These days I’m doing a dance with October 15, 2017 – when I’ve signed up to run a whole bunch of miles in a row.
The dance I’m doing has two steps:
- If I don’t put enough miles under my feet now, I’ll never build up my stamina in time for October.
- If I put too many miles under my feet now, I’ll hurt myself and never be ready for October.
It’s a constant back-and-forth on my mind every time I run.
This is the perennial two-step of teaching, too.
If I don’t push my students hard enough, will they have acquired the skills they need by June?
If I push my students too hard, will they burn out and quit?
A teacher’s job, though, is at least 26.2 times more complicated – by the number of students in your classroom. Each of them is preparing their own marathon, and the teacher is in ultimate charge of pacing and training.
Every morning I check my calendar–did I run far enough?–and I check my joints–did I run too far?
Every day teachers ask the same. Did they learn enough? Did I push too hard?