Small habits, when repeated consistently, lead to remarkable results.
—James Clear
Ignore the Mess?
How many of us have supervised the car line before or after school? The elementary level is different from middle and high school. If you’re on preschool or elementary car pickup duty, then you’ve seen your fair share of back seats. Which is why you know exactly what people say when you open the back door for a young student—”Oh, ignore the mess.”
Anyone who has ever transported young children in their back seat knows there’s always a mess: broken crayons, food wrappers, and loose socks. Those who transport active teens know that their backseats are littered with sports cleats, extra clothes, and balls of yarn (or whatever hobby consumes your teen).
The truth is you don’t have to have kids regularly riding in your car to use this phrase. When a group of us went to lunch, I said, “I’ll drive if you ignore the mess of my back seat.” Then I moved my yoga mat to the trunk and picked up the three water bottles I’d been missing.
I’ve been thinking about that phrase—ignore the mess—and whether it’s actually a good idea. I’m not saying that tidy back seats should be the goal in life, but I am wondering if there are other messes in our lives that we ignore, and it’s not helpful.
This year, my husband and I made a pact to not go to bed until the kitchen counter is clean. That means there are no dishes in the sink, no piles of mail needing sorting, and all of the counters have been sprayed and wiped. It was an agreement we’ve had for the majority of our married life, but one we had let slide. “Just ignore the mess,” Andy would say as we shut off the kitchen lights.
What happened was this tiny habit—cleaning the counters before we go to bed—led to a series of different decisions throughout the day. I returned to my practice of unloading the dishwasher first thing in the morning so that throughout the day dirty dishes don’t pile up next to the sink, but immediately go into the dishwasher. As we cook, we wash pans and cooking utensils. After dinner we spend a few minutes tidying up before we go for our evening walk.
Is there a mess you’ve been ignoring? Perhaps the classroom library is a little disheveled, or it could be your school bag. Maybe your email inbox is piling up or your desk is in disarray. It is likely you are one tiny habit—just a few minutes a week—away from tidying up the mess.
When we stop ignoring the mess, we make space for good things to happen. This issue is all about giving space and time for learning. You’ll enjoy the specific and wise ways our contributors are finding to highlight students’ brilliance—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Dana Murphy names two practices that made a big difference in her work as a reading specialist. You may be surprised at the simplicity and smallness that led to powerful gains in her readers.
Molly James explains the difference between shyness and risk aversion.
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.
Mallory Messenger suggests three instructional moves to provide time and space for students to show their brilliance. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to position students to learn.
Melissa Quimby offers profound advice for what to do when we notice inattention, excessive questioning, frozen learners, or disruptive behaviors. She recommends letting empathy lead our next steps.
It’s easy for students to forget to show kindness, especially in the gray days of winter. Joanne Emery shares a powerful picture book called Two Sandals, Four Feet by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Doug Chayka. She includes a list of additional titles to inspire kindness in your classroom all year long. If you love discovering new books, you’ll appreciate this list!
NEW VIDEO | When Gigi McAllister says the library is a place for everyone, she means everyone! As a child Gigi did not like reading, so she is passionate about creating a space where everyone feels like they belong in the library.
Want more booklists? Check out our collection written by teachers for teachers.
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.
Brian Sepe offers sage advice about goal-setting to relieve stress. He offers a simple framework that will keep your coaching conversations focused on student growth and forward momentum.
Matt Renwick opens his own coaching notebook and teaches school leaders ways to support teaching and learning through structured note-taking. The coach’s notebook is not art; it is a tool that supports your practice.
Mary Brower shares a process to uplift teacher voices in professional learning. The effort is small, but the payoff is astronomical!
Quote It:
I am often stunned and charmed by the simple brilliance of what children say. But you have to be willing to listen.
—Mike Farrell
That’s all for this week!
