Be Right or Be Happy
“Do I want to be right? Or do I want to be happy?”
This is a quote from one of my favorite authors; Richard Carlson, from the book Shortcut through Therapy: Ten Principles of Growth-Oriented, Contented Living Letting Go
This very idea of 'being right' pops up many time throughout my life. Most people believe they possess an astute sense of self-awareness. Eventually, we uncover our need to be understood, but do we really?
Is being understood necessary to be happy? Letting go of being wrong or tricking the brain by pretending may feel like a huge weight being released from the body. If we have to be right or understood all the time — that alone puts pressure on us to keep defending our stance. The invisible stress bubble enlarges to a point of being uncomfortable. None of us like to be corrected. We want everyone to understand where we are coming from and see our perspective. Unfortunately, we will fail if that is the goal we are trying to achieve. Stop correcting and let go. You have to decide what is more important.
I’m not saying for others to be right ALL the time, but what I am saying is how about letting them be right considerably more... I’m reminded by the “Behavior Doctor” Dr. Laura Riffel speaking on student behaviors. She told the story of her son wanting to always be right, and his ability to debate aggressively at the age of three. He is now a district attorney so he found his calling. With her husband’s help they came upon the phrase “probably so” anytime they were in a debate with their son. They would try and argue their point and never win regardless of the topic. So, they decided to start saying 'probably so' to the argument. This stopped the future attorney in his tracks and there wasn’t anything to say to that four syllable phrase. So, next time you are in a debate or argument try adding the phrase “probably so” to the conversation as an experiment to see what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised. How about a simple action plan this week. Think of a family member, friend, coworker, student, or even an acquaintance that you might have overstepped or argued with and... Try any one or all 3 Things:
Our word of the week is: Unfeigned Adjective genuine; or sincere. All eyes in the classroom immediately sparked with unfeigned interest. Try using it this week in conversation. Happy Monday!
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Talks with Teachers - Brian Sztabnik
I love all the guests I've had on the podcast so far, but this guest was special because I don't think I would have started this podcasting adventure if it wasn't for the inspiration Brian gave without even knowing me. His podcast "Talks With Teachers" is one of the most popular educational podcasts out there. He brings inspiring stories from some of the best teachers around. When I was still in my infant stage of teaching I started listening to this podcast and realized that it was okay to fail, some of the best teachers in the nation had bad days and lessons go terribly wrong. In 2013 was when I started listening. I would listen in the car on my way to work, morning runs in the icy cold weather to warm me up - corny I know. But true. It gave me ideas on how to be better, and it also helped me to stop being so hard on myself. Here are some of my favorite episodes of his podcast:
In this episode we discuss
Great quotes from the episode"Having children changes you as a teacher because you finally realize what's it's like to want the world for someone else." Sarah Brown Wessling "For me it was to inspire teachers." (When discussing why he started Talks With Teachers) - Brian Sztabnik "The best thing to do is get it our there." Brian Sztabnik "On Facebook, On Twitter, On Instagram people are in a way cropping their own lives and revealing what they want to show people but when we talk about failure in a way we are opening ourselves in ways we normally don't - Because no one likes to talk about how we failed, but I think it's so crucial to see that successful people struggle just as much as anybody else. And if anything the failure informs the way in which they became successful." Brian Sztabnik "One Day I will find the right words and they will be simple." Jack Kerouac
Sponsor
April Mass Photography ⇐ Get candid & fun photography at 10% off if you mention this podcast Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts Music Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) Artist: Grapes Album: ccMixter Thank you for checking out this episode of the Teacher Tunnel Podcast. Please share these free episodes with friends and colleagues to connect a wider audience. Also, if you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick 5-Star review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. Reviewing the podcast gives us the opportunity to widen our community, in turn, give more value to many. Click Here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts Click Here to subscribe via Stitcher Click Here for the TuneIn Radio Click Here to subscribe to RSS FEED via Libsyn
by Jon Belt
Guest Speaker: Sean Carney
Stay hungry Stay foolish." Steve Jobs
On today’s episode, we have Sean Carney, and this episode is a little different from previous shows because Sean isn’t a teacher in the traditional sense. He will be teaching us some things today about his profession. so think of it as a guest speaker to the classroom. A few years back, I taught a 7th grade ELA class and I had a quiet student named Logan, but Logan had a talent. He had the deepest voice I've ever heard from a 7th grader. Lets just say I would have enjoyed listening to him read Apple's Terms & Conditions pages we all love to NOT read. Sean is a voice actor, who recently graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY and received his degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, with a Minor in Communication Studies focused on public speaking. He was looking to pay for expenses at college his freshman year in 2013 and heard about an online platform called Fiverr - and after about a year he committed to it full time. He is now the top rated voice-over actor on that site, and in the last four years has completed well over four-thousand gigs. Sean drops everything you need to know to get into the voice over business. We discuss actions you can take today, tools and resources for those aspiring to be in his industry, teachers that influenced his success, and even what microphone to use.
Show Notes
Admire people who are better than you and you'll better yourself because there is going to be somebody looking up to you." Sean Carney
Fake it til you make it." Adam Ellick
Voice-Over Links mentioned in the show
Fiverr Voices Voices123 Audio Software mentioned in the show Audacity Garageband Adobe Audition Pro Tools Microphones/Mixing Boards mentioned in the show AT 2035 XLR AT 2020 Peavey 6 Mixing Board Focusrite - Scarlett 2i2 Where to find Sean Sean's Website Sean's Twitter Sponsor April Mass Photography ⇐ Get candid & fun photography at 10% off if you mention this podcast Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts Music Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) Artist: Grapes Album: ccMixter Thank you for checking out this episode of the Teacher Tunnel Podcast. Please share these free episodes with friends and colleagues to connect a wider audience. Also, if you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick 5-Star review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. Reviewing the podcast gives us the opportunity to widen our community, in turn, give more value to many. Click Here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts Click Here to subscribe via Stitcher Click Here for the TuneIn Radio Click Here to subscribe to RSS FEED via Libsyn 
In this episode, we get to know a Physical Education teacher, podcast host, and former ball boy for the Oklahoma City Thunder - Matt Shellenberger. He graduated from Southern Nazarene University with a degree in Sports Information and working towards an M.Ed in Educational Leadership at his alma mater. I've taught and coached with Matt the last three years at my current school. Matt is a relationship builder with not only his students, but his coworkers. He has the positive demeanor and attitude most parents desire as a role model for their child. We learn about his background as a Sports Information major to what changed his path away from that career. He discusses some failures in the classroom and as a coach.
The ongoing theme from past episodes is 'building relationships with students' being THE factor to becoming an effective teacher. Matt gives some tips on how he builds those relationships and some simple rituals he has throughout the days. SHOW NOTES Intro: Fun Fact
Find Matt on Twitter @mattshelly6 @theprospects23
Books and Links mentioned in the show
"Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight "The Giver" by Lois Lowry Southern Nazarene University Breaking Bad & Mad Men Oklahoma City Thunder (Nick Collison & James Harden) "Shots" (Broiler Remix) by Imagine Dragons Beats by Dre Pill Revenge of the Nerds - Movie Chronotype by Michael Brues 
Jensen Ackles from the CW's "Supernatural"
Podcast & Apps mentioned in the show
Sooner Scoop Twitter, Amazon, Sports Animal, & Skordle The Prospects Previous episodes mentioned Episode #12 - Allie Newcomb Sponsor April Mass Photography ⇐ Get candid & fun photography at 10% off if you mention this podcast Review the podcast on iTunes Music Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) Artist: Grapes Album: ccMixter Thank you for checking out this episode of the Teacher Tunnel Podcast. Please share these free episodes with friends and colleagues to connect a wider audience. Also, if you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick 5-Star review of the show on iTunes by clicking on the link below. Reviewing the podcast gives us the opportunity to widen our community and in turn, give more value to many. Click Here to subscribe via iTunes Click Here to subscribe via Stitcher Click Here for the TuneIn Radio Click Here to subscribe to RSS FEED via Libsyn Middle School Connection
In this episode, we meet Allie Newcomb. Allie brings many tools into her classroom, including building student relationships, trying new things, and whole brain teaching. Allie has given me ideas, and avenues to explore in my classroom even though they may not work or be perfect, the ability to be flexible and just try has helped grow me as a teacher. Allie is a colleague of mine and teaches in the same hallway two classrooms down. She is the 6th-grade math teacher at Mayfield Middle School in Oklahoma City and we share the same students. Allie has taught at the elementary and middle school levels and gives great perspectives on teaching in both. She received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Oklahoma and just wrapped up her Master's degree in Secondary Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Allie is a relationship builder and loves being around her students.
Show Notes
Tips for teachers to connect with kids (23:40)
Helping and Mentoring Severe and Profound students in Elementary School as a student
b. Be positive 2. Find something about each student a. Quiet kids might be priority 3. Outside of class, make a point to talk with kids a. I want the kids to see me as someone who is positive b. Acting the role 
Review the podcast on iTunes Music Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) Artist: Grapes Album: ccMixter Thank you for checking out this episode of the Teacher Tunnel Podcast. Please share these free episodes with friends and colleagues to connect a wider audience. Also, if you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick 5-Star review of the show on iTunes by clicking on the link below. Reviewing the podcast gives us the opportunity to widen our community and in turn, give more value to many. Click Here to subscribe via iTunes Click Here to subscribe via Stitcher 
In this episode, we get to know the 2017 Colorado Teacher of the Year, Sean Wybrant. Sean is crafting super heroes one student at a time at William Palmer High School in Colorado Springs. His teaching focus is Digital Media Studies, Computer Science, and Video Game Design – but he is doing so much more than just teaching high school curriculum courses. Sean is developing our future minds to think beyond their blocked walls and constrained parameters, and “Hulk Smashing” their way to success. Sean’s approach to learning is through problem solving and service based learning. With this approach, he is getting the absolute best out of his students.
Show Notes
Items mentioned in this episode include:
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Show Notes
Camille Jones is a gritty elementary school teacher in Quincy, Washington. She is currently her State Teacher of the Year and enjoying the process of connecting with other Teacher's of the Year from across our great land. Camille is in her 7th year teaching, and currently on a roll at Pioneer Elementary as the STEAM Enrichment Teacher for K-3. She studied abroad in Mexico and Spain while getting her degree in Spanish. She is currently working towards her Master's in Teaching the Gifted and Talented. Farmtableteach.com is her recent project where she hopes to make it into a resource center for all things STEAM education.
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show notes
2:38 - Todd discusses the moment when he decided he wanted to be a teacher.
7:26 - Todd’s writing process “Writing is about learning.” 10:44 - Goal writing process A book Todd Recommends for Goals: ”Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by David Allen 11:33 - “The amygdala - the emotional center of the brain is really powerful for accomplishing stuff.” 12:14 - State Changes 14:12 - “Failure is a prerequisite of success.” 17:03 - Todd talks about a “Challenge Card” he gives to all his students “If you do these things there is an abundant amount of research that says you will have more resilience, you will be happier and you will be more effective in whatever you choose to do.” 
17:39 - Meditate
17:54-20:40 - Box Breathing Calm App and Headspace App recommendation 20:44 - Sleep Hygiene Sleep Cycle App Amber Goggles 22:00 - Exericise 22:50 - Food MyFitnessPal App 23:08 - State Change 26:44 - G & G Time (Good News or Gratitude) Whispers during G & G Time Students: You can’t handle the storm! Teachers: We are the storm! Everyone Fist Bumps Teachers: Who are We? Students: We are the Storm! 28:38 - Goals and Goal Setting 31:27 - "Supremely focused and supremely relaxed" 33:34 - Todd’s failure with Evernote and his realization 34:37 - Giving a speech, and what the most effective speakers are doing. “In the first 45 seconds of the speech, the speaker would do something to show that he was paying attention to the audience.” 36:35 - Favorite Apps: Prisma App 37:41 - Favorite Blogs Rebecca Alber Heather Wolpert-Gawron & Middle Web Jennifer Gonzalez Brian Sztabnik The Science of us 39:10 - Recommendations Fictional Book: “Feed” by M.T. Anderson Nonfiction Book: “Brainstorm” by Dr. Dan Siegel Podcasts: The Unbeatable Mind Podcast by Mark Divine Music in the Morning: “The Man” by Aloe Blacc You can find Todd Finley at: http://www.todd-finley.com and on twitter @finleyt Find his books: "Dinkytown Braves" & "Rethinking Classroom Design" Intro Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) Artist: Grapes Album: ccMixter |
The Teacher Tunnel Podcast is an entertaining and authentic look at the teacher leaders in education and beyond. What are their habits, routines, and strategies? As a teacher and learner, Jon Belt wants to bring great people and thinkers to the surface and share their thoughts and insights about teaching, learning, self-improvement, and education.
HOSTJon Belt is a middle school teacher in Oklahoma City, and the host of the Teacher Tunnel Podcast. 
"Be you."
If you're not struggling, you're not living, you're not learning." Categories
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