It's over my head, but not out of my reach.

Four of us were working together a few weeks ago to learn a brand new computer program. When we began working on the project together, we knew where we needed to go and what the result would be. We found ourselves becoming easily overwhelmed unless we took it one step at a time and kept the goal in mind. As time passed, we found ourselves still working through some confusion but feeling more competent—especially since we had one another to rely on for support. Our day evolved into an ebb and flow of spiraling back on information learned earlier, and then layering on new information. Each new piece brought fuller understanding. The process was mentally stimulating and at times taxing, but all in all, fulfilling and fun.

As we ended our meeting, my friend Lori happily announced that she felt like the new information was "over her head but not out of reach." 

Long after that day ended, I couldn't help but reflect on our day of learning together and supporting one another, and on Lori's statement. Thinking about this time of year, the start of school for so many teachers throughout the world, I wonder how many of us feel both excited and overwhelmed by opening the doors to a new group of diverse learners. Does our students' success feel just over our heads or out of reach?

It was then that I thought more about the day we'd spent together learning the computer program. There was such power when we revisited strategies taught, layered on new ones, and spiraled back around to touch again on those we were close to mastering, all while being part of a supportive group. This amazing process brought us closer to "getting it." The little successes left us feeling as though the new program really was just slightly over our heads but not out of reach, because after all, we have one another to lean on for support. 

So what can we do, as teachers at the beginning of the year, to set ourselves up for success?

• Find a learning support group: friends, colleagues, learners in or near our own school or far via technology.
• Take on a reasonable amount of new learning at a time. Spiral back before you add new components in order to secure your new learning.
• Keep the goal in mind and take it in small chunks, one step at a time.
• And of course, enjoy the process. Teaching is at times invigorating and sometimes taxing, yet rewarding.

We hope that you will bring us along on your learning journey this year and that your school year is exhilarating, rewarding, and fun! 

By the way, that new program we were learning?  You are reading this edition of the Tip of the Week on it!

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