Margaret Quinn's August Blog Post: Routman - Chapter 12 - You Only Have So Much Time

Margaret Quinn

August, Routman, Ch.12 You Only Have So Much Time

As I was reading this chapter, the sentences " You can't come to work each day enthusiastic about teaching if all you did the night before was grade papers" and "We need to stop feeling guilty if we leave school at a reasonable hour so we have time for our families" spoke to me and were refreshing to see. I do feel overwhelmed and 'overburdened by the demanding responsibilities and tasks'. I feel like I have to often choose: Am I going to be home early to be a great wife and mother or am I going to stay at school late and be a great and well prepared teacher? This chapter helped me to unveil the realization that being a "good teacher could mean having more time at home with my family." Our students feed off of our excited, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn and teach new things. If we do not feel that way and are worn out before the students even get to school, then they are not going to soak up much knowledge. It is important to Sharpen the Saw and keep a well - balanced life. The book reminded me that nobody is going to make this time for you, you have to stay true to yourself and your priorities. We are people, not just teachers, who have lives outside of the classroom.

I am eager and curious to know if our school will also see learning to be 'sacred' time for students and teachers. Our mornings seemed to be crowded with birthday celebrations, phone calls, emails about late buses, emails about lunch choice changes, attendance in the book, attendance in the computer, lunch count, notes, checking HW, bullying meetings, Bo Time students, and one of my students taken out for resource directly after the announcements. I am hoping we can change this so we can have ample time for them to read and have a more comfortable and relaxed morning as the book suggests.

I had never thought about displaying what could cover my walls up to look good vs. what my children need on the walls as a resource. This passage was an eye opening read. I am excited to make my classroom walls be helpful to my students and teach them how to utilize the words that are my Word Wall, posters, and signs.

It was not shocking to see that students need time to collaborate about topics, questions, and helping each other understand what they are reading. They need to be moving around from small group to small group learning from one another. Today, I plan on choosing a few students to lead the small groups. I am excited to see how it goes!

“Incidental but deliberate” teaching was another one of my favorite passages! Dead time can be used to fill their brains with more knowledge. There are always teachable moments: going down the halls, seat work, and casual conversation with students. We all need to take advantage of this wasteful dead time and use it to continue their learning, so they yearn for more.

This chapter was very enlightening. This particular chapter grabbed my attention from its title: “You Only Have So Much Time”. I am excited to see what the other chapters have to say as well.