Knowing Your Why

Michael Jr.'s "Knowing Your Why?" YouTube video is a good bit of brain food and is something that I think is a good little refresher for teachers at all levels, especially those about to go into the field.

Michael Jr. means to give people a call to give purpose to what they are doing by knowing why they are doing it. When it comes to teaching, if we know why we want to be in the classroom, why we are called to educate, why we want to be in that room, then what we are doing becomes much easier and has a purpose driving it.

I like the example of the church choir director that sings from one of his crowds. When he first sings he is almost doing what is expected of him and it is nice, but feels rigid. But when he puts some sauce up on those chicken wings he calls his vocal pipes, well he brings the HEAT! When it comes to being in the classroom, if we as educators forget the why, then we will do good things for sure, and sure students might learn. But when we can remember the why and put that knowledge into what we are doing in the classroom... then we will be able to bring that same fire and passion into our students' lives and might be able to have a greater impact on them as both an educator and an advocate.

I love what he says right at the end.

"When you know your why, your what becomes more impactful because you're walking towards or in your purpose.

Here is Michael Jr.'s video on Knowing Your Why?