In the past, this time of year you would have found me wrapping up my list of end-of-school-must-remembers and building my list of to-dos for my days without schedules. This year I am reticent to make a list at all. I acknowledge my own need to embrace the slowness. I am in deep gratitude to Drew Frank @ugafank for sharing this one.
On a daily basis I struggle with the need to utilize every possible moment in my classroom, with students and without, while knowing that maintaining the rapid pace of work may be counter-productive. Today's educators are, more than ever, faced with never-ending decisions about what to include in curriculum delivery and what to omit. There simply is not enough time to teach every possible concept. As I prepare my students for what is to come, what concepts can wait? Which concepts will generate the most valuable "deep dive"? (A deep dive is my term for engaging in all levels with a concept, not simply teaching what it means, an example, and how to use it.) How much will students discover on their own in project based learning? Is it acceptable for one student to discover the relationship between the etymology, history, and culture of a word, while another is struggling with the mere meaning and part of speech? I know experienced educators will say that this is the benefit of differentiated learning. But the truth is that the teacher feels responsible to guide both of those children in a span of 45-60 minutes. Thus the quick "touches." The daily decision-making about what is critical is what I need a break from. I have a small inkling of triage. None of my decisions is life-impacting. However, I treat each situation with conviction. I need a break from the constant need to be "on."
ELA teachers, in particular, spend more hours than others working beyond school hours, with the exception of athletic coaches and yearbook advisors. I speak from experience on that. Providing effective feedback for writing takes time. I won't short change my students by cutting back on the amount of time I spend reading and editing their work. So, my decision making spills over to my home life. I think humans must reach a saturation point at which making too many decisions creates the inability to make a decision at all. That's when it is time to step back and renew.
A student recently gave me a bonsai kit as a gift. How timely is this message she sent me. Bonsais require slowness and patience. So do I. I mis-read the instructions and soaked the seeds too long, so I am hopeful the little tree waiting to emerge will still be able to do so. The message of this gift is not lost on me. My to-do list will be much shorter this year. 1. Rest 2. Observe 3. Repeat. 4. Renew.
ELA teachers, in particular, spend more hours than others working beyond school hours, with the exception of athletic coaches and yearbook advisors. I speak from experience on that. Providing effective feedback for writing takes time. I won't short change my students by cutting back on the amount of time I spend reading and editing their work. So, my decision making spills over to my home life. I think humans must reach a saturation point at which making too many decisions creates the inability to make a decision at all. That's when it is time to step back and renew.
A student recently gave me a bonsai kit as a gift. How timely is this message she sent me. Bonsais require slowness and patience. So do I. I mis-read the instructions and soaked the seeds too long, so I am hopeful the little tree waiting to emerge will still be able to do so. The message of this gift is not lost on me. My to-do list will be much shorter this year. 1. Rest 2. Observe 3. Repeat. 4. Renew.