What the Greek Freak Taught Me About the End of the School Year
It's important to remember that we don't get to choose the exact time that someone else grows or improves. Teachers, more often than not, will not know the full impact they've had on the lives of their students.
When You Lose
Giannis Antetokounmpo recently gave an interesting response when asked if the Milwaukee Bucks' season was a failure. He argued that there is no failure in sports, just good days and bad days and that every year is a step toward success. While it's true that only one team can win a championship, Giannis's point is that viewing every season as a failure if a team doesn't win is an overly binary way of thinking. The article acknowledges that the Bucks' season was disappointing, given their high expectations and regular-season success, but it's nice to see Giannis pushing the conversation forward and challenging how we think about sports.
Success and Failure in the Classroom
We can apply this type of thinking to the end of the school year by reframing how we view our students' progress and our own teaching. Instead of viewing the end of the year as a success or failure based solely on grades or test scores, teachers can focus on the growth and development that their students have made throughout the year. It's important to remember that we don't get to choose the exact time that someone else grows or improves. Teachers, more often than not, will not know the full impact they've had on the lives of their students.
As educators, we have the responsibility to continuously reflect on our teaching practices and identify areas for improvement. We can begin this process by taking time to assess our strengths and weaknesses and setting achievable goals to work towards. It is also important to acknowledge that setbacks and mistakes during the school year are not failures, but rather opportunities for growth and learning. We can use these experiences to adjust our teaching strategies, learn from our mistakes, and ultimately become better educators. There are some years when success comes from merely surviving while still maintaining the desire and will to give it another shot next year.
Within Your Control
It's also important to recognize that teaching is not a solo effort, but rather a team sport. While teachers have control over what they put into their job, such as lesson planning and classroom management, the outcome is largely out of our control. Factors such as student motivation, family support, and resources available to the school all play a role in the success of our students. This makes it important for teachers to work collaboratively with their colleagues, administrators, and families to create a supportive learning environment that fosters student success. By doing so, we can ensure that we are doing everything in our power to provide our students with the best education possible.
You often hear athletes say this, and it applies to teachers as well:
"You just have to trust the process.”
❤ Enjoy this article?
🍵 Show Your Support, 🛍 Shop The Store, 👕 Buy Some Swag, 🤗 Share It
