This weekend, I had intended to go camping up in the Sierras. I had everything ready to go. The car was fueled and packed, food and ice in the ice chest, and destination reserved. At the last minute, I decided NOT to go! Trust me when I tell you that I have LOTS of camping gear and that I'm prepared for just about whatever nature throws my way while I'm out in the wilderness. Since camping and backpacking have been a lifelong hobby for me, preparing for trips has become kind of an extension of the activity itself. So, in many ways, getting ready for a trip is part of the fun! However, this weekend, the wind in the mountains was forecasted to be VERY strong. I can camp in the heat, rain, snow, and cold; but I am a firm believer in not camping in the woods when the wind is blowing as strong as was forecasted! Huge falling branches are known as "widow makers", and they are an element of tent camping that should never be taken lightly. Big trees are beautiful, but camping underneath them in a wind storm is asking for trouble! Given the fact that I wanted to come home alive, I decided to stay in the comfort and safety of Vacaville. Instead, I did some organization of my gear, helped with some chores, and watched the first installments of the classic monster movies on TCM. (This month is mummy movies...great stuff!) That was all the "scary" I wanted to have this weekend.
When it comes to education, some days it seems like the landscape we face is as daunting as the wilderness. Sometimes it is downright scary. However, in this job, we don't have the option to say "no" or not do our utmost at all times. As teachers in a public school, we have to be ready for whatever comes our way and our students are counting on us to help ALL of them become successful. Failure is not an option, and hoping for some kind of miracle is not a strategy. As teachers, we need to prepare our lessons with the same sort of care and precision as we would if we were preparing for an expedition.
Sometimes, preparation and planning take the form of gathering all the resources that are necessary for a task. Other times, it means abandoning previously made preparations and plans because the conditions at the time have changed. To be prepared, we need LOTS of strategies and tools in our "teacher bag" and we need to know how to use them effectively. In order to be flexible and responsive to the needs of our students, we need to KNOW their interests and KNOW where they are academically. Our plans should not be made just to "deliver content" but to REACH and TEACH STUDENTS. As such, effective planning means that we are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of ALL of our students.
Take some time this week to consider how you are planning to meet the needs of all of your students. Are you planning with the intent of delivering content, or are you planning with the intent of promoting success in learning for ALL of your students?