Welcoming Change ✨

 
LCG back to school enewsletter

Volume 36

And…Hello August! This month, many educators head back to school, and others try to soak up the last bits of summer and do their best to not talk about August​. As we all settle into a new routine, I’d like to talk about the sometimes impossible task of welcoming change. For some, this may seem like an oxymoron but these tips may not only help you welcome change but also help you to keep going when the change sets in.

First off, visualize. This tip sounds incredibly simple, but it can be oh-so powerful. As the school year approaches, start to visualize what success looks like. ​If you’re an educator​, ask questions like: “How do you show up? How do you collaborate with colleagues? What’s your routine like? How do your students engage with you?” If you’re in EdTech, how does your workflow change? How do you engage with educators? How will educators use your product or service? What will you and your team achieve? The more you can take the time to visualize and do something that captures this visualization (write it down, record a voice memo, post on social media, etc), the more likely this result will occur. This tip may seem a bit touchy-feely, but some of the most successful people​ use this technique and credit it for their success.

Then, stay present. With big changes, it can be easy to get sucked into a hole of anxiety. A meditation teacher once told me that there are two main types of people: those that live in the past and those that live in the future. The lucky get to enjoy living in the present. I think of this often as I notice my mind racing from the past to the future, leaving little time for the present. Although the habit of being present doesn’t change overnight, the first step is awareness. Where does your mind typically go? One way to take notice is to name your thoughts as they arise (say “past” & “future”) and gently end the thought. I’ve recently made a goal to sit and dedicate at least ten minutes every weekday to mindfulness. What’s your goal?

Although it's helpful to learn how to welcome change, it's equally important to develop habits that can help you thrive after the change and throughout the year. I recently learned about ​habituation​, which is "our tendency to respond less and less to things that are repeated or constant." As the new school year kicks into gear, we may be initially on high alert, whether it be excitement, anxiousness, or, more than likely, a healthy dose of both. But as time passes, things begin to normalize, and we react less and less. This can contribute to "feeling stuck," limit our creativity and innovation, and ultimately affect our stress and happiness levels. Try some of these tips to "dishabituate" to help you feel joy from the same things around you.

  • Take breaks. If you can, remove yourself from your environment — then come back. You’ll find you may have a fresh perspective and maybe even some gratitude.

  • Embrace variety. This can be something small like changing your route to work, trying out new recipes, or learning a new skill.

  • Value experiences over things. Make time for new experiences, like a book club, a concert, or even a trivia night with friends. We tend to reflect on good experiences, and they can continue to provide joy.

Hit “reply” and let me know how the new school year unfolds for you. Sending you love. ♥️

 
 
 
Made by LCG

Marketing/Community

  1. This post reveals a proven brand messaging framework to transform your pitch from cringy to confident. 

  2. Instagram has shared some new Reels tips to its Professional Dashboard in the app, with a listing of key pointers to help maximize your Reels content performance.

  3. Dive deep into the YouTube algorithm, exploring how it influences video suggestions and viewership to create high-performing video content. 

  4. Experts Reveal the worst (and best) advice on Using Generative AI in Content Marketing.

  5. This podcast episode covers balancing quality and quantity in video content marketing strategy.

Education

  1. This article explores a few case studies of AI in the classroom, acknoledging AI can’t replace teaching, but it can possibly make it better.

  2. Here are 10 recent studies that we think have something important to add to the field of education—and should be on every teacher’s radar. 

  3. This EdTech funder explains some of the traits or habits you've seen in the most successful founders of their portfolio companies. 

  4. Arkansas is having success solving teacher shortages by addressing barriers and combining several approaches. 

  5. Not everything has to be project-based. Choose a model that aligns with your standards. 

 

[BONUS] In the spirit of the olympics (Go USA!), these answers from teachers have us railing on the floor. 🤣

teacher olympic events would include...

  • Running to pee between classes

  • Who unjams the copy machine

  • Teaching with hair on fire!

  • Quickest eating lunch

  • Answering 3 to 4 students at one time that have different questions.

  • 100m dash to the staff room that has cake in it….

  • Writing in a straight line on the whiteboard

  • Identifying “What’s that smell”

  • Reading handwriting

  • Taking attendance and submitting it the fastest in a group of peers!

  • Seeing how many things you can accomplish in your thirty-minute lunch

  • Getting the trash can to the kid before he/she throws up on the floor.

  • Eating a donut w/o students noticing

  • Classroom object Dodgeball


Read them all in this Facebook group.

[BONUS bonus] Last month marked a very special anniversary for LCG’s Director of Joy, Porter Palmer. Porter has spent six years with LCG (and LCG is only 7 years old!). If you have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Porter, head on over to LinkedIn and read about all of the ways Porter shows up for LCG.