This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Welcome back everyone. Today's episode is called Saturday Stories Leadership Kit: Be Present and Focus — Sophia Looks Up. Before we jump into today's episode, I want to ground myself in gratitude. First, I'm thankful for moments when students realize they miss something and choose to reengage. Second, I'm thankful for quiet reminders that bring us back to the moment without embarrassment. And the third thing that I'm thankful for is the power of eye contact. Because sometimes looking up really can change everything. Now it's Saturday, which means it's time for another Saturday story from the Leadership Kit. These stories are meant to help students practice leadership through real moments. Not lectures, not behavior charts, just shared language and conversation. Each story stands on its own. Put together, they help build habits over time. Let's get into this week's focus. This episode is part of the Leadership Kit. The value we're focusing on this week is listening to others. The skill students are practicing is be present and focus. And the story you're about to hear is called Sophia Looks Up. The characters in this story are Sophia, Aaliyah, and Jaden. Now, I'm going to read the story all the way through with no interruptions. I just want you to listen. Then we'll talk about it. All right, let's get started with the story. Sophia Looks Up. Sophia was listening. At least she thought she was. Her pencil moved back and forth across the edge of her notebook. The page in front of her was blank, but her mind was busy replaying what she was going to say when it was her turn. Jaden was talking. Sophia nodded. She caught a few words — enough to seem like she was paying attention. Aaliyah glanced over. Sophia? Jaden said, pausing. What do you think? Sophia froze. What? she asked. Jaden looked surprised. I was explaining my idea. Sophia felt her cheeks warm. Sorry. I was thinking. Aaliyah leaned in. About what? Sophia looked down at her notebook, then back up at Jaden. I wasn't really here, she admitted. She set her pencil down. Jaden started again. This time, Sophia watched his face. She noticed when he paused. She noticed when he smiled a little at his own idea. When he finished, Sophia nodded. I get it now. Jaden smiled back. Thanks for listening. Later, as they packed up, Aaliyah whispered, That was different. Sophia smiled. I forgot how much you miss when you're not present. She looked up again and stayed there. So the skill focus here is be present and focus. Being present means giving your full attention to what is happening right now. Sometimes we're quiet, but our minds are somewhere else. Good listeners notice when they drift and choose to come back. This story works best when the questions are spread out over time, just like all of these stories. I usually start with a reflection question when sharing a story like this. I might say something like, Have you ever been quiet but not really present? Then I might use noticing questions like, What showed that Sophia wasn't fully present? Or what changed when she put her pencil down? I might also ask, How did Jaden respond when Sophia focused again? Later in the week, I might ask an application question like, What helps you stay focused when someone is talking? Or what pulls your attention away? Or I might ask, How do you bring yourself back when you notice you're drifting? So how do you use this story with students this week? It's never about calling students out. It's about helping students notice. As the week goes on, name the skill in small moments. You might say, That was a be present moment. Or, I noticed you came back to me. Thanks for focusing. This is about presence over perfection. If you want the printable version of this story with teacher questions and a student handout, you can find it at BeAFunkyTeacher.com. It's free for classroom use. As you head into the week, here's the leadership focus. Being present doesn't mean being perfect. It means noticing when you drift and choosing to return. This week, help students practice that return. Because leadership is about noticing. And learning to be present isn't just a school skill. It is a leadership habit that lasts. I encourage you to head on over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcast and leave a five star review and let me know what you think. It helps more teachers find this space. And I want you to remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don't forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.