Math Problems vs Life Problems

One week away from Spring Break, and I don't know who is more excited...the students or the staff!  Both are climbing up the walls, ready for some nicer weather and a break away from work.

But as I think about the upcoming break, (and I do feel that staff probably need it more then students maybe it's the "winter blues" but there is definitely a negative vibe in the air as we are heading into Spring Break) I can't help but wonder, if we approached our Life Problems more like Math Problems we would have a better attitude towards school and would we not want to take a Spring Break.  Like Math, if we can teach kids not to always focus so much on the problem and freak out about how complicated it LOOKS, but rather focus their attention on how to reach the solution.  When teachers do this students discover that they are capable and maybe even enjoy math.  It's that fear, which leads to a negative attitude towards math.  But if a math teacher can connect and show a student that math problems aren't the end of the world, and if broken down into simpler steps can be accomplish, that negative attitude can be converted.
So let's start teaching all teachers how to do Algebra....or using Instructional Coaches to show teachers that students aren't getting worst, education isn't falling apart.  Things may look scary and complicated, but working with an instructional coach, can show you how to break that complicated problem into simpler steps in order to gain the most out of your students and also grow and learn as a teacher and individual.  Let's start converting those NEGATIVES into POSITIVES! Turning those scary, complicated Math Problems into Great Accomplishments!