Ever feel like this? Building an airplane in flight is a powerful analogy. While it makes sense to actually finish building the plane before you attempt to fly it, the reality of school life is you don't ever get enough downtime to complete the plane before it's time to take off. How does this apply to us? While it's tempting to focus on the frustration, anxiety, and tension of so much work and so much change - how do we turn this adversity into opportunity? How are you managing to stay focused on the important things and continue moving forward?
8 comments:
Sometimes I feel just like that guy...not enough time to teach everything I want my children to know before the statewide testing dates. You think you have all the time but before you know it - time is up and you have so many things you have just barely covered and you are hoping for the best. We can't let this stress up out though because the big picture is the kiddos. It's all about them and we have to keep in our mind that they are little sponges absorbing more information than what we realize.
I loved the video! It is an excellent analogy of what we do every day. My goal every day is to stay positive and focus on our students. The last line of the video really said it all "When I look over there and I see that little kid, that look in his eye...". If we are truly focused on what our students need we can make it through all the other "stuff". It also helps to have great leadership, like we do at Walker Creek. Thanks Scott and Marsha for your help in sifting through all bureacracy from the ad building and helping us stay focused on the kids.
Like Jo, I feel like the last line is what teaching is all about. I feel like forethought is a perfect example of building a plane while we are flying and I appreciate that Scott keeps reminding us that the most important things are building relationships with our students and teaching the standards. His reminders keep me from getting bogged down in the the "stuff" that the district is asking us to do.
Funny video, I like how the passengers, crew, and builders are all in it together kind of like us. The kids, parents, teachers, and all the staff. We need to be like the builders, they did not seem stressed just loved what they were doing. If we continue to do our best and love what we are doing we will not let the passengers down, so to speak.
Realizing that our students are the focus of our change makes it more bearable- with collaboration, flexibility, a sense of humor, and Janna's repeated tutorial sessions on Forethought (thanks Janna!!) we will all be better, more efficient managers of the curriculum. It's not going to be easy and it's not going to happen today but it will happen so I guess the best thing to do is realize change is growth and growth is good (unless you are dieting :)
I think what keeps me focused is seeing success in my scholars. When the lightbulb brightens, it makes everything worth it for that scholar, the parents, and the teacher. We do what we do because we love working with kids and teaching, so we constantly reassess and make adjustments as we go through each day. Changes are necessary to accomplish our goals, and we must stay positive and focused on our top priorities, OUR SCHOLARS. I loved the video. Very thought provoking.
Of course there is always change in Public Education. This year might feel more overwhelming than others but rest assured Scott and I will be learning it all right beside you. Your attitude and positive outlook speaks volumes. You are here for kids and we can handle whatever comes our way and we will get there......together.
Your choices and your attitude is what will make this year great!
Having new "learning" every fall is not just for the students--it is what we, as BISD educators face as well. In education, often we fall victim to trying to keep up with the "latest and greatest next best thing..." only to lose our true work in the process, and become confused with trying to keep up with that latest and greatest. I can't help but wonder if this feeling of not knowing what is coming around the next corner is what the scholars experience each new year, with new teachers and new expectations. We all know it's "good for us," but concentrating on that is sometimes difficult. For me, I just have to keep on every day, looking at those faces in my classroom, and deciding what is best for them.
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