Teachable Moments with Schools of Fish!
Posted: September 19, 2007
Today, I am proud to say that the Fish! philosophy is still alive and well at Acequia Elementary School! Implementing the Fish! philosophy has changed our school more than we ever thought possible. After reading the first Fish! book three years ago, we realized that the Fish! philosophy was all those things we believed, but never quite knew how to put into words or actions. Now we have a common language that we can share with our staff, students and parents.
In the first Fish! book, we studied the four main components which include: Choose Your Attitude, Be Present, Play, and Make Their Day. We read Schools of Fish! this past summer, (appropriately subtitled, "Welcome Back to the Reason You Became an Educator) which contains many specific ideas for incorporating the Fish! philosophy into classrooms and helping us create a school environment that is positive and one in which students enjoy learning.
We truly believe that each and every one of our students has the capability to do well in school. We also believe that they have the desire to do well also. We, as teachers, have to help to keep their attitudes in the right place, and the Fish! philosophy is helping us inspire children to keep a great attitude, as well as inspiring us to maintain our own!
As educators, we are in a profession that is demanding, stressful, and sometimes heartbreaking. In the midst of all the pressures of the classroom, we believe that we have found a way to bring back joy, passion, and a love of learning through the Fish! philosophy. We are certainly "hooked" on the Schools of Fish! and invite you to visit and learn more about what makes our school so "fin"tastic!
May the "Fish!" Be with you this year!
By: Suzette F. Miller, Principal, Acequia Elementary School