Have you ever made a mistake while teaching?
In a subject that you were feeling on shaky ground to begin with?
Or in a subject where you were trying out some new instructional routines?
Well, yeah. That was me today.
Twice!
While parents and guardians were more likely than not listening in while out of sight.
Aargh!
Then, I read a post by someone on FaceBook asking for advice on how to recover from a botched up lesson online while other adults were watching from home.
And, it made me realize how worried we are about making mistakes.
Even more worried now that many of us are teaching online with not an audience of one, but of two, three or more.
(The other day I found out one of my parents laughs at all my jokes. I didn’t even know he was listening! LOL!)
I thought about all of this during my lunch hour.
By the time I finished eating and went to sit in front of my computer screen again, I had made a decision.
I took a deep breath and started the Google Meet.
I started the lesson and pretty soon I was joking about how we all make mistakes, even me!
And, not just one but many mistakes. Sometimes several in one day!
And, how that was OK.
Really.
As I was poking fun at myself, I saw the kids smiling. Some were even giggling. Me, too.
By the end of that class, I was relaxed. All of the tension of the previous two hours had washed away.
It was just another day at school.
Cross posted to The Two Writing Teachers March of Life Slice Story Challenge.
Elisa Waingort 
Teaching with a “different” audience included- meaning parents and whomever- was so hard for me to get used to this year! My mistakes bothered me too. I always pictured the parents texting each other.. “did you hear what she said?” Although I know it totally wasn’t happening. I’m glad you were able to get past your mistakes and laugh about them and turn them into a good teaching moment!!
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I love, love, love this post! Thank you for this reminder!
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Much to love here: a parent laughing at your jokes, the kids reveling in your confession, acknowledging we all make mistakes. Have you read “Risk, Fail, Rise: A Teacher’s Guide to Learning from Mistakes”? by M. Colleen Cruz? It’s excellent.
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I needed to hear this today. Mistakes are how we learn, and they make us human. We need to laugh at ourselves more often. Thank you for haring.
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I love how honest you were with your students, I’m certain they value that! My favorite is a parent who always laughs at your jokes – priceless!
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You are wise and wonderful, Elisa! Here’s to growth mindset!
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When I read your first sentence: Have you ever made a mistake while teaching? All I could think was, “Only a million times!” I’m glad you were able to turn it in to a lesson–I bet a few parents needed to learn that lesson, too!
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