My daughter is mom to four boys. The oldest just lost a tooth, and soon afterward I got the following text and photo from her:
I remember finding some baby teeth in your jewelry box once and thinking that was weird and gross, but it must just be what moms do. I get it now.
I lost sleep with him when this thing was pushing its way through his soft little gums.
I kept chilled teethers in the freezer.
I inspected daily to see when the little lump in his mouth would erupt with this shiny little tooth.
And then I spent years brushing it every day to keep it clean and strong.
And now I'm just supposed to throw it away?
And now I'm just supposed to throw it away? I recently heard that lament from a teacher who was feeling it was time to discontinue her beloved teddy bear unit. As I look back on my own career, I can recall things that, once firmly rooted, began to wiggle to make room for something bigger, stronger, and better. Here is what comes immediately to mind:
Baby Tooth | Permanent Tooth |
Busy work and worksheets | Authentic work |
Long lessons with too many teaching points | Focused, purposeful, brief instruction |
Control | Trust, choice |
Isolation | Coaching, collaboration, and courageous conversations |
Scripted program | Analyze assessments to determine needs |
Preprinted and laminated everything | Create things together that anchor our learning and hold meaning, relevance, and beauty. |
What are the baby teeth of your teaching life?
Now is a perfect time to reflect and see what we might need to let go of in pursuit of new growth, even though it hurts a little. As with lost baby teeth, the gap we feel is temporary and makes room for something bigger and better.
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