Lesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is importantfor you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
When the bell rings (fire or school) we have to be ready for game time. As teachers, we have each others back and support each other in the ups and downs. In a small school, we sometimes team teach and definitely bounce ideas off of eachother. It is important for us to show the kids the camaraderie and how important working together is. We set the example for them and also expect teamwork in our class. We need to teach the students to have each others back as well. When one student has an "emergency" (could be coming from a bad situation at home, etc) we need to let the students know it is ok to help that student with encouraging words or a friendly smile. If we don't have our colleagues back, we are definitely not going to have our students backs!
The lesson that really sits heavy with me is team work. I find too often we try to change education with just one person. We need a team and a team with the same goals. When the whole staff works together for common goals, I feel we truly could change the culture for our students and be the best school we can be.
I we cannot get the whole staff, then start with departments. Have same goals, best practices for students and overall assessment goals. If a department is strong then the relief of easy and hard teachers is eliminated.
One lesson from the fire service that really applies to School Counselors and those working in education is the importance of staying calm and flexible in high-pressure situations. I appreciate this because, as we often say in our office, we work like firefighters, having to put out whatever comes our way. Flexibility in our schedules is incredibly important, and being prepared for a variety of scenarios that could arise at any moment is something we must do in School Counseling. Of course, not the same, but similar to what firefighters do, in different ways. When students come to us with urgent or sometimes emergency situations, we must remain calm. It’s our job as School Counselors to provide support, encouragement, empathy, and attentive listening while helping students find the best solution for their situation. This lesson reminds me that adaptability, and a steady mindset are essential, not only in our effectiveness, but also as we created a safe and responsive environment for students and in supporting my colleagues in the same way.
Teamwork and camardie is something that plays a part every single day. We have got to figure out the best way to work together for our students and their families. We all should be working on goals that have been established and not be afraid to ask others a manner in which to get to the goal. I am constantly looking for new lessons or changing ideas from one class to the next in order to make a lesson run more effectively. I know that corrective feedback is a helpful component to learning and growing. I am always flexible with my schedule when I can be, too. When classes get invited to different programs or events in the community over the time I am to have the class, I try to change times. I know that they are also flexible and will work with me if my schedule of a sudden changes due to an emergency situation or a call to another building.
I feel that if people start to divide and have an us versus them mentality and it can really put a damper on the culture and climate of a building. I try to maintain neutrality and work with everyone in the same manner as I am about what will work for the student. I do not want to get involved in “drama” as that takes away from the mission of the school.
Teamwork & Camaraderie is crucial in school leadership by driving students and improving student and teacher performance. Working together allows schools to move faster towards common goals. Working together gains deeper insights into student's strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. This understanding helps teacher methods to help personalize learning experiences for each student.
The lesson from the fire service that is important to me is decision-making. With the group of students I have in my classroom, the scenarios can change on a dime and I need the support of both my boss and the administrator to have my back when I have to make a decisions in the moment, to allow my classroom to get back on track. I also need to allow my students to make course correction, right or wrong when they are having a melt down. I need to teach them to make this decision without the approval from me. As for my colleagues we need to allows all of us to make those snap decisions in the middle of an emergency without question asked.
The lesson that is important to me is teamwork and camaraderie. Working in a smaller district you do not have multiple teachers for each grade, so you need to work together across grades towards a common goal. To ensure consistency in student learning I go to previous teachers and ask questions and then I pass this information along to the next years teacher. Having a smaller school environment you develope a closer connection with students, too. We like to do Pre-K through 5 activites in our building. The teachers collaborate and plan and them we mix them all up and enjoy learning from each other.
The lesson that is most important to me is teamwork. Teamwork and having the voices of all stakeholders is crucial when making important decisions. Building that trust with families, that you have the best interest of their child, and communicating with them not at them. With our teachers, giving collaboration time to work together to work on pacing guides and to share strategies and tools that have worked or where they could use suggestions. Our students, our students need to be able so share there voice with there feedback being used to move forward with lessons/reteaching etc. All voices need to be valued , heard, seen and this will help build the trust when emergencies arise that the important decisions will be made for the students and staff.
Lesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
Preparedness and hard work. Too often I hear and witness the fact that teachers wing it. They don't study their curriculum and/or they don't do the work necessary to make sure that the students are getting the best from them - this has included me during certain times of my 30 yrs plus of teaching and coaching. There is the burn-out factor and there's a balance, but it's important to watch during those times to not get stuck in that rut and to bounce out ASAP. In other words - be relentless. Go one more round!
The lesson that is most important to me is pride. You need to be proud of the kind of teacher you are, and your students need to know that you are proud of them. We are in charge during many difficult situations everyday. As teachers, we need to be able to respond to these situations knowing that we did all we could to help our students, and that we are proud of the way we handled it. The school, the students, and the parents are counting on us to be the best we can be. We need all of them to be proud of us too!
One lesson from the fire service that applies to education is that when situations arise, we need to fall back on our training and experiences. This is important to me as an ECSE teacher because unexpected situations can happen quickly in the classroom. Students may become dysregulated, unsafe behaviors can occur, or a plan may not go the way I expected. In those moments, I rely on my training, experience, and the strategies I have learned to respond calmly and effectively. This is also important for my students because they depend on adults to provide structure, safety, and guidance. When I remain calm and follow the strategies I know work, it helps students feel secure and supported. It also reminds my colleagues that preparation, teamwork, and trusting our training help us respond to challenges in the best possible way.
Lesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
One lesson that really stood out to me was when Brewer failed, he did not give up. He was determined to do better next time and not let he colleagues down. I think this is a lesson for anyone and everyone. As teachers, our lessons may fail or flop. For me, sometimes I have a really tough class. How I react is all my choice. For example, I have a really tough 5th grade class this year. The don't like any of my games or activities. They are constantly complaining, and honestly just have bad attitudes about school. I could easily just throw in the towel and not give much effort with them anymore. Let them sulk and be miserable. But no! I refuse to give up on them. I want them to find little joys throughout the day. Find things that are fun and exciting at school. I am going to be persistent and have a positive attitude with them, because honestly, they need to have someone cheering for them right now!
The lesson from the fire service that applies to education is teamwork. In education we need many people to be part of the team to help kids find success in school. For kids to be successful, they need teachers, other staff, parents/guardians, counselors etc to work together and communicate. I agree with the saying, “ It takes a village to raise a child”.
The lesson from the fire service part in the book that applies to education and to my particular field in my role is where he got the opportunity to respond to his first fire call but as he was getting in the house and getting ready to help put out the fire, he realized he forgot half of his gear. This is something that stood out to me because working with students who have behavioral issues daily, we are constantly putting out dumpster fires. However, there are situations where we often jump into action without thinking about the steps we need to follow such as coming in calm, presenting with a supportive and empathetic stance, and working together to find a solution. Then the fire is still going in fact possibly getting stronger if we're not checking with ourselves before hand. In order to put out fires in an organized and effective way, we need to make sure we're checking with ourselves first to make sure that we don't respond in a way that could not only hurt the student but also hurt that rapport with the student.
As I was reading this chapter, I couldn't believe the similarities to a Firehouse and Classroom are. There are emergencies going on every single day in our classroom. I would take Pride from the firehouse. I want to always be the best I can be in teaching. Furthering my education and training, not leaving one student behind and just always doing my best. I take pride in my job and I wish more teachers in our school took pride in our jobs and realized the urgency. The other way pride comes in is in our classrooms and our actual school building. I wish my school worked together to feel the pride and take care of our school for ourselves and our students.
Being prepared and having a clean and orderly room. I strive to be prepared daily with my lessons etc.. but with running a behavior room, sometimes you just have to go with the flow and assist a student with their emotional needs in that moment. I also like to have a clean and orderly room. Everything in its place, so students know where all materials are and the expectation is to pick up and keep our room clean.
I am a Title I teacher so I can relate to you on this. Sometimes our students throw curve balls at us and we have to do our best with what we have in front of us. I think setting expectations and having a clean room are crucial as well. Kids need routine!
One lesson from the fire service that applies to education is the idea of running toward the fire instead of away from it. Firefighters are trained to move toward danger with purpose and preparation, and the author connects this to educators who face challenges head-on rather than avoiding them. Even a phrase you hear teachers and coaches use is that they were "putting out fires" all day which ties into the topic and message by the author.
As a high school history teacher, this means I don’t ignore struggling students or difficult situations. Instead, I move toward them, building relationships, re-teaching content when needed, and finding ways to help students succeed. In the classroom, “running toward the fire” means addressing problems early instead of letting them grow. As a football coach, it means leaning into hard conversations, correcting mistakes, and holding athletes accountable while still showing belief in them. Growth happens in uncomfortable moments, and I can’t avoid those if I want my team to improve.
For students and athletes, this mindset builds trust, they know I won’t walk away when things get difficult. For colleagues, it helps create a culture where challenges are addressed directly and with urgency.
One lesson I took is the quick decision-making and making sure the little details are ready before taking off on the big things. It makes me think of having lessons prepared down to having the resources ready and at hand before jumping into a lesson (even ones I've done before). It actually saves time having everything at my fingertips during the lesson so that it reduces unstructured time students have to wait otherwise for you to get the supply. Students deserve to have their lessons prepared - it helps them learn when lessons flow without interuptions and it saves us the headache when we don't have things prepared. Just like when he forgot part of his uniform - it let his team down. When we as teachers/staff all work to have things run smooth, the whole atmosphere of the school just feels the positive flow.
Lesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
One lesson from the fire service is that you don’t wait for perfect conditions, you act when people need you. Firefighters don’t stand back and analyze because they prepare, trust their training, and step in to help, even when the situation is messy or uncertain.
This lesson matters to me because teaching is hardly ever perfect. There are always interruptions, challenges, and students who need support right now, not later when everything is planned out. It reminds me to be proactive instead of hesitant, and to focus on what students need in the moment rather than waiting until I feel ready.
For students, this means that they have a teacher who shows up consistently and is willing to step in when they’re struggling, whether that is academically or personally. Doing this helps builds trust. When students know you won’t give up on them, they feel more supported and are more willing to take risks in their learning.
For colleagues, it encourages teamwork and urgency. Just like firefighters rely on each other, teachers should step in to support one another, share ideas, and respond when someone is overwhelmed or stressed. It creates a stronger and more connected school environment.
The one that resonates the most with me currently is the team work and camaraderie. Not being actively involved in the classroom currently, but work in a professional setting and part of a team. Together we all have goals that we have to accomplish individually that attribute to the larger goals of the entire team. If only one person was working towards the team goals, it wouldn't be possible. For me, this lends to in and out of the classroom. We have to work together for the common good in order to make things go smoothly and for things to be accomplished. When people can see that they are contributing to the greater good and those goals are met, they are more likely to continue to work harder to the next set of goals and tasks that need to be completed. It also shows that everyone has things they are good at and we can play to each other's strengths.
I feel like a big aspect of my teaching and relationships with students would fall into the "Accountability and Attention to Detail" lesson. As a teacher, I try to get all of my students to understand that actions have consequences (or rewards) and I try to hold my students accountable for what they are doing. If they go above and beyond, I try to recognize or incentivize them to continue those behaviors. When students do things wrong, I make sure to address it, while also trying to coach them through what happened or what could be better the next time.
I think all of this is much smoother because of attention to details- knowing my students, being able to tell when they are having an off day, being proactive in addressing certain things before they actually happen. When my students know what they can expect from me and what the outcomes often will be (and knowing that I will actually follow through on my word), it leads to an environment of growth and accountability.
As a coach, I also believe that these two things play a huge role in my student-athletes. Working in a middle school, I have built relationships with the grade level of my players, creating an open door for anytime my players are acting up or getting in trouble (in or out of season) I can be another adult who can hold them accountable. Any time I walk into the ISS room at school to bring one of my 6th graders their work for the day, if there is an 8th grader who has had me, they know that they can expect to be pulled out to have a hard conversation about what happened and how to move forward.
In the chapter Lesson from the Fire Truck, an idea I found especially important is the need to be prepared. It’s interesting how we constantly plan and prepare, thinking through all the different scenarios that might occur during a lesson or throughout the day—we even make plans for our plans. However, when it comes time to actually teach the lesson or carry out a “fun activity,” things don’t always go as expected. That’s when the “one more round” mindset becomes essential. When things don’t go as planned, I make an effort to adapt, make the best of the situation, and treat it as an opportunity for learning and growth. I believe it’s important to stay positive and remain committed. I have done the training and understand what is expected of me, but now I need to ensure that I am fully prepared to teach my students using the right tools and effective strategies, so they can be set on the path to success.
One of the lessons from the firetruck i can apply is teamwork. Education is not an individual sport--it relies on a team. everyone has to be invested. From the school to the family and community, we need to work together. We all need to come together to support our greatest assets which are the students. As an educator, I need to be on the same team as my administrators as well as other teachers and the parents and families. We need to be working together. I want to come alongside the parents of my students to let them know we are on a team to help their student. I want to work with them to help their student. It's not a me versus them mentality.
I also believe that a school runs much better when the leaders come to the same table as everyone else, and they view themselves as equals, not as superior just because of their title. When we all come together to help each other get better, than everybody wins.
I feel that our administration at our building is very much team oriented. I know that I can go to any of them with a concern and they don't push it off or just listen. They are on your team there to help you solve the problem and get through the issues. I feel that this is what makes our school feel more like a team.
I think one of the biggest lessons to take from the firehouse is the teamwork and camaraderie. As teachers, so much of our success and support is from our colleagues, our "team." We are all in this job because we care for our students and we are in it together. Often times, if I am having a struggle with a student either behaviorally or academically, I go to some of my colleagues and have the discussion as to what is working/not working for them.
As educators, we are some of the best readers of our students and their needs. In respecting one another and one another's ideas, we are able to provide insight on what works for our students. Respecting colleagues- knowing no one is more important than the rest- we are able to work as a team. We are one another's "ride or die."
A lesson from the Fire Truck that I apply to education is teamwork. Teamwork is important to me because you can rely on others to help in time of need or when your "teammate" is in need they can rely on you! I have been a part of sports though high school and college and the bonds that I have with my former teammates are still some of my most trusted relationships today. I feel like teamwork is so very important for students as well because kids can learn from their peers and also when they are able to teach their peers, they soak up the knowledge that much more as well. The students will also form a mutual bond and respect for one another and school becomes more about the people and less about the school part of it! Same goes for colleagues and coworkers. This life is hard enough, so If I can lighten a coworker's load by teamwork, I am all in. I enjoy bouncing ideas off of others and working together to make things better and also, if I can aid in something that I am strong in and in return receive the same, it is a win. Plus, the connections and relationships that will form can make the work environment a place that will become more like home and a place you truly enjoy being!
The lesson about teamwork. I think this is important because it fosters an us addressing matters. This leads to educators feeling supported, is good modeling for the students, and gives cohesiveness in attaining positive actions. Teachers can enrich the school experience so much more when there is a team effort being employed. Student learning, peer-teaching, discussion, etc. will be richer, more effective learning opportunities, Lessons in team-work, developing relationships, listening and constructive conversations are things that students are skills that will be used and improved upon throughout a life and, learning these things well, people will find their lives that much richer.
I think all the lessons from the firehouse are great to bring to a classroom or school, but PRIDE is one that kiddos need to learn. They need to learn to be proud of themselves and their passions. I am not a coach or a leader of extracurriculars in the school, but I am proud of what I do for my school being a teacher and hosting homework club after school. I use my life or high school stories to show that we need all kinds or passions in our school. Follow you passions such as sports, books, art, drama, music, crafts, gardening, cars, or whatever you love and be proud to be yourself and the skills you learn following your passion. Share your passion and skills with others.
Any leader worth following is a leader who leads by example and is willing to do the work. I try to lead our students/staff by showing up and getting my hands dirty right along with everyone else. By doing this, it can lead to a sense of Teamwork and Camaraderie. These lessons work full circle and build off of each other. We have a slogan that "We Can Do Hard Things". Sometimes we have to tackle the hard things as individuals and other times it requires teamwork to take care of tough situations.
In the fire service, no one enters a burning building alone; success depends on trust, teamwork, and having each other's backs. Education operates the exact same way. We cannot expect to change a school culture or handle daily classroom emergencies if we are working in isolation. Cultivating a deep sense of camaraderie among the staff is essential to keeping our school moving forward.
For colleagues, true teamwork means leaving egos at the door, sharing best practices, and bouncing ideas off one another. It creates a supportive network where we can lift up a teammate having a tough day and share the heavy lifting. If we do not have each other's backs as educators, we cannot effectively support our students.
Modeling this camaraderie sets a powerful example for our students. When they see adults collaborating seamlessly, they learn what a genuine community looks like. This allows us to foster a classroom environment where kids look out for one another, work through hard tasks together, and view school as a collective journey rather than an individual competition. By tackling our goals as a cohesive unit, we show our students that we can handle any challenge together.
One lesson from the fire service that apply to education is ‘pride.’ Pride plays an important role in teaching because it helps teachers feel connected to their work, their students, and their school. When teachers take pride in what they do, they are more likely to create a positive learning environment, work hard to help students succeed, and represent their school in a positive way. School pride can help build a strong sense of community where everyone feels valued and supported.
The one lesson that stands out to me is Leadership. I am not just an Art teacher. I help lead the school just like everyone else. We are an essential part of a running school and have to make decisions sometimes on our own and we need to make sure we are making the best decisions and being a leader for our students and staff. We can't always count on others or expect our principal to do it all. I feel once you have good leadership roles all the other lessons come into play and go smoothly. Even when things happen or are going to happen, we may not always like it. But showing good leadership by planning, sharing ideas on how this "new" thing could look or work. Helps others adjust to it or gets the ball rolling instead of complaining about it and not willing to take part. In our school we have a leadership committee.
A lesson that stood out to me is when Hamish talks about being on fire. We need to be aggressive for our students and the community. We have to be ready to lead. Just like a fireman an educator needs to be prepared. Whether that is understanding the curriculum or simply having a relationship with each and every student that walks in the building. As a teacher who only gets to see a student for fifteen to twenty minutes a day, my time with them is crucial. So being prepared and getting to know my students at such a deep level is so important.
When the bell rings (fire or school) we have to be ready for game time. As teachers, we have each others back and support each other in the ups and downs. In a small school, we sometimes team teach and definitely bounce ideas off of eachother. It is important for us to show the kids the camaraderie and how important working together is. We set the example for them and also expect teamwork in our class. We need to teach the students to have each others back as well. When one student has an "emergency" (could be coming from a bad situation at home, etc) we need to let the students know it is ok to help that student with encouraging words or a friendly smile. If we don't have our colleagues back, we are definitely not going to have our students backs!
ReplyDeleteThe lesson that really sits heavy with me is team work. I find too often we try to change education with just one person. We need a team and a team with the same goals. When the whole staff works together for common goals, I feel we truly could change the culture for our students and be the best school we can be.
ReplyDeleteI we cannot get the whole staff, then start with departments. Have same goals, best practices for students and overall assessment goals. If a department is strong then the relief of easy and hard teachers is eliminated.
One lesson from the fire service that really applies to School Counselors and those working in education is the importance of staying calm and flexible in high-pressure situations. I appreciate this because, as we often say in our office, we work like firefighters, having to put out whatever comes our way. Flexibility in our schedules is incredibly important, and being prepared for a variety of scenarios that could arise at any moment is something we must do in School Counseling. Of course, not the same, but similar to what firefighters do, in different ways.
ReplyDeleteWhen students come to us with urgent or sometimes emergency situations, we must remain calm. It’s our job as School Counselors to provide support, encouragement, empathy, and attentive listening while helping students find the best solution for their situation. This lesson reminds me that adaptability, and a steady mindset are essential, not only in our effectiveness, but also as we created a safe and responsive environment for students and in supporting my colleagues in the same way.
Teamwork and camardie is something that plays a part every single day. We have got to figure out the best way to work together for our students and their families. We all should be working on goals that have been established and not be afraid to ask others a manner in which to get to the goal. I am constantly looking for new lessons or changing ideas from one class to the next in order to make a lesson run more effectively. I know that corrective feedback is a helpful component to learning and growing. I am always flexible with my schedule when I can be, too. When classes get invited to different programs or events in the community over the time I am to have the class, I try to change times. I know that they are also flexible and will work with me if my schedule of a sudden changes due to an emergency situation or a call to another building.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if people start to divide and have an us versus them mentality and it can really put a damper on the culture and climate of a building. I try to maintain neutrality and work with everyone in the same manner as I am about what will work for the student. I do not want to get involved in “drama” as that takes away from the mission of the school.
Teamwork & Camaraderie is crucial in school leadership by driving students and improving student and teacher performance. Working together allows schools to move faster towards common goals. Working together gains deeper insights into student's strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. This understanding helps teacher methods to help personalize learning experiences for each student.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson from the fire service that is important to me is decision-making. With the group of students I have in my classroom, the scenarios can change on a dime and I need the support of both my boss and the administrator to have my back when I have to make a decisions in the moment, to allow my classroom to get back on track. I also need to allow my students to make course correction, right or wrong when they are having a melt down. I need to teach them to make this decision without the approval from me. As for my colleagues we need to allows all of us to make those snap decisions in the middle of an emergency without question asked.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson that is important to me is teamwork and camaraderie. Working in a smaller district you do not have multiple teachers for each grade, so you need to work together across grades towards a common goal. To ensure consistency in student learning I go to previous teachers and ask questions and then I pass this information along to the next years teacher. Having a smaller school environment you develope a closer connection with students, too. We like to do Pre-K through 5 activites in our building. The teachers collaborate and plan and them we mix them all up and enjoy learning from each other.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson that is most important to me is teamwork. Teamwork and having the voices of all stakeholders is crucial when making important decisions. Building that trust with families, that you have the best interest of their child, and communicating with them not at them. With our teachers, giving collaboration time to work together to work on pacing guides and to share strategies and tools that have worked or where they could use suggestions. Our students, our students need to be able so share there voice with there feedback being used to move forward with lessons/reteaching etc. All voices need to be valued , heard, seen and this will help build the trust when emergencies arise that the important decisions will be made for the students and staff.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
ReplyDeletePreparedness and hard work. Too often I hear and witness the fact that teachers wing it. They don't study their curriculum and/or they don't do the work necessary to make sure that the students are getting the best from them - this has included me during certain times of my 30 yrs plus of teaching and coaching. There is the burn-out factor and there's a balance, but it's important to watch during those times to not get stuck in that rut and to bounce out ASAP. In other words - be relentless. Go one more round!
The lesson that is most important to me is pride. You need to be proud of the kind of teacher you are, and your students need to know that you are proud of them. We are in charge during many difficult situations everyday. As teachers, we need to be able to respond to these situations knowing that we did all we could to help our students, and that we are proud of the way we handled it. The school, the students, and the parents are counting on us to be the best we can be. We need all of them to be proud of us too!
ReplyDeleteOne lesson from the fire service that applies to education is that when situations arise, we need to fall back on our training and experiences.
ReplyDeleteThis is important to me as an ECSE teacher because unexpected situations can happen quickly in the classroom. Students may become dysregulated, unsafe behaviors can occur, or a plan may not go the way I expected. In those moments, I rely on my training, experience, and the strategies I have learned to respond calmly and effectively.
This is also important for my students because they depend on adults to provide structure, safety, and guidance. When I remain calm and follow the strategies I know work, it helps students feel secure and supported. It also reminds my colleagues that preparation, teamwork, and trusting our training help us respond to challenges in the best possible way.
Lesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
ReplyDeleteOne lesson that really stood out to me was when Brewer failed, he did not give up. He was determined to do better next time and not let he colleagues down. I think this is a lesson for anyone and everyone. As teachers, our lessons may fail or flop. For me, sometimes I have a really tough class. How I react is all my choice. For example, I have a really tough 5th grade class this year. The don't like any of my games or activities. They are constantly complaining, and honestly just have bad attitudes about school. I could easily just throw in the towel and not give much effort with them anymore. Let them sulk and be miserable. But no! I refuse to give up on them. I want them to find little joys throughout the day. Find things that are fun and exciting at school. I am going to be persistent and have a positive attitude with them, because honestly, they need to have someone cheering for them right now!
The lesson from the fire service that applies to education is teamwork. In education we need many people to be part of the team to help kids find success in school. For kids to be successful, they need teachers, other staff, parents/guardians, counselors etc to work together and communicate. I agree with the saying, “ It takes a village to raise a child”.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson from the fire service part in the book that applies to education and to my particular field in my role is where he got the opportunity to respond to his first fire call but as he was getting in the house and getting ready to help put out the fire, he realized he forgot half of his gear. This is something that stood out to me because working with students who have behavioral issues daily, we are constantly putting out dumpster fires. However, there are situations where we often jump into action without thinking about the steps we need to follow such as coming in calm, presenting with a supportive and empathetic stance, and working together to find a solution. Then the fire is still going in fact possibly getting stronger if we're not checking with ourselves before hand. In order to put out fires in an organized and effective way, we need to make sure we're checking with ourselves first to make sure that we don't respond in a way that could not only hurt the student but also hurt that rapport with the student.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this chapter, I couldn't believe the similarities to a Firehouse and Classroom are. There are emergencies going on every single day in our classroom.
ReplyDeleteI would take Pride from the firehouse. I want to always be the best I can be in teaching. Furthering my education and training, not leaving one student behind and just always doing my best. I take pride in my job and I wish more teachers in our school took pride in our jobs and realized the urgency. The other way pride comes in is in our classrooms and our actual school building. I wish my school worked together to feel the pride and take care of our school for ourselves and our students.
Being prepared and having a clean and orderly room. I strive to be prepared daily with my lessons etc.. but with running a behavior room, sometimes you just have to go with the flow and assist a student with their emotional needs in that moment. I also like to have a clean and orderly room. Everything in its place, so students know where all materials are and the expectation is to pick up and keep our room clean.
ReplyDeleteI am a Title I teacher so I can relate to you on this. Sometimes our students throw curve balls at us and we have to do our best with what we have in front of us. I think setting expectations and having a clean room are crucial as well. Kids need routine!
DeleteOne lesson from the fire service that applies to education is the idea of running toward the fire instead of away from it. Firefighters are trained to move toward danger with purpose and preparation, and the author connects this to educators who face challenges head-on rather than avoiding them. Even a phrase you hear teachers and coaches use is that they were "putting out fires" all day which ties into the topic and message by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs a high school history teacher, this means I don’t ignore struggling students or difficult situations. Instead, I move toward them, building relationships, re-teaching content when needed, and finding ways to help students succeed. In the classroom, “running toward the fire” means addressing problems early instead of letting them grow. As a football coach, it means leaning into hard conversations, correcting mistakes, and holding athletes accountable while still showing belief in them. Growth happens in uncomfortable moments, and I can’t avoid those if I want my team to improve.
For students and athletes, this mindset builds trust, they know I won’t walk away when things get difficult. For colleagues, it helps create a culture where challenges are addressed directly and with urgency.
One lesson I took is the quick decision-making and making sure the little details are ready before taking off on the big things. It makes me think of having lessons prepared down to having the resources ready and at hand before jumping into a lesson (even ones I've done before). It actually saves time having everything at my fingertips during the lesson so that it reduces unstructured time students have to wait otherwise for you to get the supply. Students deserve to have their lessons prepared - it helps them learn when lessons flow without interuptions and it saves us the headache when we don't have things prepared. Just like when he forgot part of his uniform - it let his team down. When we as teachers/staff all work to have things run smooth, the whole atmosphere of the school just feels the positive flow.
ReplyDeleteLesson from the Fire Truck: Choose one of the lessons from the fire service that apply to education and write about why this lesson is important for you, for you students, and/or for your colleagues.
ReplyDeleteOne lesson from the fire service is that you don’t wait for perfect conditions, you act when people need you. Firefighters don’t stand back and analyze because they prepare, trust their training, and step in to help, even when the situation is messy or uncertain.
This lesson matters to me because teaching is hardly ever perfect. There are always interruptions, challenges, and students who need support right now, not later when everything is planned out. It reminds me to be proactive instead of hesitant, and to focus on what students need in the moment rather than waiting until I feel ready.
For students, this means that they have a teacher who shows up consistently and is willing to step in when they’re struggling, whether that is academically or personally. Doing this helps builds trust. When students know you won’t give up on them, they feel more supported and are more willing to take risks in their learning.
For colleagues, it encourages teamwork and urgency. Just like firefighters rely on each other, teachers should step in to support one another, share ideas, and respond when someone is overwhelmed or stressed. It creates a stronger and more connected school environment.
The one that resonates the most with me currently is the team work and camaraderie. Not being actively involved in the classroom currently, but work in a professional setting and part of a team. Together we all have goals that we have to accomplish individually that attribute to the larger goals of the entire team. If only one person was working towards the team goals, it wouldn't be possible. For me, this lends to in and out of the classroom. We have to work together for the common good in order to make things go smoothly and for things to be accomplished. When people can see that they are contributing to the greater good and those goals are met, they are more likely to continue to work harder to the next set of goals and tasks that need to be completed. It also shows that everyone has things they are good at and we can play to each other's strengths.
ReplyDeleteI feel like a big aspect of my teaching and relationships with students would fall into the "Accountability and Attention to Detail" lesson. As a teacher, I try to get all of my students to understand that actions have consequences (or rewards) and I try to hold my students accountable for what they are doing. If they go above and beyond, I try to recognize or incentivize them to continue those behaviors. When students do things wrong, I make sure to address it, while also trying to coach them through what happened or what could be better the next time.
ReplyDeleteI think all of this is much smoother because of attention to details- knowing my students, being able to tell when they are having an off day, being proactive in addressing certain things before they actually happen. When my students know what they can expect from me and what the outcomes often will be (and knowing that I will actually follow through on my word), it leads to an environment of growth and accountability.
As a coach, I also believe that these two things play a huge role in my student-athletes. Working in a middle school, I have built relationships with the grade level of my players, creating an open door for anytime my players are acting up or getting in trouble (in or out of season) I can be another adult who can hold them accountable. Any time I walk into the ISS room at school to bring one of my 6th graders their work for the day, if there is an 8th grader who has had me, they know that they can expect to be pulled out to have a hard conversation about what happened and how to move forward.
In the chapter Lesson from the Fire Truck, an idea I found especially important is the need to be prepared. It’s interesting how we constantly plan and prepare, thinking through all the different scenarios that might occur during a lesson or throughout the day—we even make plans for our plans. However, when it comes time to actually teach the lesson or carry out a “fun activity,” things don’t always go as expected. That’s when the “one more round” mindset becomes essential. When things don’t go as planned, I make an effort to adapt, make the best of the situation, and treat it as an opportunity for learning and growth. I believe it’s important to stay positive and remain committed. I have done the training and understand what is expected of me, but now I need to ensure that I am fully prepared to teach my students using the right tools and effective strategies, so they can be set on the path to success.
ReplyDeleteOne of the lessons from the firetruck i can apply is teamwork. Education is not an individual sport--it relies on a team. everyone has to be invested. From the school to the family and community, we need to work together. We all need to come together to support our greatest assets which are the students. As an educator, I need to be on the same team as my administrators as well as other teachers and the parents and families. We need to be working together. I want to come alongside the parents of my students to let them know we are on a team to help their student. I want to work with them to help their student. It's not a me versus them mentality.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that a school runs much better when the leaders come to the same table as everyone else, and they view themselves as equals, not as superior just because of their title. When we all come together to help each other get better, than everybody wins.
I feel that our administration at our building is very much team oriented. I know that I can go to any of them with a concern and they don't push it off or just listen. They are on your team there to help you solve the problem and get through the issues. I feel that this is what makes our school feel more like a team.
DeleteI think one of the biggest lessons to take from the firehouse is the teamwork and camaraderie. As teachers, so much of our success and support is from our colleagues, our "team." We are all in this job because we care for our students and we are in it together. Often times, if I am having a struggle with a student either behaviorally or academically, I go to some of my colleagues and have the discussion as to what is working/not working for them.
ReplyDeleteAs educators, we are some of the best readers of our students and their needs. In respecting one another and one another's ideas, we are able to provide insight on what works for our students. Respecting colleagues- knowing no one is more important than the rest- we are able to work as a team. We are one another's "ride or die."
A lesson from the Fire Truck that I apply to education is teamwork. Teamwork is important to me because you can rely on others to help in time of need or when your "teammate" is in need they can rely on you! I have been a part of sports though high school and college and the bonds that I have with my former teammates are still some of my most trusted relationships today. I feel like teamwork is so very important for students as well because kids can learn from their peers and also when they are able to teach their peers, they soak up the knowledge that much more as well. The students will also form a mutual bond and respect for one another and school becomes more about the people and less about the school part of it! Same goes for colleagues and coworkers. This life is hard enough, so If I can lighten a coworker's load by teamwork, I am all in. I enjoy bouncing ideas off of others and working together to make things better and also, if I can aid in something that I am strong in and in return receive the same, it is a win. Plus, the connections and relationships that will form can make the work environment a place that will become more like home and a place you truly enjoy being!
ReplyDeleteThe lesson about teamwork. I think this is important because it fosters an us addressing matters. This leads to educators feeling supported, is good modeling for the students, and gives cohesiveness in attaining positive actions. Teachers can enrich the school experience so much more when there is a team effort being employed. Student learning, peer-teaching, discussion, etc. will be richer, more effective learning opportunities, Lessons in team-work, developing relationships, listening and constructive conversations are things that students are skills that will be used and improved upon throughout a life and, learning these things well, people will find their lives that much richer.
ReplyDeleteI think all the lessons from the firehouse are great to bring to a classroom or school, but PRIDE is one that kiddos need to learn. They need to learn to be proud of themselves and their passions. I am not a coach or a leader of extracurriculars in the school, but I am proud of what I do for my school being a teacher and hosting homework club after school. I use my life or high school stories to show that we need all kinds or passions in our school. Follow you passions such as sports, books, art, drama, music, crafts, gardening, cars, or whatever you love and be proud to be yourself and the skills you learn following your passion. Share your passion and skills with others.
ReplyDeleteAny leader worth following is a leader who leads by example and is willing to do the work. I try to lead our students/staff by showing up and getting my hands dirty right along with everyone else. By doing this, it can lead to a sense of Teamwork and Camaraderie. These lessons work full circle and build off of each other. We have a slogan that "We Can Do Hard Things". Sometimes we have to tackle the hard things as individuals and other times it requires teamwork to take care of tough situations.
ReplyDeleteIn the fire service, no one enters a burning building alone; success depends on trust, teamwork, and having each other's backs. Education operates the exact same way. We cannot expect to change a school culture or handle daily classroom emergencies if we are working in isolation. Cultivating a deep sense of camaraderie among the staff is essential to keeping our school moving forward.
ReplyDeleteFor colleagues, true teamwork means leaving egos at the door, sharing best practices, and bouncing ideas off one another. It creates a supportive network where we can lift up a teammate having a tough day and share the heavy lifting. If we do not have each other's backs as educators, we cannot effectively support our students.
Modeling this camaraderie sets a powerful example for our students. When they see adults collaborating seamlessly, they learn what a genuine community looks like. This allows us to foster a classroom environment where kids look out for one another, work through hard tasks together, and view school as a collective journey rather than an individual competition. By tackling our goals as a cohesive unit, we show our students that we can handle any challenge together.
One lesson from the fire service that apply to education is ‘pride.’ Pride plays an important role in teaching because it helps teachers feel connected to their work, their students, and their school. When teachers take pride in what they do, they are more likely to create a positive learning environment, work hard to help students succeed, and represent their school in a positive way. School pride can help build a strong sense of community where everyone feels valued and supported.
ReplyDeleteThe one lesson that stands out to me is Leadership. I am not just an Art teacher. I help lead the school just like everyone else. We are an essential part of a running school and have to make decisions sometimes on our own and we need to make sure we are making the best decisions and being a leader for our students and staff. We can't always count on others or expect our principal to do it all. I feel once you have good leadership roles all the other lessons come into play and go smoothly. Even when things happen or are going to happen, we may not always like it. But showing good leadership by planning, sharing ideas on how this "new" thing could look or work. Helps others adjust to it or gets the ball rolling instead of complaining about it and not willing to take part. In our school we have a leadership committee.
ReplyDeleteA lesson that stood out to me is when Hamish talks about being on fire. We need to be aggressive for our students and the community. We have to be ready to lead. Just like a fireman an educator needs to be prepared. Whether that is understanding the curriculum or simply having a relationship with each and every student that walks in the building. As a teacher who only gets to see a student for fifteen to twenty minutes a day, my time with them is crucial. So being prepared and getting to know my students at such a deep level is so important.
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