I am not a patient person. I have long found patience to be a waste of my time, not a virtue. But as I have gotten older, and as I have tried to become wiser, I have come to learn that patience pays. It pays at home, and it pays in the classroom. And though I am still learning the “art of patience” in both settings, I have discovered that I am a better husband, father, and teacher when I practice patience. So, I try–and sometimes fail–to be patient.

In the classroom, on my journey, I have no choice. I am asking much from the kids. I am asking them to do what they’ve rarely been asked to do in the past. I have asked them to take ownership of their learning, and I have worked hard to create an environment where that is possible. But, just because I want and work for it to happen, it doesn’t mean it happens easily or immediately. It takes effort. It takes time. It takes patience. Sometimes, it takes more than is available or possible. The year is only so long, and the human is still only human.

By the time kids get to me they’ve been conditioned to expect and accept “the way” in education, which I believe leads them to believe that their learning is not in their hands, but the hands of the teacher, that school is something done to them, not with or for them. So, then, when I ask them to take things into their hands, it is strange for them. And it takes time for strange to become normal. And while most move beyond the strangeness and begin to “get it,” some–sadly–never do. One, it cannot be forced. Two, time runs out. That is the way.

And though I am certainly conscious of this dynamic, I still find myself struggling to be patient as things play out. In my weaker moments, I wonder if I shouldn’t just go back to ways less-strange, but those moments are fleeting, and I reach for my resolve, I paw for my patience, and once it is in hand again, I stick to the plan, and I patiently resume the journey, which isn’t always easy.

Yesterday, two of my kiddos made it a little less-hard when they handed me Kindness Cards.

I needed these yesterday. I needed to know that the kids can see what I am trying to be. I have to work intentionally to piece patience into the puzzle of my work, the puzzle of my person. And in doing that, I am learning to find peace in patience.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…writing our conclusions.

…responding to feedback.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.