Happy Friday Everyone,

No two waves are the same. The direction of the swell, the wind, the shape of the beach, and the tide all interact to produce one unique wave after another. The diversity of  a swell captures our attention and can leave us staring out over the same body of water with a feel of renewed anticipation.

As educators, we know that each of our students is unique. We know from research that each student’s learning is impacted by a combination of the student’s culture, social, cognitive, and biological context. In order to support students in their learning, we need to understand and value the diversity of each student. The complex interactions of their ever-changing lives is what makes teaching so exciting and challenging.

In our current times, we find ourselves teaching in the moment more than ever. Plans are made and remade by the hour and sometimes the minutes. We are all being challenged to live in ways we had never imagined. We are collectively engaged in an improvisational dance whether as a student, a parent, or an educator.

Through this all it is communication that will keep us moving forward. Students talking with their teachers about the workload, teachers checking in with their students about the pace of learning, administrators asking teachers what they need, families reaching out to the school to share what is working and what is falling short.

Watching our nutrition, making sure we get enough sleep, paying close attention to our physical health, and exercising regularly are all essential for us to sustain the effort we put forth each day. Rest and self-care are the foundation upon which we summon the strength to continuously learn. When we can sustain a culture for learning our students have the opportunity to pursue their potential as unique and essential members of our community.

Peace,

Chris