Educational Onions
Teaching and learning are like yellow and purple onions. They have layers, come in varying sizes, and make you cry. However, one stings more than the other. Learning is the yellow onion because, at times, what we’re learning is difficult, and we don’t fully understand it, which can cause frustration and tears. Teaching is the purple onion because we must delve deeper into the “Why,” students must learn what we teach. There is so much to teach that it can be overwhelming and more frustrating than learning since we need to consider every one of our students and their needs.
Gardens of Knowledge
Teaching and learning are like gardens; the students are the seeds. Every year, we don’t know what seeds enter our classroom; they could be cacti, flowers, trees, etc., but it’s better not to know so we can care for them equally and help them grow. However, some students may need that extra help, and some learn faster than others; this is where universal design and differentiated instruction come in. To relate it to a garden, UDL and DI are the fertilizer; all plants(students) receive fertilizer at the start, such as using review sessions from the previous year and icebreakers to create a classroom community. Still, along the way, there will be those students who need a little extra.
Sunny and Rainy Days
Teaching and learning are full of sunny and rainy days. There will be days when students understand the content immediately, the teacher teaches lessons with little to no disruptions, and everything runs smoothly. Although the thought is appealing, growth opportunities wouldn’t exist if a classroom were always sunny. Those rainy days are the roughest and may make us question our decisions; however, there is more value in braving the storm alongside the students. When everyone braves the storm together, it helps strengthen the sense of community within the classroom and more confidence in the teacher—making those sunny days more meaningful.