“Tiny Thread & Needless Needles”
Dear Teacher,
This week, with much convincing from my 12-year old daughter, I joined a first-timer crochet class. Being that Brynlie has wanted to learn for some time now, I signed her up for a free course at church. However, when we arrived to drop her off, she insisted that I be there, too, to learn alongside her.
In truth, I did not want to learn something new. In fact, I was quite resistant to it. My one experience with crocheting was in the second grade when I stayed in during recess to stitch with the school custodian, making a Mother's Day watermelon potholder for my mommy. Needless to say, I wanted no say with needles ever again!
However, on Monday, I dutifully entered the class with trepidation, picking up the fine yarn and tiny needle to attempt something intricate. It went as one would expect my made-for-basketball hands to do. I fumbled with the unfamiliar tools, struggling to grasp them in a way that was manageable. It was only when the experienced instructor came by and handed me thick yarn and a chunky needle that I got excited. All I had needed was the tools that worked for me!
How glad I was then, despite my initial resistance to learn new things, that I had TRIED IT ANYWAY! I leaned into the experienced instructors around me to provide guidance. I discovered the tools that were right for me. And, throughout the journey, I gave myself grace for the fumbled attempts, tangled stitches, and knotted thread, knowing that it was all part of the learning process.
And you, teacher, there in your classroom, may struggle with learning new skills, as well. Maybe you're a longtime educator that is quite resistant to it. Your mentality may be that you've done things the same way for many years, so why change now? On the other hand, you may be a newbie-teacher, overwhelmed by multi-grade, multi-tasking, and multiple demands. Your mentality might be to just survive rather than find the tools that best work with your teaching style. Whatever your teaching-level, you've likely struggled with the unfamiliar, struggling to grasp new things in a way that's manageable.
Whatever your situation, you know what it's like to fumble with learning new ways of teaching. You've experienced the dutiful trepidation in professional development seminars when presented with new curriculum, new behavioral management systems, and new co-workers.
So do what I did...TRY IT ANYWAY! Lean on the experienced instructors around you to provide guidance. Find the tools that are right for you. And, throughout your educator journey, give yourself grace for the fumbled attempts, tangled instruction, and the occasional knotted stomach, knowing that it was all part of the learning process.
Crafted by the Creator,
Mindy
Christian Educator & School Counselor