Hide-and-seek is a favorite game of our grandchildren.

Hadley's three-year-old hiding level is not the same as that of Hollis, who is six months old. When playing with Hadley, we have to hide in plain sight so she can quickly and successfully discover us. When playing with Hollis, we don't have to go anywhere; we can successfully hide from him by simply covering our eyes.

They both love the game because we align our actions with their current skill levels. As they grow and change, we will monitor and adjust accordingly. Our hiding places will evolve to be just challenging enough for them to be successful and have fun. Here's the thing: their success makes it fun and rewarding for us as well.

Learning, practicing, and growing of any kind, whether academic or recreational, can be fun, especially when teachers have the learners and their desired outcomes in mind. As learners grow, teachers are steps ahead, anticipating, planning, and growing as well.

Success and learning hinge on teachers' attitudes, knowledge, and ability to stay engaged in a way that correlates to the learners' needs, joyfully celebrating all the approximations along the way.

Can you see Hadley? 

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