Steven Covey, well-known author, explains that there are two ways of looking at life: viewing life through a lens of abundance or from scarcity. As educators, we must seek our abundance in order to be able to meet the challenges of today’s classrooms and to inspire children to live their lives in abundance. The abundance theory says that creativity is available to all and is yielding exciting, motivating classrooms and students who achieve. It says that when someone is successful and achieves it causes more success for others. This cannot be truer than in education.

What is the Abundance Mind Set?

It is the deep belief that there is enough for all- enough talent, inspiration, energy, compassion. It is living life with the cup half-full and not half empty. It is seeing in ones-self the capabilities needed and the desire and disciple to gain that new skill in order to succeed. Often, folks call it optimism; looking for the best in every person and situation and even in ourselves.

Successful teachers bring the mentality of abundance to their classrooms and into their staffs. Competition is not the issue, since there is enough talent, creativity and success around for all. Through welcoming colleagues into the creative process and encouraging student interactions a teacher:

• Has many opportunities available to combine different interests and talents to solve problems and make teaching and learning a joy.

• Welcomes new ideas and creativity.

• Raises personal standards based on true successes.

• Sees students and themselves thrive and become confident learners.

What is the Scarcity Mind Set?

It is the belief that there is just so much success to go around, it is scarce; that your success will imply someone else’s failure. It is seeing the glass as half full and viewing our lives and the lives of our students as somehow lacking; magnifying the deficits. It is the feeling that if my colleagues succeed then I fail; being pessimistic about students’ futures and success.

This point of view has no place in life, let alone in schools or classrooms. Teachers must see that new colleagues, new teaching and learning opportunities and new classes of kids, keep life and teaching exhilarating and satisfying. There will always be younger or more seasoned teachers entering our lives. What an exciting process to see each person as an opportunity to develop and learn, to be able to see each new child as an occasion for growth; a chance to approach learning from a different way and to make the most of their abundance.

Do you have an Abundance Mind Set?

It is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful person. Teachers with and Abundance Mind Set:

• Are people of integrity, they stand by the values they have established based on research, how kids learn, and pervasive caring. They validate themselves by being confident that they are doing the right thing and not having to worry about being people pleasers.

•Take time to think and listen before speaking.

•Omnivorously digest information on their craft. They never feel they know it all.

•Let others around them shine and receive appreciation. They encourage and recognize success on the part of others.

•Take a long term view of their life and the lives of the children in their care. Their vision is for an abundant present and future. This vision is caught, not taught.

•Passionately approach everything they do; this brings zest to their lives and those around them. Is this you?

As an educator, I challenge you to live lives with an Abundance Mind Set and to share it with your colleagues and students. Living this way will enable you to live and fulfill the vision you began teaching with; TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Phyllis Ferguson MEd., inspiring www.Save-the-Teacher.com founder, lives by her motto, “Make Teaching and Learning a Joy”.

As an award-winning, seasoned educator, Phyllis enthusiastically shares her “work smart, not hard” techniques for integration and literacy development in the K-6 classroom.

In addition, she is unreservedly applauded as she consults, provides in-service training, and presents live events throughout the United States and Canada. She is also the Director of Oasis School in Richland, WA as well as teaching K-2 multiage.

Phyllis has a comprehensive background in research-based literacy development, curriculum integration and brain-based instruction.
Listen to Phyllis' Save-the-Teacher Podcast http://save-the-teacher.podomatic.com/