Sometimes life gets in the way of teaching. That's happening to me this week as I undergo an important medical procedure. It's a procedure that had to be well timed due to the need for recovery time and family support. It's not a life threatening procedure or evidence of a grave illness, but a needed procedure nonetheless.
It's difficult when personal issues affect teaching and learning, yet this is part of the teaching/learning landscape. At times educators do have to take time off for personal needs including medical procedures, family needs, and more.
As much as possible I try to minimize events like these as I know that teaching, like parenting, profits from consistent teaching and care. Fortunately I have a great student teacher in the room who will lead the curriculum on the days that I am out and I've left plans that will introduce students to a new and intriguing unit of study as well as our regular reading, specials, recess, and other typical daily school events. Also, at times like these, I'm once again grateful for the team approach we use to teach all students as when one of us has to be out, the other teachers are there to help out and support the students so the students are rarely to never without the care of their main educators. This is good.
As I think of this event in light of the overall teaching/learning landscape, it helps me to think about what's important with regard to teaching well. It's important to plan ahead so we have space in the schedule for personal events should they occur. It also helps to work well with a team of teachers to support one another and the students in the face of events like this. Further it's critical to take care of ourselves as much as possible to avoid and prevent extra health care needs or undesired time away from school. Looking forward to the days ahead, I'll heed these points with good scheduling, apt prep, personal care, and team--all factors that point to teaching/learning success. Onward.
