Looking Back to Look Ahead

Hi and welcome back to Attentionology for K – 5 Teachers!

I just read a heart-wrenching article by a grandmother of one of the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT (US) that occurred three years ago this month.

The article was a reminder that as history shows, history often (and sometimes unfortunately) repeats itself.

Have you ever heard anyone utter this question…“When will we ever learn?”

Considering worldwide events, including and since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, there may be benefits in spending more time looking back to look ahead.

Here then is what I wrote about Dawn Hochsprung, the amazing principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, at the time of the shootings in her beloved school…

Standing right along with the teachers in elementary schools, effective principals also catch kids’ attention.

Principals like Dawn Hochsprung, only 47 years old when she was killed as she rushed towards a terrible intruder outside her office.

Hochsprung has been described as an engaged leader at Sandy Hook ES, with an awesome ability to engage other teachers and most especially the young students in her school.

She’s said to have worn eye-catching costumes to entertain students.

I can picture Hochsprung wearing a “Dr. Seuss hat” on March 4 each year to celebrate the birthday of one of America’s most beloved authors.

Costume attire that a wonderful principal, like Dawn Hochsprung, might have worn.

She might have even tucked a little soft toy, like a baby hippo under the hat so that it would fall out when she pulled the hat off her head to…you guessed it…catch young kids’ attention!

Reading about Hochsprung clarified the power of attentionology tools and tricks in another way for me, too.

I hope this simple concept helps you…educators who catch kids’ attention with fun, functional strategies, like Hochsprung used, generally relate to children better.

When educators look back to look forward, they also strengthen relationships and build trust.

Children open themselves up to learning and growing when they are in the hands of those they trust.

Hochsprung, I’ve read, also hosted what she called “appy hours” – events where her teachers would gather around a table at school to: (more…)