What is your ONE thing???
- Charles Alexander
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision." James Clear, author of ATOMIC HABITS
Kia ora, spectacular snackers!
Whether this is Summer break or mid-year slog...I'm glad you're here!
As educators, we spend so much time focused on growth. We read, meet, collaborate, reflect, etc. in an ongoing effort to hone our craft. That process can be dizzying, however. Where do we look first? What can we change right now to make the most improvement?
Have you heard the expression: "little things are big things"? As teachers, we have a great many (seemingly) little things, don't we? If there was just a starting point...a tiny tweak that would create huge changes in my practice. Which thing, though?! What is my ONE thing?
At the end of the last school year, it was becoming clear that my "one thing" was the chairs. My students don't use desks or tables. The chairs, therefore, are the classroom centerpiece. A long time ago, I read or heard someone say how important it is for students to enter a well-organized space. The point was something around students being more respectful of the space and one another if the classroom is neat and well-organized. Maybe so...but that means that I'm spending chunks of class time placing, re-ordering, counting, and carefully checking the spacing between my classroom chairs. Then, in the nanoseconds before the next class arrives, I'm checking and tweaking...not my lesson, or materials, but...THE CHAIRS. On top of the fact that the kids are going to move them anyway.
There it is. My "one thing". Embarrassing and true. My guess is that I'll end up with a lot more headspace to engage student learning if I can let the chairs be chairs...!
OK. Your turn. What is your "one thing"? I would LOVE to hear what you're streamline your practice in the comment section below, or by commenting on Facebook.
Thanks for reading, snackers!
Have a wonderful week.
Chef Charles
Head chef
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