Do you ever get frustrated when the plan that you created in your head doesn’t pan out exactly right? There have been so many times in my life where I created a master plan in my head and set out to make my plan become reality. The problem is, rarely, if ever, does the plan pan out exactly how I imagined it in my head. As educators, I’m sure you understand what I’m talking about.
Picture it: You’ve mapped out the perfect lesson with a great introduction that is sure to hook your students’ attention. You’ve even thrown in a hands-on activity for good measure. And, of course, you’ve reserved a portion at the end for a quick check to gauge your students’ newfound understanding. But here’s the twist: the moment you step into the classroom, the script takes on a life of its own. Perhaps an unexpected visitor disrupts the flow, or you find yourself spending valuable time helping a student navigate a rough day. Maybe the students, despite your best efforts, aren’t as enthusiastic about the lesson as you had imagined. Sound familiar?
Your plan or expectations versus reality might look like these images below.
So why is this important to remember? So many times, we see progress with our students, whether it be in academics or behavior, and we expect that progress to continue. However, many times we see them slip and we see them make mistakes that they used to make or display behaviors that we thought they had moved past. What happens during those times? Usually, we get frustrated, either with the student or with ourselves, and wonder why all of a sudden they went backwards rather than forward.
So what should we do when we see students take a step back? Instead of getting frustrated, we need to be patient with the student and get curious. Is something happening at home that we don’t know about? Did something change at school to cause the slip (change in schedule, routine, staff, etc.)? Are we just at a point where we need to do something different in order to help the student get back on an upward trajectory?
Next time your plan isn’t working as you had imagined, don’t get frustrated, instead revisit the original plan. Figure out what adjustments need to be made in order to get back on the right track. Setbacks are going to happen. Our initial plan isn’t always going to work out. We have to be ready to make adjustments.
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“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it” ~ Michael Jordan
“Do not allow setbacks to set you back.” ~ Stacey Abrams
“Temporary setbacks are overshadowed by persistence.” ~ Quentin L. Cook
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