When our boys were small, a journalist’s life was difficult to balance with the reality of two boys under 2 years old. So, I worked in public relations (yuck) while I earned my certification to teach English.
I was a miserable failure the first year – and I am forever grateful for the wonderful teachers there who were always helpful and kind. And as my teaching improved, I discovered it was directly proportional to my acceptance of two ideas about the craft of teaching.
Meet them (meaning students) where they are
Start every day with a clean slate
I still hold to these principles today – in my workplace, in my interactions with others, and with my family.
In the classroom, ‘meeting them where they are’ meant that I respected the knowledge that the student brought into the classroom – not what I thought he should know, or what another teacher should have taught him, but what his magnificent little self knew right there and then sitting in a seat. I can’t teach advanced diagramming of sentences if the student is hazy on the parts of speech.
And so, too, in my life today, I find common ground when discussing issues with people, because that’s the only way to make it meaningful. Otherwise, we are just talking heads.
The second idea was pure survival, but delivered huge benefits. Because it was impossible to keep track of student misbehaviors on a daily basis, I started each day with a blank slate, and treated everyone as if they were trying to do their best. And lo and behold, many did just that. No one fails miserably on purpose.
And likewise, when I find myself resentful and angry today, I stop and remember to act as though everyone I come in contact with is doing the best they can, with what they have.
It’s made my life a lot easier.
Michele Nuttle can be reached at mnuttle@ledgertranscript.com.