Considerations (#SOL2018 March 7)

As an educator, I have many hats to wear, but I also have decisions to make on

a second by second basis. Many of those decisions require me to consider what

will happen because of my choices. I can handle those. After all, those are based

on what I decide. However, my decisions also need to be based on considerations

of students.

• Did they get breakfast? Was it healthy? Was it enough?
• Did they have water and heat at home today? Last night? All week?
• Do they have clean clothes?
• Do they have someone to teach them about hygeine? Do they have what they need to get and stay clean?
• Was Dad home last night? Was Mom? Is there a mom or dad in the picture?
• Why was that parent in jail? When will they get out?
• Are the doctors helping? 
• Will the treatment work?
• With her diagnosis, how long does she have left?
• Will his parents stay together?
• How long does his brother have before leaving for the military?
• Were the cops called last night again?
• Whose house was she at last night?

If I don’t take those questions and more into consideration, my decisions will be

meaningless. My students won’t learn because they aren’t ready to learn. They

can’t focus on academics when their lives are in chaos. Every day, each and

every moment, I have to keep my kids and their needs ahead of the curriculum.

My job is to teach my students and some days, that means throwing the lesson

plans out the window and doing something fun or reflective or even just talking

and laughing for awhile. Knowing my students and taking time to consider all

aspects of them makes my decisions the most important ones I make each

and every day.