“What is the thing that is going to carry you through the day?” Gerardo Munoz finds an answer to this question for himself each day of teaching and supporting colleagues. The answer for him might range from coaching a soccer game to a simulation with students, a conversation with colleagues or students, trying a new approach or structure for teaching… he can usually think of at least one thing even on the hardest most worrisome days.
I have taken his suggestion when I am worrying over a day and I’ve taken it further because it works for any period of time as long as it is something concrete and specific–an action, an event, an experience.
On this first day of the new year, going back to work weighs on my mind so first I thought about what I could look forward to on that first day back which led to thinking about what I was excited about in the first couple weeks. Then I thought about the whole year ahead.
For the first day
Seeing colleagues and students with renewed energy, getting a fresh start and new ideas to try. The curious truth is that a very specific thing to look forward to on that first day eludes me so far. Yet, even just thinking about it leads me to look forward more than dread, going back.
For the first couple weeks
- A visit to Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmont with a coaching client: imagining being with her as she sees a school where joy is a core value, where the possibilities for students and school community as well as test scores have soared through clarity of vision and practice. I am curious to see my client’s reaction as a secondary educator to the sweetness and capacity of elementary age kids.
- The first meeting with our new cohort of student teachers: hearing why they want to go into teaching, how they see their gifts and challenges playing out in real life in the classroom, learning about what they bring of life experience and personality to the kids and community at Denver Center for International Studies@Baker.
For the year
Gathering stories from teachers and school leaders about points of success: what they do in their work that is still meaningful, still matters, still aligns with their beliefs about good education.
My wish for all of us each day and through the year is that we will see points of success in achieving our visions for students, ourselves and our world.
What do you look forward to on your first day back, your first weeks, the year? Your one good thing can inspire more ideas for each of us.