From Consumption to Creation
Today we complete week two of the 2016-17 school year! I was asked to share advice for a new teacher last night. The excitement and adrenaline of starting a new career is quickly dwindling. With the exception of maybe one, all of the teachers in our blended implementation are not first year teachers. In fact, may of them would be considered seasoned veterans. These teachers have been seen as masters of their trade. They've earned that title and respect! However, right now, some of them are feeling the anxiety of a new new teacher because they have accepted the challenge of changing the way instruction looks in the classroom and focusing on student-center, personalized, blended learning. This transformation will not happen overnight, or in just a few weeks. It will take months of practice, trying new strategies, failing, and trying something new.
My advice for any new teachers, and blended teachers is this:
- Take care of yourself! Develop a consistent routine of eating, sleeping, and exercising.
- Remember why you chose to be a teacher - kids need adults who are passionate about them - socially, emotionally, and academically.
- Take one day at a time and celebrate successes along the way.
- Share the responsibility of designing learning experiences with your team. No one should work in isolation.
- And finally, shift your mindset to begin thinking of learning as creation, not consumption. Provide opportunities for students to discover and learn. Shift the responsibility of learning from the teacher to the student. Ultimately, the students should be working harder that the teacher.
