It's all about Perspective

Last summer, I read Awakened by Angela (Powell) Watson and did a review of it for the blog. Over the last week or so, I have really found myself wanting to pass it along to several people in my teaching life who insist on being flat-out negative.

Just this morning I read an article that started off with a negative title. I almost didn't read it because of the negative title (which was "What is wrong with Education?"). I find it can be extremely difficult to maintain a happy-go-lucky disposition when you are surrounded by negative people. I grew up in a very negative household and have tried hard to escape that in my own life, especially in teaching which is so important to me and fuels my passion for so many things.

Reading that article this morning, in which the author turned it around and said she is going to focus on what is right in education, reminded me of Angela's book. Your perspective plays a huge role into how you approach any situation. I have read blog posts and many articles about how teaching is no longer "fun". Just the other day when I was setting up at school, one of my colleagues told me she secretly envied some of our colleagues who have retired because teaching is no longer "fun". I was really surprised by her words.

I think teaching is fantastically fun! Yes, with the grades I am teaching now, I have a lot more test prep and data to keep but we still have fun. If you solely listen to the "powers that be" and do only what they ask, yeah, I can see how teaching would be pretty boring. My first day of school plans are interspersed with procedures, academics and fun. We will be doing a craftivity that I got on TpT and I am making it academic by talking about how we need to sometimes be concise in our writing depending on who and what we are writing for--it's going to be a lesson on audience. I guarantee the kids are going to love it...and they aren't even going to realize they are "learning". 

So if you find yourself being negative, please do yourself and your students a favor and read Angela's book. It will change your perspective and put the joy back into your classroom.

P.S. Angela is not secretly paying me to say this ;)