Welcome to Dr. O's Guide to "Always Be": A Sassy Series for Educators

Episode Eight: Always Be Having Fun!

Hey SuperTeachers, if you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong!

FUN!!! 

No more sweating bullets, trying to keep everyone busy until the bell rings.

Instead, you and your students enjoy the classroom environment you've curated just for them. A classroom where it's safe to take risks. A classroom where everyone is supported in grappling productively. A space where the expectation is that everyone take ownership of the learning through full engagement in the learning process.

SuperTeacher, it takes discipline and dedication to prepare lessons that meet the needs of ALL of your students ~ to the point where they are using academic vocabulary and citing evidence to debate each other over a thought provoking question you prepared just for them.

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance and Results in FUN!!!

So keep:

• identifying the major skills and concepts for your grade level standards.

• identifying the big ideas of each unit.

• established your classroom routines and expectations (Unit 0).

• getting to know your students and their families.

• DOING THE WORK before you assign it to students.

• putting the finishing touches on each lesson plan to ensure you are ready to provide just right supports and extensions.

Dependent to Independent Learners

Being prepared puts you in the position to be your students’ coach, the one who gets them from depending on you to get them started and keep them going, to independently monitoring their own understanding and asking questions that keep them thinking and working.

Being prepared allows you to facilitate dynamic classroom learning experiences that are accessible and engaging; where you look forward to facilitating heated, on-task debates that leave you feeling warm, fuzzy, and fulfilled!

So, instead of grimacing at the front of the class because you have no idea how Cynthia came up with that answer, look forward to being prepared to address a misconception or highlight Cynthia’s brilliant thinking.

FUN!!!

There is no way you can deny the fun feeling you experience when you are able to step back and observe your students collaborating and deeply engaged in the learning - all thanks to you being prepared.

This is what good teaching looks, sounds, and feels like.

And this is what makes teaching FUN!

The alternative is simply ... no ... fun ... at ... all.

So keep on doing what must be done to guarantee a fun time Teaching and Learning in your classroom... because we did not come into teaching to not Be Having Fun!

That’s it, folks.

This is the end of Dr. O’s Sassy Guide to “Always Be...”

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