Category: Podcasting

Linda Markley

The I.N.P.U.T. Affect

Can do's, communication, Essential questions, i am enough, Intention, Introspection, Learning Lessons, making connections, Maslow before Blooms, Podcasting, Purpose, Resources, Sincerity, Spirit of teaching, Spirit practices, teacher behavior, teacher choices, teacher mental health, teacher resources, teacher self-care, teacher support, teacher well-being, Wholehearted teaching

Before you become too focused on whether or not I misspelled “affect” and that I really meant, “effect”, I will let you know that I fully intended to write “Affect” with an “A”.

The etymology of the word affect is from ad “to” + facere (past participle factus) “to make, do”.(etymonliine.com)

We use the word “effect” more to describe the result of something that affected us and our environment…the result of an action that was taken.

Actions DO have an effect on our affect…or is it the other way around?

The proverbial “chicken or egg first” enigma!

As an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and a language teacher, I have had many opportunities to study and experience first hand what I call the “INPUT” Affect.

Input is what we take from our outside environment and put into our inside environment.

In language terms, “input” is used to describe the words we take in and how we then interpret them based on our own personal values, meaning, experiences, etc.

This “input” can affect how we see ourselves and how we interact (take action) with the world around us and the world within us.

Just a little more context and information…in language terms, there are three modes of communication. The first, and most important one, is the interpretive mode. It powers up the other two modes of communication (interpersonal – two way exchange with another person, and presentational – one way communication).

Early in my career, I realized how important the interpretive mode was to effective communication and to motivating my students to take risks to use the language in personal and meaningful ways.

Then, I created an acronym for the word INPUT to help explain, retain and guide language teachers on their pedagogical decisions for lesson planning so that they could help their students have a more powerful language learning experience. 

(Of course I did because that is a staple in education and learning, right, to create an acronym! Lol!)

I have made this acronym the picture for this blog post to better explain what I mean by INPUT in terms of our personal, everyday lives.

Let me explain it a little more.

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Linda Markley

Are You Listening?

calling to make a difference, communication, creating community, Learning Lessons, making connections, Maslow before Blooms, Passion, Podcasting, professional development, Resources, Spirit of teaching, Teacher Appreciation, teacher hero, teacher self-care, teacher vulnerability, Wholehearted teaching

Along with all of the resources provided by the Spirit of Teaching, I have also been doing a podcast called Teacher Tales.

The purpose of the podcast is to let teachers share their stories or “tales” of teaching with the hope that their stories, insights, words of wisdom and experiences will serve as lessons as well as sources of inspiration to other teachers.

It is also a form of advocacy and legacy-building effort for the profession as these stories serve as insights to what it is really like to be a teacher. The public often has a skewed viewpoint, and the podcast can help those who are not teachers see things more clearly and realistically.

As each podcast guest teacher shares their story, a theme of main ideas and some really inspiring lessons seem to come through for the listener.

For example, in Teacher Tales Episode #5, I talk to Meredith, a dear friend and fellow conference “junkie”. Meredith is an amazing teacher and human being whose positive energy, authenticity and sense of humor lifts you up and takes you away on a magic carpet ride to a “whole new world” of teaching (a little Aladdin-style), but at the same time she reminds teachers to stay real and set one priority in this moment that will help us find balance and sustainability in what we do.

It is a little like reminding us that wherever we go, Abu is always along for the ride. You remember Abu, right? That mischievous little monkey who is a kleptomaniac, gets frustrated rather easily and hates to be made a fool of. At the same time, Abu is loyal, unselfish, big-hearted, empathic and benevolent.

Hmmmm, sounds like a metaphor for teaching. As teachers, we want to take those students on that magic carpet ride of learning. We want to help them see the world in a whole new perspective that will uplift their efforts and their view of themselves.

However, we also need to remember Abu is always with us on that journey.

What, you say? How is that? (more…)

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Linda Markley

The Power of Community

calling to make a difference, creating community, Maslow before Blooms, Podcasting, Spirit practices, Wholehearted teaching

There is great power in community.  And by power, I mean the energy of the heart that connects us through our common humanity  The energy of support, encouragement, validation, guidance, compassion and love of the “me” that I see in “you”.

Common = “belonging to all” +  unity = “state of being one.” 
We can all come together, communicate, connect and learn from one another.

There is no curriculum map for life’s learning journey.

There are just lessons to be learned and to be shared in community.

We all need support, encouragement, validation, guidance, compassion and love.  We need to be inspired.  We need to be lifted up.  We need to reach out and make a difference by touching the hearts of others.

As teachers and students are heading back to school, 
with many questions, few answers and a lot of anxiety, 
what can we do to tap into the power of this community and help?
PLEASE CLICK ON "MORE" TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER!!!

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