ADDING VALUE - A Commitment

A chicken and a pig were discussing the farmer’s favorite breakfast – ham and eggs. The chicken insisted that the farmer was great and wise in his choice of breakfasts, and that the rest of the community should follow his example. “That’s fine for you,” replied the pig. “in your case, breakfast is a donation; In mine, it’s a commitment.”

Teaching is like that. Meeting the needs of all students is not the result of donating, or “putting in” your time. Adding Value to your students’ school year is a commitment. Some days it may seem like you are giving it ALL – that you’re the pig and this is the end of you.

However, even though Adding Value to your students will always be a commitment, there are simple things that you can do to keep that commitment reasonable – something well to this side of the supreme sacrifice. I’ll be sharing some of those ideas – things you can use in your classroom right away, both to add value to your students’ school year and to make your life simpler and easier.

You can also share your successes. Tell me about the things you are already doing – either in a reply to this post or in a separate e-mail. I’ll post great ideas and give you the credit. With your permission, I’d like to include your ideas, with a credit to you, in Adding Value. More about that next time.