This post is inspired by a comment left by Susan, a new teacher, on my post "Do You Dare to Look in the Mirror"
Dear Self,
This year, allow yourself to lose the pointless homework, lose the percents, lose the monologue and for sure, all of the packets. Feel free to lose the dioramas (wow, I hate dioramas), the stilted book reports, math pages that are beside the point and insane expectations for kids that are trying so hard. Lose the F', the D's and any other letter that comes to mind, and the averages. Lose the raising of eyebrows over late work, the percent deduction, the phone call home, and the threats of failure if work isn't turned in. Lose the "my room" and let it be "our room." Let go of black and white and invite in some gray. Lose the insane motivational posters that just clutter your walls. Let go of a desk for every student, lose the need to organize them as you do your supplies. Lose your inhibitions, your fears, your need for privacy. Lose packaged lessons, and old ideas, or at least the ones that do not work. But never lose your excitement, belief, warmth, or your heart.
