This afternoon didn’t go well. Here’s a list of reasons why:
- I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been.
- I had a headache that started in the morning and never went away.
- I was teaching something the kids weren’t ready to learn, at least not all of them and definitely not the way I was doing it.
- I struggled to accept the examples they were sharing after the mini lesson.
So, I took a deep breath. I reminded myself that this is what they know and what they can do at this point in time. My work is cut out for me. I have a direction I need to go in.
I will take small groups and address specific needs. I will give kids lots of partner practice before I ask them to write down anything. I will slow down.
I overreached and I need to take a step back.
And, that’s what I love about teaching: as teachers, we get do overs every single day. And, so do the kids.
Cross posted to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Tuesday.
Elisa Waingort 
Yes! Do overs! These are very important to me…. both to get, and to make sure kids get. 🙂 Blank slate!
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Yes. A blank slate. Second chances. That’s what we want for ourselves and our students.
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I appreciate your vulnerability! So often, we tend to blog about what goes well, and hide those moments of struggle… but that’s where the best learning so often happens, for us and the kids! From your reflection, I can tell you will reach your learners tomorrow, and model how to respond to challenges while you do it!
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Thanks, Jennifer. It’s never about “I got it”, but about constantly “getting it”. Always a lot of learning to do.
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