When It's Time for a Teaching Reset

Do you know that feeling when you've spent hours setting up the perfect classroom system only to realize it's not quite working out?

I've been there.

Recently, I found myself in this exact situation. Despite my best intentions and careful planning, I noticed my students struggling to navigate their tasks and the classroom setup. I created a gamified Google Classroom with what I thought were engaging challenges. I even included on-demand feedback and some cheesy humor.

It worked for some of my students, but not enough. Too many had trouble navigating the system, which became a barrier to learning.

Teaching is funny that way. Sometimes, what looks great on paper doesn't translate well in practice. Despite the considerable time I'd invested, I had to face a tough reality: my carefully crafted system was actually making things more complicated for everyone involved.

Making the Hard Call

I'll be honest—the thought of overhauling an established system mid-year wasn’t appealing. The more experienced I become as a teacher, the less enthusiastic I am about major changes. It's like renovating your kitchen while still trying to cook three meals a day—challenging and somewhat messy.

But here's what I've learned: sometimes, the best thing we can do for our students (and ourselves) is admit when something isn't working and make the necessary adjustments, even if it means more work in the short term.

Moving Forward

I will view this as an investment for the rest of our school year. By simplifying and modifying our classroom structure now, I believe we'll create a more effective learning environment for everyone.

Is it extra work? Absolutely.

But isn't that what teaching is all about - constantly evolving and adapting to serve our students better?

Here's what keeps me going: every small victory, every successful adjustment, every moment when things click - they all add up. As teachers, we must celebrate these wins while striving for better ways to help our students learn and grow.

Back to the drawing board.

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