Teaching with Intention

Well, well, well. The time is fast approaching. Teachers are already filling their rooms with vibrant colors and exciting corners in preparation of the upcoming year. I have the alphabet up. And some desks put together. I"m waiting on my husband and his friend to chop up some cubbies and bring them to my room so I can pain them and try to figure out where I want to put them. Other than that I haven't really been worried about what my room is going to look like as much as I am what we're going to do in it. True, I've done this thing before but I want things to be different. I want things to be intentional.

I have challenged myself this year to be a learner. I don't want to do things because it's the next thing to do. I want to know exactly why I do what I do and have that be clear to all around me. I have already purchased several books and plan to do more of that this year to add to my professional collection. I plan to document books I've completed, both personal and professional, so I can begin to see if the choices I am making are helping me become the teacher/woman I want to be. I will highlight and mark all over these books and then bring some of those nuggets to this blog so I can check in from time to time to see if I've implemented any of the ideas or suggestions that caught my attention on the first read.

From the book "Teaching with Intention" Debbie Miller challenges me to think about these things:
*How do I go about teaching kids something new?
*What principles guide me?
*How do I know if kids are getting it?
*What do I do when they don't?

The perfectionist in me is scared to try to answer these questions right now. What if I get them wrong? What if I decide to change my mind? I've never sat down to think about my feelings about these questions. All I'm feeling right now is anxiety. Miller gives me some relief. She says "Take your time. No rushing allowed!" She then goes on to suggest keeping a notebook to record observations, reflections, new thinking, learning, and questions.

I will leave those questions for another day. For now I will take the author's advice to slow down and be present. I believe this includes these weeks before the first bell rings. Anyone that know me knows that slowing down is no easy task for me. I am convinced it is the key to my success.

My pledge: I will write three times each week for the first two months of school. The writing will reflect what I have learned about my kids or myself as a teacher that day. At the end of the two months I will go back through my entries, see what I notice, and begin writing my belief statements. I will then memorize them and put them up where I can see them every day.

'Til then I will keep reading, keep learning, and keep reminding myself to Slow Down and be Present! No rushing allowed!