This work is hard. This work is important. This work is made better when we leverage the strengths of teammates and work together to design learning experiences.
Let’s Be Fireflies
Go First
As I mention in my upcoming book, Legacy of Learning, our schools don't need more shiny perfect people. We need more deeply human people. Modeling care, reflection, sincere apologies, and learning, and changed behavior. We need people who see, celebrate, and utilize the strengths of others. People who truly believe we are better together.
Cutting Goals in Half
Life is hard enough. The pressures of work or being a parent are hard enough. We don't need to make it harder on ourselves by setting unrealistic expectations. Thinking and moving smaller can help us achieve more in the end. It can help us feel better too. You know?
Why We Write
But in learning and considering the new, let's not forget that learning is a deeply human experience. Meaningful learning is designed to be human-centered. It's not new for the sake of new. It's about making the most meaningful, positive impact we can with each learner. In this pursuit, let's not forget to see, enjoy, and be with the people we spend time with every day. If we lose sight of that, we have nothing and none of this other stuff matters. If I had not make space to write today, I'm not sure I would be grounded in that reminder. This is why I write.
Get Your Pink Back
Perhaps our schools need a little less hustle in certain areas, so we can give a little more heart. Perhaps school would feel more alive with learning if we felt a little more alive in our work. Perhaps we could see more of the beauty in others if we didn't sacrifice the beauty within ourselves. So, during this time of summer savor, maybe next school year is less about what you can do better and more about how to enjoy more. Maybe.
Hope, ChatGPT, & Us
Tomorrow can be better than today, and collectively, we have the skills needed to make tomorrow better than today. Keep showing up. Together.
Educators, I see you.
What we look for, we find. It's easy to overcomplicate things in education, but some of the most important moves we make...as I mention in my upcoming book...are quite simple and impactful. The key is quieting the noise, so we can stay close to what matters most. How we feel in the work impact how others feel in the work and all of this impacts how the work actually goes.
Imperfect but Impactful
My upcoming book is filled with stories like this - stories where I learned from mistakes. Because the world needs less shiny, perfect people and more people who are committed to being deeply human, sharing their mistakes, and learning with other people. I'm experiencing big fears the sooner this book comes to publication. What I've had to remind myself is that I didn't write this book so people would think good things about me or my work. I wrote this book because I hope my learning can be of some value to others. It's that simple. I wrote a book that I needed.
Cutting Ourselves Some Slack
There is no perfect person or perfect impact and there doesn't need to be. Think of the people who have impacted you mostly profoundly. Were they perfect? No. Did you care that they weren't? No. You knew they cared about you, believed in you, and supported you.
Kids These Days
One of the best things we can do for students is to spend time being truly present with them. Enjoy them, connect with them, encourage them, grow their skills, and celebrate them. Nourish their unique gifts and talents and help them believe deeply in themselves and their ability to make a positive difference. Our students are our hope. But they need hope themselves. Hope that tomorrow can be better than today and that they will have the skills necessary to make tomorrow better than today.
MEGHAN LAWSON 