Saturday, November 19, 2016
One Last KISS
As I sit down to write this last blog post, my mind is filled with a million tasks on my "to do" list and quite frankly I am almost at the panic stage. Thanksgiving meal preparations, packing for a trip to NYC, housecleaning, interim grades, course assignments, and lesson planning are weighing heavily on my mind. Where will I find the time and energy to get everything done? And then I remember to KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid is what I have garnered from Routman's closing chapters of Reading Essentials. She states, "the elusive balanced life remains a mirage. Your time is valuable. Spend it in the most meaningful way possible." Amen!
How many days have I spent staying after school hours to grade papers, create the perfect project, or attend meaningless meetings? How many times have I had to decline invitations from friends and family because I had work to do? I wholeheartedly agree with Routman's comment, "We are not only role models for learning; we are role models for living." My students are quick to know when I am stressed, overburdened and moody. They pick up on my impatience and frustration. They can certainly tell when my energy is zapped and I am operating on auto-pilot. "Kids can't be joyful if we're not," puts it all in a nutshell. Do I choose to enrich their lives (and my own) with a love of learning over a mastery of the standards? What am I doing each day to foster joyfulness in my students as well myself?
The book ended with a trite but true piece of advice that we can all take to heart...."Enjoy your students, enjoy your teaching and enjoy your life." Just don't forget to KISS!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
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I think sometimes we overthink and overdo...when really, if we did just KISS, we would probably see more success!
ReplyDeleteHi Patrice,
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Patrice, your words in your opening introduction are just what my heart needed to hear this morning. I appreciate you reminding all of us to spend our time in the most meaningful ways not just in our classrooms with our reading instruction but also in our lives. This is important and one of the most powerful ways we can improve the quality of our reading instruction and the quality of our lives. Taking time to reflect on the question - what matters most and how we are spending our time is important and it is a question that leads to growth. Thank you for a poignant and powerful reflection. Kid's can't be joyful if we aren't and we are role models for living!
Sincerely,
Dawn