It’s 1st period and next week is the last week of school! I am chatting with my students about learning. This time of year I do a lot of thinking about what worked and what didn’t. I also start thinking about what I will do next year. I am talking to my students about work…how much work they think they need to feel like true learning is happening. The conversation develops and moves and shifts. It is a good conversation. They talk about teachers. What teachers need to do differently, that their learning depends on the teacher. Two things emerge that really strike me.
1- teachers need to be excited about what they are teaching, their passion needs to show- it’s infectious.
2- and this is the best thing I have heard all year- Teachers need to grow with us.
I absolutely LOVE this statement.
Teachers need to grow with us.
What does it mean? What made this kid say this?
It means, that we do not always have all the answers…and that’s ok. Discover them with your class.
It means that we are in this together. Learning is collaborative.
It means that if I expect them to try new things, then I should be trying new things too.
It means that if I expect them to take a risk, I have to be willing to take a risk too.
It means all the new shit I want to try this year might suck and we are all going to suck it up together.
It means we are in this together.
And I like it.
Teaching can be a lonely job. Even though I work with kids all day, it can be lonely. I love that this kid told me we need to be together in it. It is the perfect thought to end my year on…something to deliberate over the summer and put into practice next year.
This is why I keep doing what I do…cause there is ALWAYS something new to learn.
Educational Rant 
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