Sometimes I lose my focus. Sometimes things get blurry for me and I need to settle down and put so much into perspective. I have found myself needing to settle down more often this year than last year.
I have found myself wanting to do so much and not knowing where to begin. I want to flip my classroom. I want to use more educational technology. I want my students to get the best education they can receive. That last one is where I need to put all my focus.
I need to put my educational ideas to the side and see what my students want from me. Where do my ideas lie in comparison to those of my students? Are we in the same area or do I need to put my focus more where they are? Sometimes our ideas get blurred together…and that’s even more challenging. They want to use an idea I have but in a different way. Do I let my stubborn nature get the best of me and refuse or do I give in and let the students show me a new way? I would hope to believe that I give in more than I refuse, but it’s not always that way.
The first thing that I need to do is get to understand what my students want from their education. What interests do they have? How can I connect their interests to the content? What are the best methods to do this? Are the ideas I want to implement truly best for my students? Where can I turn to for that guidance to learn more?
Focus isn’t easy to find. Lack of focus distracts us. It can also lead us to not understand our students and their interests. If we don’t focus on their desires and passions, where does that put us and the students? We fall behind. We go backward and not forward. We need to have a focus on our true responsibility, and that is preparing the entire student for future success. If we focus only on one part of our students’ education, we can’t focus on their entire education.
My focus needs to turn to knowing what my students want from me! I need to not overwhelm them and myself with trying to do too much too fast. I need to slow down and ensure myself that my focus is clear. Perhaps my students don’t need to use technology to be the best student they can be. Maybe they don’t need to utilize new methods of educating. They may only want the focus on them…and that’s what matters most!
Cottos Corner for Education 