Sparkle and Shine
Who doesn’t like when things “sparkle and shine”?
As you can probably guess, the word “sparkle” is related to the word “spark”.
In the classroom, there are a lot of sparks flying from conflicts, stress, tension, confrontation, negative emotions and actions… you get the picture.
So, how can we turn “sparks” into “sparkle” and shine?
According to etymonline.com, “spark” comes from the Old English spaerca, and is “a glowing or fiery particle thrown off something”.
Well, this might resonate with some teachers as they interact with certain student, colleagues, parents or administrators.
However, what I would like to conjure up with the word “spark” is its relationship to “sparkle”.
And, of course, we have to add “and shine” to it as well!
Sparkle is what I feel teachers do in the classroom. Etymonline also says that “spark” can refer to “one who initiates or is a driving force in an activity.”
Like a “spark” of genius or creativity or the Sunday Spirit Spark Newsletter that I release every Sunday to help spark some inspiration, insight and love into the hearts of teachers as they might feel some dread going back to school on Monday as there never seems enough time on the weekend to get caught up on all the things they have to get done.
Teachers are “the driving force” for learning.
Teachers are the spark for learning.
One of my favorite quotes which I hang in my classroom is:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but a lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats
This was my mission every day…
To light a fire of curiosity, enthusiasm, adventure, discovery, meaning, connection and LOVE of learning.
When we do this as teachers and not try to just cover material, turn pages and fill up “pails” or plates with facts, figures and things that have no meaning or connection for students, they will not sparkle and shine.
And neither will we.
This is evident in schools and classrooms around the country where teachers are micromanaged, controlled, shamed, blamed and told they are not doing enough and not being enough. This is just negative energy and creates a big cloud of dismal darkness.
Nothing can sparkle with negative energy and darkness.
We need more positive charge and light.
We need to lighten up on all the demands and the burden we are asking teachers to bear.
Teachers are not like coal…they are not going to shine and sparkle more under pressure like a diamond will.
So, teachers… Find your spark. Re-discover what makes you sparkle and shine in the classroom.
Inspirational song:
Sparkle and Shine by Kate Edmunson
Photo credit:
“SPARKLES BRING OUT LIGHT AND LAUGHTER, – HAPPY DIWALI” by Sunciti _ Sundaram’s Images + Messages is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
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