If we want to talk about JOY for coming school year… and I love that.. let’s talk about the simple joy of the summer watermelon project. From a pack of seeds back in June to a beautiful plant with fruit growing, that didn’t just happen. It involved daily attention and care all summer long. I’m not sure of the final outcome, but someone is checking in daily and making sure the basic needs are there. For the watermelon: that’s sunlight and water and space to grow.
For our students in the coming, uncertain school year, those basic needs in order to thrive in a distance learning school environment are going to be different for every kid.
Pay attention. Check in often.
Listen more. Talk less.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes but learn from them and grow.
Apologize when necessary.
The same goes for our colleagues, our families, our own children. We are all facing challenges in different ways, but providing love and support and grace will go a very long way to finding joy in the journey.
“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still “about to be.” -C.S. Lewis