If you could improve ONE thing about your teaching from this past year…
…what would it be?
If you’re teaching an August-to-June schedule like we do here in the USA, then you’ve only got a few weeks left. It’s tempting for all of us to run out the clock at this point. I’ll start thinking about next year; this one’s in the books.
But the best way to help yourself next year AND for these remaining weeks is to treat these remaining weeks like your on-ramp to a better next year.
What I mean is, with only a few weeks left, the time is ripe for experiments in personal professional development. If the experiments go badly — who cares? The year is almost over. You’ll survive, and your students will too.
But of course, we want to experiment wisely. These are human lives on our rosters. These final weeks of instruction matter.
So, as you look back on your professional practice this school year, answer this question: If you could improve ONE THING about your teaching from this past year, what would that thing be?
In Strategy #2 of The Will to Learn, I argue that there are eight areas of teacher competency that have the biggest impact on teacher Credibility and, therefore, student motivation.
Which one would you most like to have improved for next year?
Don’t be afraid to go with your gut here. Don’t be afraid to be selfish.
Now, what small things could you try — what experiments could you run — to improve yourself in this area during these final weeks of school?
Make a plan for doing some of those things.
Break them down into simple steps.
Write on an index card what you are trying to improve. Share it with a colleague.
When the school year is over in a few weeks, every one of your colleagues is going to breathe a sigh of relief. It feels good to finish a race.
But you? You’ll finish feeling even better because you’ll have learned and improved in a key area during what for many teachers are stagnant weeks of the year.
Best,
DSJR
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