In our house we’ve recently started watching the show “Abbott Elementary”. If you’ve never viewed it before, it’s a great modern take on what it’s like to teach in a school. This satirical comedy is set in Philadelphia and follows the staff members as they approach challenging situations with joy and determination to do their best for the children.
One of the characters, Geoffrey, is always known for being stoic and reserved. He takes teaching and learning very seriously; also expecting the children to do the same. In one episode, a guest musician is hosting a presentation in the school gym. As the viewer can see, all the other students are laughing and singing and dancing. However, Geoffrey’s class is following his lead by standing still with arms folded – very serious! As the teacher looks around and notices the difference between his class and the others, something clicks. He starts to dance with some fun moves. And as he starts to dance, so do the kids. Soon enough, the whole class is looking like it’s having fun at the assembly.
Educators are often so propelled by competing priorities – paperwork, planning, marking, the newest seating plan, finding resources, etc. These are all important and vital to ensuring that this hard work of educating young minds is centred. Teaching is the crux of our work, after all.
At times in my career, I felt a little like Geoffrey. Focused on making sure the lesson was perfect and that I was well prepared, worksheets photocopied, tests with the right questions. I was focused hard on building my own teaching knowledge, theories about what education should be like, and creating routines that I felt best supported student learning.
But something felt missing without humanizing myself, staff, families, and students. My fondest recollections of school are the ones where I felt the most joy. The moments of learning, yes, but also moments of shared laughter and memories being built together. I remembered what it was like to sing silly songs in music class, to have those shared jokes together, to get to know one another and build a community. Finding joy every day that we spend together is important, too.
What does that space look like, sound like, and feel like? It looks like everyone is able to work to their greatest potential at that moment; it looks like smiling faces and silly dance moves. It sounds like students reading confidently and engaging in discussion; it also sounds like laughter and shared stories about our weekends. It feels like achievement and success; however, it also feels joyful and fun and accepting – and a little something like home.
