It was easy. And I prided myself on being able to do it so well. I could keep a class quiet, even silent. I was good at it. But that was long ago, in a classroom far different, as a teacher I now barely recognize.

Today, I live in noise, a constant buzz of energy, both productive and not-always-so-productive. I embrace both, for it’s a room alive, it’s a place of human learning. And young humans are noisy, vessels of restless, “angsty” energy who need release. And since I give them freedom, their freedom inevitably finds that release. They’re human. They need it.

But noise is not chaos. Chaos disrupts, dismantles, and destroys a culture, and the only thing I protect more than the humans in the room is the culture in the room. My kids have the freedom to make noise but they do not have the freedom to create chaos. So, I keep them in check, which in the noise-is-needed classroom takes some creativity sometimes, especially later in the year. So, yesterday, I tried something different.

Right now, most of my time in class is spent making my way around the room conferencing with my kiddos about their writing. Such engagements become engrossing, and it is easy to lose focus on the rest of the room as I zoom in on the kid in front of me. As one might imagine, this grants even more “freedom” to my other kids as my attention is elsewhere and my gentle, occasional reminders of volume control are too few and too far between, and noise tempts chaos as one speaker’s increased volume increases the other speakers in the room, and we soon have a full-blown rock concert in room 206. And something has to be done. Something that honors both the kids and the culture. So, with that in mind, I turned to my old friends respect and responsibility.

“Okay, chicos, we gotta do this differently. The volume is getting too high in here, and while I don’t want silence, I do want to make sure we are not disrupting others to the point where they can’t do their best work, so I need your help.

Please choose a partner. You have 30 seconds. Okay, congratulations, you now have an accountability partner. They will help you keep your volume in check, and, in turn, they will do the same for you.

We all have a responsibility to be mindful and respectful of our neighbors’ needs to learn, so let’s all hold each other accountable. Okay?

Let’s work.”

And…it worked. Wasn’t perfect, but it was significantly better. I could focus better on my conferencing, kids kept their volume in check–without being babysat, and we all made progress with our work. I needed something. I leaned on my kids. They responded. That’s the culture I work to cultivate–with my humans.

Today’s Trail…

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…crafting introductions

…reflecting in our Journey Journals

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.