As I shared in my last post, I write a weekly email to staff which always starts off with something to think about and reflect on. My hope is it will inspire them to take action by making small changes in mindset and practice that will improve their overall well-being and our collective contribution to a positive school culture.
Here was the email message to staff:
Mosquito Moves – This is the title of a chapter in a book my good friend Meghan Lawson wrote called Legacy of Learning. We are facilitating a book study together so we recorded a podcast episode to discuss some chapters and I wanted to share about this one. It begins with a quote:
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.”
Dalai lama
What resonated most in this chapter was the idea of the “power of 1 percent”. If 14 minutes is approximately 1 percent of a day, then 3 minutes is 1 percent of our instructional time in a school day. What are small intentional moves you can make that will improve your classroom culture, deepen relationships with students, increase joy/gratitude or celebrate something good? What are small intentional moves you can do to improve your own well-being and those around you? Please feel free to share with me or all. I’d love to learn from you too! ?
One mosquito move I’ve been doing lately is asking others, including students, to share something good about their day or something they feel grateful for. This helps them scan for something positive. “Your brain at positive is 31% more productive than your brain at negative, neutral, or stressed.” – Shawn Achor, a happiness researcher.
Collectively, if we each commit to 1 percent better each day, we can accelerate towards being better individually and as we work collaboratively towards becoming a better community too. Imagine if we ALL improved 1% every day, students included! Thank you for your continued positive contribution to our Kitchener community! ❤️
Atomic Interactions
You are not too small to make a difference. Your actions are not too small to positively impact someone’s day or make an imprint on their heart.
“Mosquito moves” as Meghan calls it are similar to what I consider “atomic interactions”. Everything we think, do, and say is an interaction with ourselves or others. Every interaction is built on the other to build relationships. What kind of relationship do you want to build?
Each atomic interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate our love, kindness, and gratitude with the purpose to uplift, hold space, or give grace to others including ourselves. Kindness to others is truly one of the best ways to show kindness to ourselves to improve our well-being.
What are other small mosquito moves you can make to demonstrate your love and kindness today? What will be the next atomic interaction you will make to brighten someone’s day or your own?
Suggestion as a mosquito move to improve your overall well-being
If you’re not in the habit already, learn to celebrate the impact you make every day. What’s a small thing you do in the way you greet or connect with others? Smile or light up? Deeply listen and show care?
We’re often better at recognizing this in others but may not celebrate it often enough for ourselves. You make a difference. High five yourself or pat yourself on the back! Or if you recognize this in someone else, let them know. I bet it’ll uplift them and brighten their day. And guess what? I bet it’ll brighten yours too! ?
Legacy of Learning Book Study
For the month of February, I am joyfully and gratefully collaborating with Meghan Lawson, the author of Legacy of Learning, and Brian Martin, the podcast host of Teaching Champions Podcast. Our hope is to lift up educators in a month when it is common to need an extra pick-me-up and acknowledgement for the impactful work we get to do every day.
We have a few options for how you can join us or follow along:
(1) We would love to connect via email so we can share even more and support you. Please fill out the link below and we look forward to connecting with you soon!
Click here to fill out Google Form.
(2) Listen to Teaching Champions Podcast hosted by Brian Martin.
Connection, Community, and a Legacy of Learning with Meghan Lawson and Livia Chan
Listen as we introduce our hope this month to connect, support and uplift you.
Connection, Celebration, and Introspection with Meghan Lawson and Livia Chan
We talk about the first two chapters in the book diving into the power of connection, importance of celebrations, teaching students about comfort and stretch zones, why we should look for the good, the most important work is the work we do on ourselves, and the need to be conscious of our self talk.
Next podcast episode will drop on Wednesday, February 21! We talk about mosquito moves in this one! We will cover chapters three to five: Ridiculously in Charge, Mosquito Moves, and Nourish the Blooms.
(3) Follow along on X/Twitter using #legacyoflearning.
Our next X chats will be on:
- Thursday, February 22 at 5pm PST, 8pm EST
- Thursday, February 29 at 5pm PST, 8pm EST
Looking forward to connecting with you soon! Please let us know how we can support you. We can be reached on X at @LiviaChanL @Meghan_Lawson @bmartinreal or email me at livchan.com@gmail.com.
Thank you for your continued impact in your educational settings. The work you do matters and so do you. We celebrate the impact you make through every atomic interaction! ❤️
With love and gratitude, Livia
