New Year. New You. New Ideas. New things!

A pattern I see when working with teachers is that first, we learn new things. We go try new things with the kiddos. The new things may or may not work. We try to fit the new thing in with the current things. We say we don’t have time to keep trying the new things. We never throw out current or old things.

We teachers=packrats.

I’m not saying this is bad. Who knows, someday you (or someone you know…perhaps even an inaugural blogger) may in fact need the globe your parents bought for you in Christmas of 1992. Or your Global I handout from when you were in 9th grade that lists Chinese dynasties in such a clear way that you can’t think of a better way to transcend information to kids. But.

But…

If we keep adding things, we will not have time for each and all the new things. This can lead us down that road of uncomfortable and gut-wrenching decision making. “I’ve done this for 7 years ! The kids love it, and learn so much about river valleys!” “But I have all the dittos made for the next two years!” “This is such a fun topic, I love to have kids perform a Silent Discussion when teaching it!” “I always like to show them the A &E video clips of Genghis Khan on the two days before Thanksgiving Break and then write about Pax Mongolica when we come back”

I have been there, and I have said those things (except the ditto comment-before my time). Anyways-I want you to think about how teaching is 50% art and 50% science, and how neither of those are ever stagnant. We cannot let our teaching be stagnant, either. If we keep all the old things and try the new, nothing will get done to its justice. If we keep all the old things and do not try new things, we will become stale. If we try new things, we could fail-forward. But we could also propel forward into the stratosphere.

It is really important to me that I establish the idea of trying new things during the maiden voyage of this blog. I will probably suggest things that may be really out of your comfort zone. Perhaps I already have, if you’re still using dittos.

But, just try something new. One little thing. Check out a strategy. Check out my favorite things. Check out readventures.

See you in the stratosphere!