I often find myself running at the speed of “As Soon As Possible”. First thing in the morning, I look at my list of priorities from the day before (that are often incomplete) and then reorganize them into the ASAP list…. What must be done this moment, can wait until prep time, tomorrow, or later this week. It’s like constantly running background noise in my brain while I’m teaching and spending time with students.
But what if I changed that list? Not the content or the timing; I can’t change due dates or even the list itself most days, but I’ve been thinking of changing my approach. As soon as possible doesn’t have to be the only title for this list.
ASAP could stand for As Softly As Possible. What if I could plan assessment with softness, ensuring that our classroom conversations were emphasizing care and compassion instead of completion? How would it look differently if my approach was to ensure students believed I genuinely care about their learning? Perhaps, the questions that I asked them would reflect authentic curiosity about their thinking instead of focussing on whether they could give me the right answer so I can give them a mark. Perhaps there would be space to share thinking and not just products. Perhaps assessment As Softly As Possible would help us to all feel better and more purposeful about teaching and learning.
ASAP could stand for Allow Space And Pause. Instead of hearing the constant buzzing of deadlines, I could pause and replace that sound with joy. Our class could cultivate our spaces together in community. My Allow Space And Pause list could include time for us to build relationships – both with me and with one another. Maybe I can allow some space for fun in our community after moments of hard thinking or before beginning our day together. Allow Space and Pause reminds me that we all need to take a moment to pause and reflect and, sometimes, begin again.
ASAP could stand for As Sustainably As Possible. I could remind myself that when something goes on my ASAP list, something else has to come off. It means that I am consciously trying to sustain my momentum; choosing to go slow and steady instead of sprinting as fast as I can. As Sustainably As Possible means that I give myself space and time to think, feel, and enjoy teaching instead of allowing that stressful rushed feeling to frustrate me. I want students and colleagues to feel more joy at school and less overwhelmed with that ever expanding to-do list – and I want that for myself, too!
While I don’t think I’m ready to give up my ASAP list (after all, it IS a strategy I need to stay organized), I can change how I move forward with it. Whether that’s reminding myself to slow down or shifting to take a softer approach, I think there is a lesson here somewhere for me to find. I’ll just have to add it to my list of things to do As Simply As Possible.
