We've had other winters like this, but not for a while. Last year was a light winter, and the winter before was filled with snow, but we also had a fair share of sunny days when children played in the snow. This winter has been dreary and marked by lots of illness. The staccato nature of this winter has interrupted the good flow of learning as well as the steady supports we're accustom too.
When weather and illness impact the teaching this much, we simply have to change our expectations a bit. Today as I tried to stay the course, the students acted up--many couldn't sustain the needed focus for the lesson as big fluffy flakes fell outside the classroom. Every teacher knows that snow has an immediate affect on students--it's makes them excited and calls them to play.
The cold, icy playground simply isn't as enjoyable as the warm open playground on fall, spring, and summer days. And, the time it takes to dress up and dress down before and after each recess takes a lot of time too--time we don't have in the curriculum and time that impedes the schedules we follow. Yet we work with little children, and we have to give them time to play and the time they need to ready for that play on cold, snowy winter days.
Tomorrow I'll try another approach--an even simpler approach to complement the lack of flow the weather and illness has thrust upon the season. The will is there, but the way needs some revision. Onward.
