It’s best to have your tools with you. If you don’t, you’re apt to find something you didn’t expect and get discouraged.
—Stephen King
The Power of Tools
Recently I was in the market for a new computer mouse. I went to my favorite local tech store and started poking around. It didn’t take long for someone to offer to help me.
The salesperson began showing me the different options, and soon I was zoning out. I didn’t know there were so many considerations when buying a new mouse, and he was clearly a fan of tech tools. I just wanted something to make my work faster. I don’t love shopping, and the long-winded explanations were making me wish I had just bought a new mouse online.
Then he said, “Now, this is my favorite because it has a silent click.”
I lifted one eyebrow and was intrigued. “A silent click?” I asked.
“Yes, it’s the greatest feature of all time. I’ll never go back to a mouse with an audible click. It changed my life. Just listen.”
He used the mouse to click around the screen.
“I don’t hear anything,” I said.
“Obviously,” he responded. “That’s the whole point. If you work on a computer a lot, the silent click will change your life.”
I chuckled, and then nodded solemnly. “Well, today seems like a good day to change my life,” I said, and grabbed the box off the shelf.
“You won’t be sorry,” he said.
I bought the mouse mostly because I love passionate people, and the salesperson was clearly over the moon for the silent click.
I’ve been using the mouse for a few months now in my home office, and I must admit that I’m a fan of the silent click. The mouse in my school office has an audible click that makes me cringe. Who knew that a simple swap in a tool would make my workday more enjoyable?
That’s the power of tools. They can make us efficient, independent, and even happy. This week we are taking a fresh look at tools for teaching—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
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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.
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In this Choice Numeracy article, Jodie Bailey focuses on the importance of an asset-based lens when conferring with her students in math—and all content areas.
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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.
Matt Renwick dives into the reasons why coaching sometimes fails and what we can do when we encounter colleagues who are “help resistant.”
This PD2Go focuses on supporting young readers in making sense of text. It pairs an article by Jen Court and a minilesson video by Katrina Edwards.
Jo Lein and Jennifer Gripado share how a simple one-pager becomes a powerful coaching tool to clarify critical practices.
Quote It:
October is a symphony of permanence and change.
—Bonaro W. Overstreet
That’s all for this week!
