Shifting Our Focus from Productivity to Process
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Hey Reader! I recently came across THIS ARTICLE and there were a couple of quotes that really jumped out at me: “In our drive to constantly prepare students for what comes next, we ignore the fact that they’re children.” If I’m really honest with myself, this has been my mindset in my parenting, in my classroom, AND in my leadership roles. Admittedly, I can be hyper-focused on productivity and getting the “next thing” started because “we have a lot to accomplish” all the time! I am a “preparer” – a.k.a “helper”. I want to help people (my sons, my students, my team, even my husband and friends) be prepared for whatever I think is ahead for them. I wonder if this maybe why I sometimes stress people out? I’m so busy trying to “help” them that I’m actually overwhelming them! Another, more lengthy quote…this one really made me stop and think and I hope it does that for you as well:
We can’t make kids’ brains develop faster….Our focus on… “readiness” is training teachers, not students.
It’s training us to push performance over process with kids who are nowhere close to ready. It’s training us to force boring, “rigorous” activities on curious, active kids because “they’ll need to know how to do this next year.” It’s training us to discipline our way through too little recess, too few breaks, and a shortage of joy in the name of increased instructional time. It’s training us to battle little kids incessantly as we try to coerce them into tasks their brains aren’t ready for. Stop for a moment and think about your challenges this school year:
I don’t have all the answers to these questions, but I think it’s worth stopping for a moment and reflecting on how our classrooms are functioning. None of these children are graduating from our program with a medical degree! Hopefully, these children are beginning to learn to be kind to their classmates, to ask for help when they need it, to really enjoy exploring and discovering new things and to be able to handle frustration in a somewhat healthy way. Are you focused on those things in your classroom? If yes, then exhale and allow yourself to have more fun too! If not, maybe take a deep breath and relax. Early childhood should be FUN, not stressful – for your students AND for you!
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
