Falling into New Habits

The days of summer are behind us, although the recent weather here in Wisconsin begs to differ. 80*+ days in mid-September? Yes, I'll take it. 

And now I can drink a salted caramel mocha from Starbucks and have it feel like fall, plus start planning this year's Halloween costume and see the leaves turn, plus the air turn cooler.

Welcome to fall. 

Fall is a time of new for children-school year, routine, classes and friends. Fall for educators and parents is new in regards to a new school year, plus those parent-teacher conferences with new students and families. Fall can also be a time to do something new or even improve one's self.

Professionally, I am finding myself having to fall into new habits. Everything I have learned about child development has been through on the job training, plus networking. Most of it has been from the administrative staff of various centers that I have worked, and the other part has been through planning, implementation and observation, also known as the teaching cycle. Every idea I have found through a variety of resources, including Pintrest. (I don't remember how I was able to survive early in my career without it.) 

After nearly twenty years as an educator, I'll just say it: I'm set in my ways. Part of being set is that comfort zone, and having ADHD. I've posted before about my ADHD issues, and those with ADHD typically are reluctant to change. For me personally, I consider myself adaptable, yet new changes can be overwhelming to me. My childcare center now has a new assistant director and a new lesson plan format, and the entire thing is slightly overwhelming. My old center used this type of curriculum, just not in depth. At that center I was told to over structure my two year old classroom, and then with my recent class at that center, things changed. 

"Let them be little", my assistant director told me. She explained I didn't have to work on handwriting with my 4K class, because they will learn that in school. I had such learning standards at my old center that I thought were inappropriate for their young age group, but I went along with it. Teaching handwriting to two year olds? They can barely hold a crayon. Teaching them ABCs and expecting them to recognize specific letters? Asking them to sit for a ten minute group time? They can barely sit still.

But that's what I was expected to do. And it set me in my ways. Then my friend Michelle pointed out that there are a million and one ways to teach letter recognition. And now my assistant director tells me I don't need to work on handwriting. After thinking about it, I have to say I agree with both of them. 

That's where I need to fall into new habits. Trying things differently, and trying new things, both professionally and personally. 

And then I have to learn to not fall in a movie theater wearing stack wedges. Lucky for me, only the usher saw what happened. One bruised shoulder and elbow later, I got up like nothing happened. 

Welcome to fall. Just don't fall.