After 8 years in administration, this year I returned to teaching for a significant portion of the week.  What I learned from my return to the classroom is significant and my belief is unwavering that “teachers are my heroes.”

My reflections include:

• We need to help children grow in their ability to focus and sustain tasks.  I’m not talking about ADHD or whether or not students like or dislike a topic of study.  What I notice generally, is the big difference between what we’re seeing in the classroom now compared to a decade ago in children’s ability to sustain attention.  It was palpable to me in the past year.  I’ve written some about grit and determination in my post “The Best Kind of Helping.”  Of course, even for adults, setting long term goals, working toward them bit-by-bit, being determined in a process, and having the tenacity to do our best work are important endeavours.  

Today children are growing up in a culture that is highly stimulating and the sensory inputs make developing these qualities challenging.  As nurturing caregivers and educators, we need to build into our lifestyle and program plenty of opportunities to learn about process and hold expectations high as we go.  In my context, the children learned so much from the process of developing our Spring Concert theme “Bursting Forth with Joy” and creatively expressing themselves through the performing arts.

The importance of the experiences of a child from ages 0-5 are crucial in terms of teaching focused attention.  Learning through play, consistent boundaries and routines, and sensory experiences that encourage creative thinking are essential and must be undergirded by a loving relationship with a parent or adult.  Home and school work together intimately during these years and we need high calibre educators who will collaborate effectively with parents.

• When parents join us at the Table of Learning our work shifts dramatically.  We can only do this type of teaching with the support of the parent.  I’m encouraged when I see a mom and her son set a goal to swim across the lake and work to achieve it together.  It helps us when children are in competitive sports, such as skating, and are challenged to work hard and pursue excellence.  I can see it in students and their learning when parents spend lots of time with their children, not indulging them, but enriching their lives at the library or on a hike.  Parents can hold the expectation of sustained attention and the ability to focus on a task.

• I’m still inquiring about how to assess, evaluate, and illustrate all of the learning that happens in process.  Assessment continues to be a challenging part of the work of a teacher.  Certainly, in my work this year, the times when we were learning lots about developing complex performing arts celebrations, were the times most difficult for me to document what was happening.  I know from the reflections of the students that powerful learning was occurring, but I still wish for a more accurate and in-real-time record.  I am encouraged by the technology like FreshGrade that is working on this issue of observable and formative assessment.

• Teaching is powerful and sacred work that requires human beings who are healthy and understand self-care.  Teachers must cultivate rest, joy, stillness, and play in their lives.  Children’s needs are endless.  Offering excellence to our students requires caring for ourselves in meaningful ways.  I am passionate about the work of teachers, they are my heroes, and I pray for their sustainability and vibrancy.

• Teaching is in my comfort zone.  I love to teach!  I am delighted to connect with children and build relationship with them.  They are full of challenge, growth, humour, and life.  It is a joy to connect with their journeys.  I know I can always be comfortable in the classroom.  It is my life’s work.

As this school year draws to a close, I celebrate teachers!  The only way we can #LearnForward is with healthy, energized, and vibrant educators who lead our children into the future!  

How has a heroic teacher impacted your life?  How can we continue to cultivate grit, tenacity, and perseverance in our children?  In what specific journeys have you seen your child demonstrate these character traits and how can we apply this to other learning experiences?

I hope you will continue to join me over the next few weeks as I blog from Africa and throughout the summer for “Coffee with Karine.”