day to influence a life? How many people come to your "door" a day and when they "walk" through your "door" how do you treat them? Positively or negatively?
As I finish my first full week of school, I've had a lot of students and staff come through my "door". On my whiteboard here in the office I have a one word hashtag I'm using for the school year to focus on - the hashtag is #opportunity. Each time I have an individual walk through my "door" I approach each situation as an opportunity to have positive influence towards that person. I encourage all of you to have that same mindset each and every day.
Take Care,
Mr. Townsend
Showing posts with label opportunity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opportunity. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2018
Friday, December 15, 2017
Parental Involvement
Greetings! I hope this holiday season finds you well. I think I may be in trouble because I am behind on my latest Friday Focus and I told my Mom a couple weeks ago I would get another one published....so Sorry MOM!
For this Friday Focus, and with the holiday season among us, I would like to zone in on the importance of parental involvement. From many articles I have read and with collaborating with many peers, I have found that research has shown that students with parents that are involved with the school and at home have fewer behavior problems and better academic performance. To go even farther with this, a parent that is involved in the home adds even more value to a child's life.
I love this article, Fatherhood, by former NFL football coach Tony Dungy. Although this article is directed at Dads, I still feel that the more involvement we have in the home by either a Mom or Dad only benefits our youth today. Here are my "take-away's" from the article:
For this Friday Focus, and with the holiday season among us, I would like to zone in on the importance of parental involvement. From many articles I have read and with collaborating with many peers, I have found that research has shown that students with parents that are involved with the school and at home have fewer behavior problems and better academic performance. To go even farther with this, a parent that is involved in the home adds even more value to a child's life.
I love this article, Fatherhood, by former NFL football coach Tony Dungy. Although this article is directed at Dads, I still feel that the more involvement we have in the home by either a Mom or Dad only benefits our youth today. Here are my "take-away's" from the article:
- Old English proverb "One Father is more than a hundred schoolmasters."
- Be there for your children.
- A parent present in the home can model proper behavior.
- Children need positive emotional stimulation from parents - especially Fathers.
- Make it a priority to do the following with your child - have dinner, attend their activities, tuck them in at bedtime.
- Always try to be actively involved in the household and be unified as parents when doing this.
- Let your child know they are your number one priority.
- Find a way to maximize your family time. (Dungy gave up golf)
- Because our time is so limited, it's even more precious - to them and to you.
- Continue to evaluate the time you spend with family every year.
So as we transition into the holiday season, click on the link above and read the article by Tony Dungy. This time of season is the perfect time and opportunity to start a new trend..... to enjoy family and fellowship. I hope you have a joyous holiday season!
Mr. Townsend
Friday, October 31, 2014
One Tough Job!
August 11th, 2004 - I was 24 years old. This was the day my life changed. This is the day it became real. This was the day I found out the true meaning of the word love. This is the day I became a father.
I received an email today from an organization I signed up to get emails from called http://www.fathers.com/. In the email was a blog quote - this quote gave me my inspiration to write this week's Friday Focus. Here is the quote: To a girl, a father is her first love. To a boy, a father is his first hero. Here is a link to the blog: First Hero, First Love
The main point I want to get across in this blog today is simply this: parenting is a tough job! :-) It also is the best job I have ever had. I feel blessed to be in the profession I am in because it has presented me with the opportunity to not only be around my own kids during the day, but also to have influence on all kids in our school district. In a John Maxwell book I was reading yesterday he put it this way: As a leader much is provided, but also much is required in return. As a parent we are provided with children but also much is required in return.
The last couple of weeks have been a true test of patience for me. This is in all areas of my life. What is the key to get through times like this? A different way of thinking. When a situation comes up don't think of it as a problem, or a burden, or an issue.....think of it as an opportunity. An opportunity to guide people, to listen, to discuss, to give advise, to show you care, to place yourself in their shoes.....or as a father - to be her first love and his first hero.
I received an email today from an organization I signed up to get emails from called http://www.fathers.com/. In the email was a blog quote - this quote gave me my inspiration to write this week's Friday Focus. Here is the quote: To a girl, a father is her first love. To a boy, a father is his first hero. Here is a link to the blog: First Hero, First Love
The main point I want to get across in this blog today is simply this: parenting is a tough job! :-) It also is the best job I have ever had. I feel blessed to be in the profession I am in because it has presented me with the opportunity to not only be around my own kids during the day, but also to have influence on all kids in our school district. In a John Maxwell book I was reading yesterday he put it this way: As a leader much is provided, but also much is required in return. As a parent we are provided with children but also much is required in return.
The last couple of weeks have been a true test of patience for me. This is in all areas of my life. What is the key to get through times like this? A different way of thinking. When a situation comes up don't think of it as a problem, or a burden, or an issue.....think of it as an opportunity. An opportunity to guide people, to listen, to discuss, to give advise, to show you care, to place yourself in their shoes.....or as a father - to be her first love and his first hero.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Opportunity
Looks like I'm going to try to continue my Friday Focus using a blog. This is new to me so we will see how it goes. My hope is to keep it updated as much as possible every Friday.
This week I've read a lot about the word "opportunity". I found a little section on one of my Don Meyer handouts that I found very useful. I cut it out and now I have it hanging in my office. Here is the message:
I shall pass through this world but once,
Any good therefore that I can do or any
kindness that I can show to any human
being, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.
The concept behind this is that we all have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. On the handout it has a eye opening diagram. If you positively influence 4 people in one year that influence over 17 years will or can create a chain reaction to influence 17,179,869,184 people.
My main point with this first Friday Focus Blog is this. Seize the opportunity you have each day to make a positive influence in the lives of EVERY individual you interact with. You have the ability to change the lives of many people.
Take care and God Bless,
Mr. Townsend
This week I've read a lot about the word "opportunity". I found a little section on one of my Don Meyer handouts that I found very useful. I cut it out and now I have it hanging in my office. Here is the message:
I shall pass through this world but once,
Any good therefore that I can do or any
kindness that I can show to any human
being, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.
The concept behind this is that we all have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. On the handout it has a eye opening diagram. If you positively influence 4 people in one year that influence over 17 years will or can create a chain reaction to influence 17,179,869,184 people.
My main point with this first Friday Focus Blog is this. Seize the opportunity you have each day to make a positive influence in the lives of EVERY individual you interact with. You have the ability to change the lives of many people.
Take care and God Bless,
Mr. Townsend
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