This week I had a wish that teachers could erase the word “try” from our dictionaries. Have you ever handed a student an assignment and you could feel the fear in their eyes? Yet you used your calm and encouraging voice and asked them to try? Some students attempt and others don’t even try. Some students embrace the challenge and other students don’t see the value. How nice would it be if students would just do?

Replace the word students with teachers and re-read. I know I am guilty of this on multiple accounts and it was very challenging for me, this week, to embrace the do, and just do. We want students to try but mostly to do, because it’s best for their learning. If we truly care what’s best for their learning, we need to hold ourselves to the same standard of doing and not just trying.

This week is my final Winter Teacher Outfit Round-up and the first week I decided to stop trying and to do.

MONDAY D E T A I L S 
Dress: Old Navy (size xs) |  Shoes: Target (size 7.5) |  Necklace: here

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My just do: I believe that the work I am doing on a daily basis with my students is meeting their needs. I truly believe that. With that said, I do things differently than a lot of teachers. I don’t know if I would call it an irrational fear, but I feel like people are judging me when I work with my students. That fear of judgement often results in me trying to find balance when working with students outside the walls of my classroom. On Monday, one of my students, after a long weekend, had come back to school with an unexpected change in his routine. Tiny humans have big emotions and his big emotions were growing and growing. When I got upstairs to my principal and my student, I realized I wasn’t going to fear the judgement. I knew why the student was upset and I understood. I knew the student was hurting and trying to express him feelings in the best way he could.  Do I try strategies that will be viewed in the eyes of others as “accountable” “structured” and “logical” knowing that his escalation will last longer but will eventually come down. Or do I go with my gut and what I think is best for him?

You might have read my caption on Monday about kicking my heels off and playing soccer in this dress. That’s exactly what I did. My goal was to keep him and others safe. He was resistant and thought I was trying to trick him, but after I explained if I break my word, I give him permission to never talk to me again, he decided he could control that and came with me. I took my shoes off and walked from the doors to the turf field and we passed for 5 minutes until he looked calmer. 15 minutes later he was back in class and had an incredible rest of the day.

TUESDAY D E T A I L S
Dress: Abercrombie (size xs)  |  Jean Jacket: Target (size xs)  |   Shoes: Old Navy – Similar (size 7.5)  |  Necklace: Here  |  Bag: Here!

My just do: I try my hardest to stay away from using food as a reinforcement. Which is quite silly because of the group of kids that I work with, but it’s important for me for them to build their intrinsic motivation. Also, it’s sightly unsettling for me to make hungry children work for food. I give out snacks all day, but I don’t make them work for it. I still have my exact candy box from when I taught middle school, filled with candy. On Tuesday, I told myself candy isn’t food, and if it means they make their point goals and are actually learning, I can spare a bite sized starburst. I stopped telling myself to try other strategies and decided to just do. I gave them a purpose for working hard and turning in their CICO. Worked every day this week.

SHEEPWOOL WEDNESDAY D E T A I L S 
Top: Nordstrom (size xs)  |  Jacket: Asos (size 2– size down)  |  Jeans: Gap (size 24 r)  |  Shoes: Old Navy – Similar

My just do: I had my first transition meeting with my 5th graders future 6th grade teacher. These are my babies. All my teaching experience had been with middle school aged students prior to them. I was in a dark place and so were they. Slowly but surely we pulled out of it together. This group of kids will forever be one of my greatest investments. I couldn’t fall asleep because I kept trying to figure out the best way to “present” their stories and their growth and continued areas of growth to their new teacher. I had always been on the other side. For 3 years I met with elementary school teachers and listened to them share their students information with me– each time, feeling slightly panicked with what I would hear. I needed to try to be honest but positive. Realistic but reasonable. And I REALLY needed to try not to cry.

I was basically sorting out a sales pitch for these kids. My main objective? See them as I do, love them as much as I do, and advocate for them as much as I do. They belong with you, not in a centered program.

I cried within the first 5 minutes. My emotions didn’t even let me try, I had to just do. I now have zero fears about them going to middle school 🙂 I’m only going to miss them, now.

THURSDAY D E T A I L S
Dress: Old Navy (size xs r)  |  Shoes: Old Navy (size 7.5)  |  Necklace: Nordstrom

My just do: I spend so much time trying to figure it out on my own, that I forget to use the resources I have. Asking for help is something that I really struggle with. To show up for the kids, I had to step outside my comfort zone and ask for help. I’m so glad I did.

FRIDAY D E T A I L S 
Top: The Cutsey Class (size s) |  Jeans: Gap (size 24 r) |  Shoes: Old Navy (size 7.5)

My just do: You know when you’re in a staff meeting and you’re doing a team building activity that involves answering a question? You know the deep down, raw and real answer, but you try to come up with something not so personal instead? Well. For people to understand the kids I work with and the work that I do, I have to speak my truth. Typing your truths to the world is way less scary than saying it aloud in front of your colleagues.

Letting go of our fears is hard, but by showing ourselves love and grace, we can do it. I think it’s a task that must be done in order to best meet the needs of ALL of our students.

I can’t wait to hear all that you do this weekend and next week at school 🙂