Teaching Tip #29

Teacherscribe’s Teaching Tip #29

In Colorado, researchers have found something interesting:  Buffalo head into a storm while cattle run from a storm.

Sound simple right?

Not really.

A buffalo, as it heads into a storm, is actually decreasing their time in the storm because they are rushing west into it as the storm heads east.  Soon the buffalo run out of the storm.

A cow, as it flees from the storm (as most of us would instinctively do), is actually increasing their time in the storm because they aren’t swift enough to outrun the storm, so it catches up to them as they both move east.  The cow just ends up prolonging its misery as it runs along with the storm.

So what does that little anecdote have to do with teaching?

Well, what storms can we see heading our way?  Conferences with parents or students?  Committee meetings?  Stacks of essays to be read and graded?  New software to install and become familiar with?  New curriculum to read and master?

Well, instead of running from the “storm,” why not turn around and run toward it?

You will only be decreasing your misery.

This is what Seth Godin calls "leaning in to the dip." The harder (and smarter) you work, the shorter the pain and misery on your way to your goal.