A Space to Grow

March is such a changing time of the school year. Many schools are preparing for standardized assessments. But in the midst of this content focus and preparation, teachers and students may also be looking forward to a much needed spring break in the next few weeks. After five or six months of school, there is excitement intertwined with exhaustion in our classrooms.

In Minnesota, where I’ve taught, the weather can change from winter to spring to winter again in a day or two. We never know what to expect! One morning, I may wake up to sunshine and sixty degrees, confident that spring is on the way! The next day, my hopes are dashed when I wake up to a layer of white snow on the ground. But I grew up in Minnesota, so I know this is just the nature of the type of weather we have in our area.

Sometimes I feel like my students parallel this weather metaphor. I trust and see glimpses that evidence of growth is on the horizon, but it can be difficult to keep waiting and working when the results aren’t exactly what I’ve been expecting. My days in the classroom can change drastically from one to the next. 

This month, we are going to explore how to navigate this season in our reflections together. We will consider what it may look like to cultivate spaces for growth in our classrooms, how intentional planning and focus may be the reset students and teachers need, and how to embrace the rest that may be invited during this time as well. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Here’s to a new month of possibility!