A Single Step

It seems as though I take one step forwards and two backwards. I had refocused my attentions, gained a new perspective on things and was ready to go into battle. But this week, just as I was ready to charge it felt like I got stiff armed and knocked straight to the ground. I got knocked down hard.

I find myself looking for the small things in particular classes, in the school itself, pinpointing positives out of each day. Some days, sadly enough, even for an optimist like me it is hard. As hard as it may be though it all still comes down to attitude. Attitude can make or break you and the way you live your life. Even in the worst of times a little adjustment and you are bound to find something to smile about. Sometimes you just need a reminder.

Today I was passing along the link to my blog to a former teacher of mine who was asking about my time in England. I don't check the main page too often as most of my time is spent on the composing interface. But when I opened my blog I noticed the quote I have at the top. This has been a favourite quote of mine for a long time, ever since I got it in a fortune cookie.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

When I put that quote on my blog I was thinking of moving to England to teach as my single step to my journey of teaching. What I forgot about was the small trips that need to take place within that journey. Each day, there are baby steps that take place in my classes, that is the single step on my students' journey. Continued professional development is a part of my continued journey. There are single steps being taken everywhere. Somedays you just have to look a little harder for them.

No doubt this is the most challenging experience I have gone through. There has been lots of tears, but there has also been lots of smiles. 

A pedagogical tool often used in teaching, scaffolding, is building up to the bigger picture. It's time I narrow my search, and start scaffolding my dreams. The big picture isn't painted in one night, but in little sections for many nights.

I had a good lesson with one of my most challenging classes today. A lot of other things also went on, but the take home piece is the good lesson. For the rest of the stuff, tomorrow is a new day.