Recently, I took a trip to Edmonton, Alberta. It was March, so the snow was still on the ground with no sign of spring. The air was brisk and a few layers of clothing were required for this Californian to stay warm!
Yet, despite the cold, the sky was a beautiful blue each day and the city was active. There were cross country skiers sliding along the river's edge, people walking in their neighborhoods and along the river bank, and others enjoying the view from the hilltop, being passed by those putting additional miles on the soles of their shoes.
Meanwhile, in California, I heard the skies had clouded over and the drizzle continued. This year has been very wet for those of us used to almost 365 days of sun a year! Really, life looked very different in these two places at that moment, with Californians huddled together indoors while Albertans enjoyed the sun.
Weather changes how people move about their days,
how they spend their time,
how they interact with others,
how they care for themselves.
Teaching is this way. Each classroom has a "climate" and students will either thrive or withdraw depending on the "weather" they experience.
When I was first in the classroom, I knew I influenced how students engaged and learned, but over time I began to realize that every interaction, every smile, every personal connection with students, every act of mercy and understanding, every clear direction, every apology for lack of clarity, every well orchestrated lesson, every chance given to students to learn from failure (redo, retake, relearn); each of these created the climate of my classroom.
Most important, I learned that every day had to be a new day, for me and for them.
I had to find a way to start fresh AND I had to give every single student a fresh start as well!
Every. Single. Day.
Even when it was difficult.
Like when that one student had gotten on my last nerve for weeks in a row.
Like when I had been less than my best the day before and would rather put on some armor than apologize for my mistake.
Like when I was tired, life at home was tough, bad news had come or any of the other things life throws at us had arrived on my doorstep
The fact was, I had to start fresh, because life happened to my students as well! They also had:
a tough morning
a shameful or embarrassing day
a loss of friend or family
a fitful night, a difficult family life, etc.
I had to start fresh each day for each student for these reasons.
Especially when it was difficult.
The best quote I've come across to express this is from Haim Ginott:
"I have come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
This week, I hope you find a way to give yourself the grace you need, the rest you need and the encouragement you need so that you can start fresh each day, and offer the type of climate in your classroom that encourages students to grow, experience, learn and feel valued each and every day.
Blue skies or clouds. You choose.
Kim
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