Better
Four of the many #OneWord2018 offerings from educators via Twitter.
With the retrospective rose coloured goggles secured over my eyes, it’s time to dive into 2018 because it is going to be better. This is not a flippant cliché to elicit the feels and aahs of readers. 2018 will be better.
My one word for 2018 is better.
Whether written, spoken, or withheld on purpose my words will be better in 2018.
They will edify not nullify. They will appreciate not devastate.
They will lead not supersede.
My lessons will be better in 2018.
They will envelope my students with ownership of their learning.
They will inspire confidence, resilience, and compassion for others.
Failures will be better in 2018.
They will be spectacular and educational.
They will be welcomed into a safe space with room for everyone.
Otherliness will be better in 2018.
Kindness will trump self-centredness.
Students will know how much I care before being asked to care about what I know.
Student voice will be better in 2018.
They will be given a place at the table where their futures are decided.
They will tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear.
In 2014, I heard poet/rapper D.O. Gibson share a powerful message about getting 1% better each day. Once all of the feels and aahs were gone, the power of his message hit home. I began to imagine how to apply it to my approaches to pedagogy and personal learning.
This got me really excited about how we could all get better, and at a pace that would not overwhelm anyone. The next day, I began including this philosophy into my instruction. First, it was in French class with vocabulary, then to Math with problem solving, and soon afterwards all of my subjects. The best part of being better by 1% everyday means everyone is able to work towards an individual and common goal.
I wonder if you would even realize it when someone is 1% kinder from one day to the next, but after a month 30% increase would be difficult to ignore. Even if better only meant 1% per month; 12% per year is still excellent growth. Just ask your fund manager.
So 2018 is going to be better.
I’ve done the Math and even at a modest 0.25% per day.
I am almost 1% better than last year. So far…
What’s your #OneWord2018?
Please share in the comments section.
If you liked this post, please follow and tell a friend.
Thanks for reading.
Originally published at escheweducationalist.wordpress.com on January 3, 2018.
