Let’s be honest. Being a teacher and school leader can be overwhelming. There is so much to do (not enough time), so much to learn (where do we even start), and it all keeps changing.
But, we want to make a difference. That’s why we got into education. We want to be innovative, creative, and make a greater impact. It’s easy to say, but if you are like me, it is even easier to fall back into a pattern of what we’ve always done, instead of answering the question: What is best for this learner in this situation?
We are also surrounded by teachers, leaders, parents, and even students who are playing the
game of school
. It’s been set up this way for years and it is hard to break decades of doing things “the way they always have been done” (even when we know it isn’t best for kids). That’s why we often get a lot of resistance when we come up with new ideas.
It’s why there isn’t always positive feedback when we try to teach differently.
And, it’s why being innovative is not easy, even if it is needed in our schools today.
I’ll also admit that I got caught up in wanting to be the innovative teacher, without realizing all the mistakes I was making in this journey. If you are doing things a bit differently with your students, or in your school, or in your role – check out the mistakes I share below.
If for only one reason: to learn from someone who spent a lot of time making mistakes in the journey to new and better learning.
PLEASE DON’T MAKE THESE MISTAKES THAT I DID TRYING TO BE
THE “INNOVATIVE TEACHER”
