Change, Transitions, and Growth

May 20, 2016
Issue #409

It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear . . . It’s like being between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to.
—Marilyn Ferguson

The tree across from my house exploded with glorious blossoms that lasted for about six days before sprinkling tiny petals all over the sidewalk. It’s now in transition between pink glory and the green, shade-giving beauty it will be all spring and summer. The transition phase isn’t very pretty, and it always feels a little bit sad. But the blossoms had their time. Their significance is over. Something new is coming, and it is growth.

Every time I see a tree in this phase, I am reminded that for growth to take hold, a letting go must first take place. My professional journey is a timeline marked by many such moments, where I had to let go of one thing to embrace the next:

            Let go of preprinted and laminated posters. Grow into a teacher who puts things on the wall that we create together; that anchors our learning and holds meaning, relevance, and beauty.

            Let go of desks with perfectly printed name tags declaring who owns the space. Grow into a teacher who trusts students and teaches them to choose a spot where they will be comfortable and successfully engaged in meaningful work.

          Let go of the scripted reading program that was comfortable because it told me exactly what to do, where to point, and what to say, but didn’t know my students. Grow into a teacher who uses resources to meet the needs of the children in front of me, whom I know well.

            Let go of leveled groups, where children's letters or numbers determine their placement. Grow into a teacher who confers mostly one-on-one and discovers it is a better way to differentiate and meet diverse needs.

As with the tree, there is a brief period of time between letting go and growth that is less than beautiful. Yet this sometimes-awkward transformation is a turning point that holds a promise of beauty. If, during those transitions, we give ourselves the gift of time and the grace to make mistakes, and nourish ourselves with research, rationale, and the support of others, we will grow. We just need to be brave enough to let go of the things that no longer serve us, and the children in our care, well.

 

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