21st Century Learning and Teaching

Recent major news stories have been pretty depressing. To mention just a few: the National Security Agency leaks scandal, concerns about the use of drones, self-serving congressional obstructionists,

In my last post, I promised readers a special post on a topic of great importance to me. Fighting cynicism is that topic. It is one of the most important issues for me and needs to be one of the most important goals for all schools.

Cynicism can rot out a school the way termites rot out a wooden home. A cynic is someone who has given up hope that things can better. They are not realists or skeptics, who often ask hard questions or demonstrate care before accepting the first new thing that comes along.

Cynicism is a plague that kills dreams. It sucks the life out of teachers and robs students of hope. No student deserves to have a teacher who has given up hope.

Five Strategies to Help Teachers Stop Cynical Feelings

Here are five powerful strategies that can help when you feel cynical or that you can use to help another teacher if you are a colleague, administrator or school consultant.

- Remember why you became a teacher and why you stay a teacher. 

- Adopt a hopeless student.

- Adopt a cynical teacher.

- Communicate with those who affect you in school. 

- Feel good about what you can control.

Here are some examples of what we can control:Being prepared Designing great lessons (see my previous post) Helping colleagues Doing things to make the school a better place

Organizing events that bring joy to colleagues, like a bagel and coffee morning before classes start (donuts and bear claws are better left in the bakery) Reclaiming the power to make ourselves feel good minimizes the emotional risk that leads to disappointment and cynicism.