Living in the "What If..."

Some experts say teaching is the hardest job there is. To be a truly effective teacher you have to get ALL students to produce HIGH QUALITY work.

(I'm just watching Taylor work to pick up clues as to how she thinks and what she really understands.)


Unlike doctors, our "patients" usually aren't as cooperative in our attempt to "treat", or educate, them. Nor do we have the high-quality work environment and support doctors do.

(Now knowing where she is, I have a better idea how to take her to the next level of higher thinking.)


To make it worse, our effectiveness isn't measured by how well we teach them. It is assessed by how well our students do on a state test, one that is incapable of measuring real problem solving and high levels of thinking.

(It's impossible to analyze and diagnose each student one-on-one without great classroom management. For the ones not yet internally motivated, I tell them their grade depends on the person they're working with, and that I'll throw the ball at them if I catch them goofing off.)

Therefore, we are pressured to cover as many basic facts as we can with little to no understanding. It's no wonder our country is testing in the bottom half on international problem-solving tests. And we really only have to "teach" the students who will most affect the school's grade.

(Taylor is not one of these students, so technically I am wasting my time. Well, the system as it is can technically kiss my behind, because I refuse to waste this person's time, and everything she can become. That would be like a doctor or hospital refusing to treat a patient who doesn't have insurance. Whoever heard of that?)

I think we as teachers have to become tougher, stronger, and smarter than the problems facing us today. We have to live in the "What If": What if we could give them enough of our time? What if we could really teach them? What if we could really get to know each student? What if we could really make EVERY student feel and become unstoppable?

(After enough days of believing in the "what if's", the effects will show on their faces. You can see them believing in themselves more than ever before, beginning to truly dream big.

My professor jokes that so many of my students will become leaders in their field that they will take over the world. Education goes beyond books, and we also develop intra- and interpersonal intelligence; If you are bigger than another, you protect. If you are smarter, you enlighten. And if you are more powerful, you empower.)


Most importantly, we have to make the "What If?" work, even if that means developing separate lesson plans for each child. The classroom can become a place of real learning and be really fun at the same time. Every student CAN be reached and the state test can become so easy that it's an insult to their new greater intelligence.

(By having Shawn help another student, it required him to more fully understand what the tests says he "knows". I had worked with him the day before on this. )

~ Everybody grows, every day! ~
~ Together, we WILL find a way! ~