Amongst the more uncomfortable feelings I had as a teacher or school leader as I hurtled toward the end of the year was that there’s still so much to do.
I often experienced a weird paradox around both counting down the days to a break, yet also feeling that there weren’t enough of them left.
As a teacher, I almost had guilt that I hadn’t yet progressed my students past pre-determined learning thresholds; hadn’t assessed them thoroughly enough; hadn’t covered enough of the curriculum or hadn’t instilled enough social skills to prepare my students for the next phase of their schooling/life.
As a leader, I was even worse. I was utterly panicked that I hadn’t progressed teacher capacity effectively, that staff wellbeing seemed low, that student behaviour was being moaned about continually and that the reporting regime needed an overhaul.
Of course, the list of problems was infinite. I came to picture each problem as an apple on a tree. Each was precious and important, each worthy of my climbing the ladder to polish it. Both the reality and the mental picture was a recipe for exhaustion.
As you head to the end-of-year break and the question of how to solve even more problems next year, I’d suggest you stop climbing your apple tree. Instead, put the ladder away and consider that the best way to grow healthy apples is to plant the tree in healthy soil.
That soil is your school culture. Your most important job is to lead the culture of your classroom, or your school.
At Real Schools, we happen to believe the best kind of school culture is a restorative one.
But regardless, my wish for you is not better problem solving and the accompanying weariness of endless apple polishing. It’s a narrower focus and a trust in your skill to build a culture that produces healthier apples.
Just know this … that ain’t happening unless you design for it.
Keep fighting that good fight,
P.S. Are you struggling with challenging student behaviour, and hugely diverse student needs?
Want to feel less stressed at work and create more harmony in your classroom, but nothing you try seems to make a real impact?
There is a better way.
The new Real Schools Student Behaviour PhD is a practical, online course that will give you a clear roadmap to improve behaviour in your classroom through a restorative approach.
Your students will be more engaged.
You might even learn to love teaching again.
Enrolments are now open and I’d love to see you there.
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