A Teacher is like a Hamster on a Wheel

In Chapter 5 of Fulfilling the Promise it talks about how teaching can feel like a Hamster running on a Hamster Wheel.  Each year there is more information to teach and to cover than the year before.  The teacher is the hamster who is running as fast as she can but she cannot teach everything no matter what she does. To add to the breadth of curriculum and standards is the depth of understanding that the students are required to have.  And of course you need to differentiate your curriculum in order to have your students succeed.  Not to mention most teachers like myself want to spend a little time teaching life lessons in addition to reading and math. Thank goodness for morning meetings!  Well, this post isn't about morning meetings, but it is about how to use Hallmark #2 to help you be a better hamster, or teacher - which ever you prefer.

 It's true with the hamster on the wheel, the faster the wheels spins  the tireder the little guy gets.  The same is true with teachers.  The bigger the expectations the teacher is asked to accomplish  the more tired and less effective she becomes.  Organization is key in being a successful differentiating teacher.  If a teacher wants to be able to teach the required material with the depth and breadth expected then she needs to be organized.  Differentiation cannot happen without organization.  Hallmark #2 says Absolute clarity about what the teacher wants the student to know understand, and be able to do - about what is truly important in the unit. She needs to know what she expects of her students and she most importantly needs to know what the essential parts of the curriculum are.  If a teacher can become organized in her curriculum and if she can learn to teach to essential concepts she be a more successful hamster.  Many she could even get off of the wheel and run forward if she was organized and focus on the ultimate goal enough.