Dean Shareski - Embracing a Culture of Joy

Does anyone else ever have those moments where you hear a message that you've heard before but for some reason today is the day you hear it and it is like you've heard it for the first time? Today's presenter gave such a message today. 

Last year as I crafted my philosophy of teaching I wrote "A child or adolescent's basic needs for safey, nourishment, and belonging must be met before intellectual growth can take place." This message was brought up in Mr. Shareski's visit to our class today as well. This represents one aspect of learning, the other that our presenter is most passionate about is the one he wrote a book on:  

Apparently he has also done a TEDtalk, but here he is on the subject of "Surprisingly Awesome" which is linked to what he spoke to us today about. 

We were given time to ask Dean questions a couple of times throughout the talk (via zoom). I honestly was lost in deep thought about the implications of his message to me as a teacher. He really did give us "food for thought". 

Two questions he proposes students should be able to answer in order to take advantage of the Community of learners that come through the doors of our schools. 

1) What did I learn from others today?

2) What contributions did I make to their learning?

There were other great messages as well but the next thing I want to share with you that resonated with me happened when I was exploring his Twitter and blog. There it was, a sense of playfulness, poking fun at the everyday, bam, I was hooked. http://ideasandthoughts.org/2016/05/30/how-to-become-a-brand-or-not/ here are the main points he says on how to become a brand or not, tongue in cheek:

1. The majority of your tweets should be links to other sites. A tweet without one has no value. Bonus if you auto-tweet them all day long. Make your brand 24/7.
2. Never post personal content. No one wants to hear about your naps or golf game or shopping excursions with your wife. The more you tweet about yourself as a human being, the more your brand loses its focus. People use twitter for information, not your silly natterings.
3. Blog like an expert. Your blog posts should be stand-alone artifacts of authority. Questioning your practice or showing ambivalence makes you look weak. Write as if you’re the smartest person in the room.
4. Never engage in conversation on twitter. When people question you or reach out to you, ignore them. It’s a time and energy suck. Spend your time crafting your message. Don’t waste time talking to people.
5. Retweet every compliment someone gives you. This is particularly effective if you’re a speaker and have just completed a talk or workshop. It’s easy to hit retweet. If you want to include a thank you, that’s fine but not necessary.
6. Make your Instagram account a potpourri of awesomeness. This is the one time you might include some personal items. But use caution. A photo of you and your loved one sipping wine at sunset is acceptable. Remind the world that your life is perfect.

I will take it as permission to continue to find the quirky and unusual things that make me tick and bestow them willingly to make others smile, just as he has today.