We need Joy as we need air. We need Love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.
― Maya Angelou
Show Up and Care
We adopted our son Jordan just before his eighth birthday. From that point until last August when he left for commercial dive school, he lived in the same home. For a kid who bounced around the foster care system so much that even the system lost track of how many moves he made, 10 years in one place is significant.
I called him a few days before Thanksgiving to find out his plans. He’s been making friends, so I assumed he would join another family for Thanksgiving dinner.
“Other moms aren’t like you,” he said. “Like, there are a lot of moms who aren’t nice, and they don’t really think about things like Thanksgiving dinner or having people over for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“That’s because you’re a good mom…a really good mom,” he said.
I blinked back tears and said, “Hey, I think we have a lousy connection. Will you say that again?”
He laughed. “You’re a really good mom.”
It’s been a hard-earned sentiment. Loving kids with hard starts to life is not a cakewalk. In fact, loving people in a post-pandemic world is not such an easy task, either.
It’s why educators have such a tough gig. We have all of the important things that need to be done—aligning standards, equitable assessments, team collaboration, and teaching—and we need to do it while loving hard-to-love people.
That’s why I’m so thankful for this week’s issue. It’s about caring and compassion and is full of beautifully written articles. Let’s not underestimate the importance of showing up and caring about those who might be difficult to love.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Kathy Collins looks around the holiday table and discovers differentiating instruction is similar to hosting a holiday feast.
Jennifer Schwanke has a student who just won’t sit still and behave appropriately in her middle school classroom. She finally gives up. That’s where the learning begins.
Join the FREE Coach-to-Coach Zoom Network for a monthly conversation. You’ll build professional friendships that will help you build skills and confidence as a grassroots leader. Mark your calendar for December 14 at 12 noon Eastern!
Are you looking to engage with a community of instructional influencers? Join me on LinkedIn to continue conversations from the Big Fresh and connect with other educators who are just as smart and funny as you are.
In this Live Event, join Gwen Blumberg, Tammy Mulligan, and Dana Murphy as we dive into the nitty-gritty of analyzing data for small group instruction, making instructional plans, and ensuring that all readers are growing. Get instant access to the keynote presentations and guided reflection. Live Q & A sessions are January 9, January 22, and February 5. Recordings will be posted after the sessions.
Gwen, Tammy, and Dana are in-the-field educators who attend to the needs of all readers by using the five pillars of reading instruction.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Gretchen Schroeder reminds us of the importance of checking in with students and gauging how they are feeling, and then responding with authenticity and joy.
We want students to be lifelong learners, eager to grow, and equipped to face challenges. For this to happen, we have to let the classroom be a place that reflects these qualities. Julie Cox offers three innovative ways to leave choice in the hands of students. In turn, they learn to trust themselves and their learning, and believe that they are capable of finding answers.
In this video, Melissa Quimby encourages informal conversations with students to get insight into their personalities and lives.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Stephanie Affinito invites instructional coaches to engage in a 30-Day Coaching Challenge designed to bring renewed enthusiasm and effectiveness to our work. Grab a notebook and get started today!
In this Coaching Minute, Ruth Ayres shares the importance of being aware of how your presence affects the room. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.
Quote It:
We convince by our presence.
—Walt Whitman
That’s all for this week!
