Sweet 16 Back to School

This is it!  My Sweet 16th year of teaching and I'm finally feeling like I've got this teaching thing down.  For the first time, I'm not only excited to begin a new school year, but I feel like I might know what I'm doing.  I know my classroom will look completely different in the next few years and I'll probably be writing this post again, but for now, I'm happy.  After 16 years, here are some observations I've made about teaching:

• Teaching changes ALL. THE. TIME.  It doesn't mean what we did in the past was bad or that it didn't work.  It means, the students we are teaching today are not the students we taught last year.  What works now for this particular group might work next year and even the year after that, but eventually you will need to change your practice again.  What you are reading and super excited about is so good for now, but a few years down the road, we will look back and think "wow!  I can't believe I did that in my class", and that's OK.  Actually, that's how it should be.  Teaching is about progress, not perfection.
• If you want to create life-long learners, you need to be a life-long learner.  You can't expect students to know what it means to love learning if they don't have an example everyday.  Read when they read, write when they write, reflect when they reflect, make when they make and share what you've done.  What you do when the students are in your room matters.
• I don't know everything and I NEED my people.  Find your tribe, help them and allow them to help you.  
• Admit that you don't know.  It's one thing to know it, but to admit when you need help or when you can't do it all is so important.
• If teaching isn't your Ikigai, find a way to make it your reason for being or get out.  I'm sorry, that sounds mean, but please don't mess with my profession if you don't love it.  It's not good for you or your students.  Also, let me be clear, this does NOT mean you can't love other things.  Your family should come first, they should.  However, when you are at school, be present for your students.  If you don't love what you do, your students will know and you will begin to resent your career.

So there it is, my two cents.  Take it for what it's worth or take only the parts you like.  Teaching is my Ikigai.  It makes me so happy everyday.  I want that for you, whatever it is that gets you up in the morning, makes you happy, and keeps you up at night because you can't stop thinking of all the possibilities tomorrow brings.  Find whatever it is that makes you want to learn more and strive for perfection, if only temporary.  (Actually, temporary perfection is better, that means you get to have repeated experiences that will give you a high that only progress and accomplishment from doing what you love can.)  Find something you can contribute your talents to and make the world a better place.  I truly hope that, for you, it's teaching.  If so, thank you!  The worlds needs more of you!