The Masterstroke of Meeting, Craftsmanship of Community Building, Classroom Artistry

Routine, practices, expectations, syllabus, 'setting down the rules,' 'unpacking intentions'- Whatever you call it, it is important as educators to let students know what the classroom procedures are. Are they flexible, set in stone? Is the teacher the 'sage of the stage' or are the students actors in their own play. Is the teacher the director from the front row or the back of the theater? Every educator has their comfort zone. Every teacher their personal playbook full of strategies and anecdotes they have used for years. Some are free of alteration, while others are chock full of X's and lines, reworking the steps and moves of the game. This is a new school year, new students and a chance for a new playbook. Some 'plays' are flawless, while some need reworking. Taking the time to get to know our students will determine which.

The masterstroke of meeting is upon us- we can't wait to meet them. Opportunity, possibility, virtuosity is before us. All we need to do is stop to look at their artistry, their choice of glow and hue. The craftsmanship of community building does not come from lack of structure. In fact, it requires it. But it also needs freedom and options, individuality and personality, collaboration and cooperation. Even with the strictest of rules, behavior will not be in line if students do not feel like a community. If they feel stifled and constricted, they will get bored and boredom leads to misbehavior. But, if we provide the canvas- with edges of course, they will get creative within their parameters. If we offer brushes of various sizes, paint of all pigmentation and the luminosity to display their masterpieces- they will engage and sketch a learning environment both fluid and comfortable for them. This is classroom artistry.

It begins......

The first day jitters are invigorating, albeit nerve wrecking. The anticipation of meeting students for the first time gives all educators a few sleepless nights leading up to that moment- the morning where you hear them coming down the hall for the first time. The bell rings....You feel the energy as it approaches. You look into the crowd, not knowing which of them will enter your classroom. In your dreams you have seen this situation play out in many different ways, but until you are there, standing in the hall, experiencing the juncture, it all seems so far away. We only imagine their faces. Yes, we see their last years pictures on rosters, but until we look them in the eye, see their initial facial expressions, the memory has not been forged. Our relationships have not been sparked. This synergy is the masterstroke of meeting.

They enter the classroom, some quiet, some boisterous- but all eager to meet you. You feel like you are smiling too much, you feel awkward. They don't notice though, because they feel a bit uneasy too. They are hoping you will be the cool teacher, the fun teacher, the nice teacher. These are the first impressions that will shape the classroom community. This is the palate of colors sparkling. These are the flash reactions we can't take back. We can add depth and shading, nuance and vibrancy but the first time we meet- that is the backdrop. Each stroke of the brush needs to be communal. The canvas becomes a landscape, only after each perspective has been seen. After each voice leaves its mark. We must choose to make the class portrait colorful and dynamic. Active and energetic. This can only happen if we clear the space, empty the walls and wait for the inventiveness and ingenuity to become the classroom mural.

When we walk through a museum, we may take a peek at all the paintings but we only sit down and really take in, the ones that speak to us, sing to us. Whether it is the symmetry, design or color palate if it connects with us- we will most likely buy a postcard or poster of it from the gift shop so we can remember it. As we pass the art on the walls that does not touch us visually, we tend to dismiss them without even a glance. Like a lesson, if these pieces aren't memorable they often don't wind up as merchandise. These first encounters, like a museum often contain the prosaic, teacher-centered arrangement with little room for self-expression. Those pieces of art we walk past, never giving a second glance to, are the ones we often believe lack vibrancy, relevance, meaning. If out of the corner of our eye is a shocking splash of blue, green, yellow we will take a second look. When voice meets retina we remember because it bridges the senses. The first day of class- create this bridge and students will remember.

Making sure students understand classroom expectations is necessary, because we know we have to set the frame, find a place on the wall to display our guidelines. We need to create the feel of a museum, quiet, reflective and creative. But, we also have to make sure it is active, collaborative and innovative so the artwork gets created in the first place. A museum without art is an empty room. Many teachers feel they need to 'set the tone' as controlled and disciplined. But is that how you want your canvas to take shape? The walls of your museum to be filled? Are you open to modern art, impressionism and realism? Do you expect them each in their own wing or mixed together seamlessly? Do you welcome the synergy or desire the partition? If we visit a museum, do we expect all the art to be the same?

Educators can share their thoughts on mindfulness, kindness, cooperation not in a teacher-centered approach but in a student one. If you want your landscape to come alive, sparkle with self-advocacy and individualism then make the craftsmanship of community building the first thing you do. Let students be active participants not only in the choice of paint, texture and lighting but also the style of frame- because simple or ornate, that is what will shape the class for the rest of the year. The masterstroke of meeting is the ticket, the brochure full of shiny, textual and beautiful artwork. The craftsmanship of community is the landscape, portrait or still paintings, colorful and eye catching as you make your way through the halls of the museum- let students have choice and the pieces will be magnificent. Classroom artistry does not come from a perfect lesson it comes from an environment that both enriches creativity and enhances self-expression. What does your museum have on display?

Jungle, Prairie, Mountain, Sandy Beach: A Classroom Comes Alive

Cold air whooshes like a slap in the face, it surrounds you, as you open the exterior door. It sounds like a vault as it is finally exposed to the elements. Like on TV when they open a safe that has been locked for decades. The audible snap of the seal, whispering “What’s inside?” as it slowly releases the staleness of isolation. The anticipation speaks in a dull hum, felt to the core. As you step inside, hallway becomes scenery, each step a different landscape: Jungle, prairie, mountains, sandy beach. Crisp coolness mixes with a warm breeze- expectation meets imagination. Possibility meets parameter. Individuality meets consistency. There is a stillness, waiting to become noise. A serenity in need of agitation, disturbance, action. You can feel the rumble as it nears.

Desks empty, tables organized. Board advertising procedures. Enticing curiosity. This space has become your second home. You spend more time here than you do sleeping. It is comfortable. Yet, it is missing something, an energy, a din of giggles and contentment. There is a swirl of optimism glistening in the light. Sparkles of prospect, promise and passion gently adding a layer to the classroom climate. The daily weather forecast: clear skies. The warmth ignites a potency of happiness. A little bit of moxie and pizazz in your step. You are prepared. You are at the starting line, you have stretched and prepared for this- the opening bell is just about to ring.

For the remaining moments, you hum your theme song. A soft cadence becomes a boisterous rendition. The room absorbs your stamina and fortitude. It becomes an animated space: dynamic, spirited and above all else, activated. It becomes more than a classroom, it becomes an ecosystem: Jungle, prairie, mountains, sandy beach. It takes on the spirit of overlapping vegetation, tall grasses, peaks and valleys, ebbs and tides. As the voices approach, the wave reaches shore, the inhabitants merge into view- you see the entirety of potential. You no longer just see individuals on printed rosters, but communities. You may stand near the center of this beautiful landscape, but you are nothing without the residents. The citizenry of the classroom.

They enter, buzzing, chirping, cackling and chattering. They carry with them the vibrancy and tempo of real life. They send a vibration into every corner of the school. It is like a pulse, beating, charging the once silent hallways with electricity. This is the day they solidify your image of what your classroom culture will be for the year. They will determine the mindfulness. The kindness. The positivity. When you emanate joy and gratitude, they will return the energy with trust and respect. This is the moment many voices merge into a common language- expectations and possibilities. This is the day you choose to let many opinions remain vines, that connect the flora of imagination and creativity. This is the year that uniformity once thought necessary, dissipates and a common vision becomes clear. This is the space of all invested, the community of every participant, the home of every learner as they grow and expand into one giant jungle, prairie, mountain, sandy beach.

You Had Me at Hello: My Love Affair with Education

You Had Me at Hello

You had me at hello. I love to listen and read the amazing ideas of educators. It makes me recognize room for growth, but it also reinforces my belief in myself as a veteran educator. I absolutely love being a teacher. It’s a relationship that evolves and expands because I never get complacent. I understand it, it understands me. But we don’t always get along. I get angry at it, it overwhelms me. But at the end of the day I go home knowing that it will provide me with new opportunities tomorrow. Education is a beautiful profession, yet it is full of challenges, setbacks and frustrations like no other. It is a love affair for the ages. Both messy and boisterous.

There is a lot of noise, strategies everywhere, opinions, thoughts, sure fire suggestions. As educators we are bombarded with new ideas: some useful some not. Many repetitive and familiar. They often claim to reinvent the wheel, move mountains, yet many of them fall short. However, there are gems out there. You just need to keep your eyes peeled for them. During the back to school season the din gets louder and voices more powerful. It’s hard to isolate the ingenuity and inspirational from the mundane and common sentiment. Education is a profession worthwhile, meaningful and growth oriented. Most teachers want to share and collaborate. It is a wonderful field to be a part of. Hearing alternative points of view makes us stronger.

The Love Affair is Challenged

But the reality is, even with our amazing camaraderie and social media presence, being an educator, on the best day is challenging and exhausting. It is not for the weak of spirit or faint of heart.

Not everything is bake sales, blue ribbons and jars of jellybeans. As of late many strategies sound the same, they just add to the deluge of strategies. Joy, voice, community is classroom gold. Read this blog, listen to that podcast- buy these books. Better yourself by following these heroes of education- be aware, be present, build relationships. Technology is good- use it often. Homework is highly debated- is it bad now? Differentiate, use break-out sessions, stations, active learning. Teach students with visual notes, graphic novels, morning meetings. Be kind, listen, smile. Be yourself, be independent, yet stay a part of the community- build a positive school culture. Take risks, fail and get back up on the horse quickly. Share, reflect, give constructive feedback, accept critical feedback with humility. The list is endless.

Collaborate, celebrate- don’t isolate and always reverberate positivity. Build a student-centered classroom. Teach through PBL, flexible seating, personal connection. Can we do it all? Can we as teachers have a perfect performance every day, every class period? Are we going to like every one of our students equally? Maybe not but can we guarantee we treat them all equally- and keep our classroom student-driven, mindful, engaging, purposeful, productive and challenging? Do we need to use technology every day? Do we have to lecture rarely and always keep our classrooms quiet and well-behaved? Should we not smile until after Thanksgiving? Yes, I have heard a teacher say this aloud. As a new teacher, I was not blessed with Twitter or Facebook. It was collaboration within the building not between them. This has changed- now social media has allowed teachers across the globe to communicate, cooperate and climb the mountains of educational struggles together. But how much time do we need to spend on-line to feel like a good teacher?

All the congratulatory nods – follows and likes are invigorating- but what really matters is the connections we build. The ideas that filter out into the world and get picked up and incorporated into classrooms everywhere. Education is a team sport on an Olympic, Superbowl, World Series, World Cup level. While the players sometimes get overlooked the spectacle is on the news, scrutinized. Education is universal, it is a phenomenon because it occurs everywhere. Most techniques and strategies are universal, yet it is a field changing so rapidly that it is necessary to keep an open dialogue so we can continue to make education better for our students. So, throughout the scrutiny we do not feel alone.

The Love Affair is Strengthened

Yet, ultimately teaching is personal. It is a room where within its walls are interactions, observations and experiences. Relationships are forged, growth, learning and connection happens. It is a place where one or two adults try to build a community so hundreds of children can thrive. The strategies we see and hear about on social media might be perfect for some and not practical for you. Your classroom may seat 32 or ten. You may have the same students all day or within a block of time each day. Everyone has different circumstances, populations and personal philosophies. If homework works for you- use it in a purposeful, meaningful way. If traditional seating is your preference rather than flexible- then make that a way to build student relationships. The most important aspect of teaching is building relationships- if a safe haven is in place then learning is the focus. If trust and respect are modeled and common place, then community is the foundation of the learning space.

I have seen teachers spending a day in silence because the teacher was annoyed or having extra worksheets because the teacher needed a break- is this how we want to spend our time- their time? Our focus needs to be about them not us. We need to listen to other educators and read blogs that inspire us. We need to listen to thought-provoking podcasts because these will help us feel like we are a part of a community of teachers and as educators we know we all have good days and bad and if we share them we can accept the bad days while never letting them effect our students. Mindfulness is the awareness we need to respond not react- to find positivity even in the most frustrating of moments. We all have them its how we cope that impacts our classrooms.

Teachers need to see the barrage of speculation out there as just that- an avalanche of opinion and personal choice. Don’t fill your bucket with too many strategies or you will come tumbling down. You will have stressful days because you will feel overwhelmed. You have instinct, soul and a mindful spirit and you need to focus on what works for you. Don’t incorporate things into your classroom because others say it was successful. Bring things in that you are comfortable with, that you know you will use because it feels right for you. Social media is both a gift and a curse. If we rely too heavily on it, it will bombard us and stifle our own creativity. But if we use it as a tool to probe our understanding and get us curious, it will open our minds to new ideas, and this will enhance our classrooms.

The Love Affair, Unique

Education is like the Himalayas- a towering range of knowledge and experience. For me, the top is too steep, and I don’t have on hiking boots. I prefer sneakers. I like my shoes comfortable, so climbing up the piles of strategies is not going to happen. I can’t read every book, listen to every podcast. Nor do I want to. The middle can be precarious, its crowded and that din is very loud. So, I stay calm, walk slowly and pick a up a few mementos here and there. But I choose to stay near the bottom of the very high mountain of great educators. This does not mean I think I am not a good teacher. I just means I prefer solid ground and room to escape the impending overload. I can choose to climb a little, swim in a nearby pond or just watch the sunset without fear of a landslide.

I am a free-thinker with the indelible need to listen to a lot of people and their ideas- this I know makes me stronger. But I am also realistic- I know what works for me and even though I take risks in my classroom- I can only do this because ultimately, I believe in myself, I know my limitations and I push myself to move past them. I gain strength from my amazing PLN and having one makes all the difference- this is the beauty of education- community and personal independence. It had me at hello and with every greeting, educator and students- the love affair just gets more powerful.