You plan well. You do the research. You think about every child. You make decisions, and you forward the learning experience. Then there's the unknown--the disruptive factor you didn't expect or the one you thought that you had planned well, but it turned out you had not anticipated what could happen. The lesson is challenged, you push forward trying to keep your patience in check as you think on your feet making every effort to right a situation that is quickly deteriorating. It's at this moment that your patience is challenged the most, and how you act matters.
Sometimes I quickly make a good decision, and sometimes I don't make the best possible decision. These moments in school life are difficult to navigate. These moments, in the end, are great teachers to you--these moments help you get better, learn more, and improve your craft if you take the time to think about what happened and what you can do next time.
As I think deeply about challenges like these, I know it's important to outwardly share the challenge with the students as well as your expectations. For example, when a child does not want to follow a routine or activity set, you can simply say, I did my best to plan this activity/routine to meet the needs of the whole class, your behavior tells me that I have to do a bit more thinking about you and what you need in this situation. I'll do that, and in the meantime, I need you to be patient, go along, and take part as much as you can. Later we'll talk and see how we might help you better. To phrase your intent and to acknowledge a child's deeper/different need is a first step in improving what you do for children who aren't participating or who are challenging a learning event.
When you put a lot of effort into planning and caring for each child, and that effort is met with rebellion, disrespect, or apathy, it can be extremely frustrating and challenging, but if you can embrace moments like these with the knowledge that there's a need to learn more, do better in time, you will be less likely to get impatient. Lesson to self. Onward.
