At the End of the Day, We're Just Makin' Windows and Doors...

I was out walking with my husband over the weekend, and he spent some time talking about his experience at Pella Corp where he is a department manager. Among some of the different situations he discussed were stories of his team members who were choosing not to adapt (i.e. wanting to do things "their" way), those who failed to exemplify true teamwork with their colleagues, some who were unable to handle their own frustrations and took them out on others, and a few who internalized this negativity when it was not directed at them. My husband's managerial response, numerous times, has been to say, "Look, at the end of the day we're just making windows and doors...we have to keep perspective here..." There's that "P" word again...perspective.

This word has been a fundamental foundational piece in my recent experience as a softball coach. Adopted from the 1-Pitch Warrior mentality, created by 3-time State Champion Baseball Coach, Justin Dehmer, my players have made perspective posters to hang in our dugout. These printouts incorporated pictures of family, friends, those who serve, symbols of faith, inspirational quotes, and numerous other aspects that help them to remember that at the end of the day, we're just "playing a game." And often times it helps to prevent my players from hanging their heads about a strikeout and keeps them hustling out on the field after they've made an error that allowed a runner to score. Again, we see that it's all about perspective...

So, the question that lurks in my head now, is: Rather than getting caught up in numerous individual moments, what do we do that encourages us to keep perspective in teaching? When our students don't turn in their third assignment of the week, how do we keep perspective? When the class average on the chapter test is a D+, how do we keep perspective? And when the rugrat in the back of the room won't stop talking or distracting neighbors, how do we keep perspective? Do we? Can we?

As teachers, we tend to look through our rosy, tunnel-vision lenses at only the situation in which we select to pay attention to - the homework grade, the test performance - you get the idea. Oftentimes we forget to maintain perspective about what teaching truly is - the opportunity to influence the thinking and actions of child upon child, year after year. Do we want them to earn good test scores - sure. Would we prefer them to earn an "A" in our class, rather than a "C"? Of course! However, no student or player I've ever taught has come to see me years later to tell me they appreciate the "A" they earned in my class or the way I taught them to throw a rise ball. At the end of the day, it only mattered that they knew I truly cared and I showed this in the way I treated them, disciplined them, and worked with them; that is what they remembered most. And you've had those students, too - the ones who help to confirm why you wanted to become a teacher in the first place.

There's a famous quote pertaining to athletics...

The same could be said of teachers from the viewpoint of students...."Even when you've aced the hardest test of your life, it's the teacher you'll remember most. You'll forget the lessons, the projects, and the study guides, but you'll never forget your teacher and how they made you feel."

So try not to get hung up only on test scores, homework performance, and all the other aspects of teaching that we become glued once the "honeymoon" of going back to school is over. Remember these are our students and there's more to them than just a grade or performance task. Because, after all, at the end of the day we're just a bunch of men and women trying to touch the lives of our kids so they can feel safe, confident, and ultimately, successful.