What to do Wednesday: Old School

Dear Lesson Plan Toolbox,

Lately, I have been feeling so "old school" and I'm not too sure how to snap out of this. I have been at my school for 18 years now and it does feel like home. I love my students and families that I serve, but I feel like I can't keep up with the ever-changing technology. I am fortunate because I only have one student learning remotely. I am able to record videos and send them to him within 24 hours of a lesson. All of this being said, I am just not feeling my creative juices. I feel like I am doing a lot of the same lessons I've always done and I know that isn't necessarily a good thing. I want to teach, not deal with technology issues. I want to teach, not spend night after night trying to find the latest ideas floating around. How can I become a better teacher without teaching taking over my whole life?

Old School

Dear Old School,

First of all, let me start by stressing how important experienced teachers are to the world of education. You have the experience with troubleshooting behavior, communicating with parents, and knowing when to reach out to your administrator. You can gauge and pace a lesson or unit of study which allows you to manage your curriculum. My guess is that you have wonderful ideas that you bring to your classroom that may not involve technology, but engage your students from the beginning to the end of your lesson. That is H-U-G-E!

I want to acknowledge how you are feeling because those thoughts and feelings are very real. All teachers hit somewhat of a plateau in their careers where they just don't feel the groove anymore. This seems to be your year. It's okay. It's OKAY! IT"S OOOOKAY! You are human. This does not make you a bad teacher at all. In fact, the fact that you are acknowledging what you're feeling in itself shows you are not a bad teacher. You want to become better at your job and you will! With this year shaping up as it has, I am going to suggest that you do what feels comfortable for you and comply with what is expected from your administration. Beyond that, anything extra you bring to the table is a bonus!

It may also help to follow @lessonplantoolbox on Instagram to keep you fresh with ideas. We are currently working at getting a website up and running, so for now our main platform is Instagram. However, every Sunday our blog will focus on three teachers with incredible ideas that primary teachers can implement right away. My heart is geared towards our early childhood students, so that is usually where I focus attention when finding resources. Our goal here at Lesson Plan Toolbox is to help to save teachers time and energy. You are always welcome to send a DM on Instagram and tell us what you're looking for so we can do the searching for you. Nothing makes us happier than knowing that we helped a teacher!

Have faith in your teaching and confidence in your capabilities. Don't underestimate the power of "old school" because sometimes "old school" triumphs over "new school" when it comes to student learning. You are doing a great job! You are an amazing teacher! Let us know how we can help you on your teacher journey.

 Teach~Relax~Repeat

Lesson Plan Toolbox