Who's fault is it?

As I sit here overwhelmed trying to reflect on everything I need to get done, I am attempting to wrap my brain around one task and complete it. Have I finished anything yet? No. Apparently this is a daunting task for myself and being MIA for the last 9 days due to training, my brain is on overload. However, notes are helpful and as I am reviewing mine, trying to make sense of it all, a statement that I wrote down stuck out to me. I often have a lot of "Ah Ha" moments during training and some relate to the training and most some do not due to a wandering mind.

Are you ready for my moment...

We need to stop blaming others for things we can't control.

(Go back, reread. Roll it around in your mind before reading on.)

Ok, so maybe you are thinking... Uh, duh! However, the more I dig into this and the more I sit and listen in to conversations, I wonder if we really embrace this message. So many times we make the statement "Well I taught it."

But if students didn't learn it, who's fault is it?

So many times we might blame it on the student: their academic level, their attention issues, their ability to sit still issues, their home situation, their parents, or even their siblings. But really, when it all comes down to it and what it means to be a teacher, isn't it our responsibility to make sure all our students learn? 

Now, I am not saying I think all kids are created equal. I am not saying there are not issues that impede a child's ability to learn. What I do know is that kids come in at all levels and to get every student to the same level is impossible, but is that what we are shooting for? Shouldn't the focus be put on growth? Helping each child grow to their own potential? Talk about a need for differentiation! But that is a whole other blog post for another day.

If I can apply this to the classroom, I think about a teacher who was frustrated about several students and their "motivation to be in school". The teacher was stuck on the fact that it was a lost cause and that they needed to just make it through the year, hoping something stuck. Until one day and an impromptu lesson about an underwater science station. Breaking out a jar and plastic tub, the teacher had ALL eyes and ears. The students were asking questions and making predictions about how water and science work. They even volunteered to give up their recess, wanting to continue the lesson.  This lesson sparked an interest in the students. It allowed the students to learn in a new way and develop their own questions and answers. I observed students sharing out with each other and making meaningful connections to many areas of education. When reflecting with the teacher afterwards, one word came to her... fun!

So as we come to a conclusion and think about Who's fault it is, reflect upon yourself to engage your learners the way you would want to be engaged. What makes learning fun for you? Bring that into your classroom and engage your students to discover just how fun learning can be. So when faced with the question of fault... it is all because of you.