I Choose Joy

Wow! This is a tough topic to discuss right now, as people are geared up to vote, or already have, and there is such tension in society. I just spent a glorious weekend with 8 other Trinity University graduates from 1988 (please don't do the math), and we reveled in the fact that we have continued to be besties for 40 years. I know for a fact that if I got into a hefty bind, every single one of them would have my back. Guess what! We didn't talk politics the entire weekend. There was no need. Republican or Democrat, we love each other, and our political views don't alter that love in the least. That brings me such joy!
Schools are feeling a lack of joy (let's be honest) since COVID. Why? Students came back to brick and mortar schools a full year (in many cases, more) behind. But those teachers are still expected to teach that grade level standard since the state test will be based on that. In my humble opinion, because I choose joy, I would have said, "If you were about to start 2nd grade when COVID hit, you will be coming back as a 2nd grader". I believe that would have been the best thing we could have done for students and teachers. If I were a part of the U.S. Department of Education (which I truly pray remains in existence after this election), I would insist that we make a level playing field across the country. Isn't that what we tried to do with Common Core, and it became a bad word (or phrase) for so many who didn't even understand the impetus for it. Choosing joy also means I choose to understand the good behind something as important as this. I was a principal in a district that was in between two military bases. Students came and went, not always be choice, but by what the next assignment was for the military parent. The result was that students would move from one state to ours (Florida) and would either be ahead (even a year) or behind (even a year) simply because of the state standards that were being taught at specific grades.
Imagine if we had federal standards for students: all students in 1st grade must pass these standards in these subjects to move on to 2nd grade. Then, if families have to move around, the pacing of the teaching is not so "off" as it is now. Folks, "Common Core" was not a bad word. Many just didn't understand it. Here's another example: A parent complains that their child is being taught that they have to draw out or "show their work" on a math problem that they have memorized (8 X 8 = 64). Why should I have to learn the reason WHY that works? Well, I choose joy, so I am more than happy to tell you. At what numbers did we stop memorization of numbers? Typically at 12 X 12, right? At least that's what the racecars in 2nd or 3rd grade show on the bulletin board. The problem is unless we learn HOW multiplication works, we can't rely on our rote memorization once we get to 3-digit multiplication. I love that students can reason through the fact that 128 X 346 couldn't possible equal something like 475. Why? Because they have been taught to reason through multiplication. "Use a calculator", you say? Or your cell phone? Sure, but I love to watch young minds be able to reason through something we weren't taught ourselves.
How do we help bring joy back to schools? I see it all the time as I visit schools and districts around the country (and the world, actually). First of all, I believe every school should have a regular fellowship snack or meal together. Getting together with food encourages relationships and trust. I have research to back that up, by the way (Arneson, 2012). Next, we need to allow teachers to teach without frequent disruptions (I, myself, have been annoyed when teaching PD in a school in which someone came on the intercom at least once every 30 minutes). Let teachers teach!! And can we please agree that piling on PDs that are not authentic, relevant, and sustainable is a waste of everyone's time? I love what I do because the PDs I teach about new strategies in questioning and engagement, etc. are welcomed with open arms (mostly), AND I get to go in teachers' classrooms and watch them teach, resulting in a reflection conference in which they are the ones who do the bulk of the talking. Teachers want to talk about teaching. They just don't seem to be able to find the time to do it. Let's help them find the time to talk about teaching. I believe with my heart and soul that it will bring some joy back into the teaching profession.

In times of trouble, we have a choice. We can wallow in self-pity and flail our arms around in helplessness or we can choose joy and a way forward.
Just for today, think of one thing you could do to choose and act on joyful things.
Happy Communicating,
Shelly

​Arneson, M. S. (2012). Character and Competence: A Mixed Methods Study on Teacher Trust in Principals in a Midsized County in Florida (Doctoral dissertation, University of West Florida).