I think it was Harry Wong in The First Days of School who said that teachers are the only professionals who are expected to start out perfect and get better.
How do we do it? How do we become better craftsmen? I know I don't have much time to think let alone "get better at what I do." So this is my current solution. I try to spend the first 10 minutes of work reading something related to teaching.
This school year I've managed in those 10 minute sessions to read a whole textbook on how to teach literature as well as a couple chapters on creative thinking. It isn't much. But the ideas have helped. Also, I think those 10 minutes work to keep whetting my appetite for better teaching.
I think this post could have been labeled a little more humbly. Maybe it should be "10 minutes toward getting just a little better." But somedays that's all we can do. If I can get just a little better at what I do, someday I'll be the teacher I dream to be.
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