The Kids Are Our North Star
Earlier this week, I once again saw a quote that made me think. It said: "Some teachers taught the curriculum today. Other teachers taught students today. And there's a big difference."
Indeed, the difference is not only vast—but vitally important. Content is just one small piece of the work we do as teachers. Why are we really here? For the kids. The kids are our North Star. Everything we do must come back to what's best for kids.
In a world filled with distractions and, at times, an overwhelming amount of information, it’s important to stay grounded in our why. Our why is ensuring students develop a thirst and passion for learning. Our why is safeguarding learners’ rights to a meaningful education filled with deep learning experiences. Our why is standing firm in our commitment to fostering an environment where students are actively responsible for their own learning. How do we begin to scratch the surface of such incredible goals? We stay focused on our North Star. We never allow ourselves to lose sight of it.
Countless staff meetings, magazine articles, research studies, and news segments center on what's best for students and their learning. However, how often do we ask the students themselves? And if we do ask, how often do we truly listen to the response? And if we do listen, how often do we take those responses and put them into positive action? Following your North Star is not passive. It's an active journey. We have to be open-minded—just as we often ask our students to be. We have to be flexible and willing to adjust our sails and shift directions in order to stay true to our why.
For most of us, the first week or two of school has passed. We have developed rituals and routines in our classrooms. We have worked to establish a culture of caring and learning. Now is the time when the true whirlwind begins. You know the one of which I speak: unit planner deadlines, class trips, schoolwide testing windows, class newsletters, endless emails, department meetings, staff meetings, open house, parent workshops...oh, yeah, and you know, teaching. It can be easy to get caught up in this whirlwind for months—and perhaps not fully take a breath again until winter vacation rolls around in December.
However, if we focus on our North Star—the kids—we can bypass much of this whirlwind. Will things still get hectic and a little crazy at times? Of course. That's a part of life. But we can sail those choppy seas and stay the course by remaining true to our compass. Times will come when we are swamped, but we can feel at peace knowing that our priorities are still in line. That as we are completing those unit planners, we are filling them with meaningful experiences for true learning. While we are preparing for that class trip, we are thinking about how to make it unforgettable for our kids. (Granted, it will likely still be exhausting—but it will be exhilarating as well.) From our seats in the many meetings we attend, we can listen with open-minds, filter everything through the lens of what's best for kids, and be prepared to advocate when needed. And when we present at open house, host parent workshops, make phone calls home, or send parents emails, we can do so with a caring heart—ready to build relationships and partnerships with parents who also want what's best for kids. Will this lessen the load on our ships? No, but it will ensure that we continue in the direction that matters.
The kids are our North Star. Everything we do must come back to what's best for kids.