Learning how to juggle

Because you can only learn to juggle step by step, juggling is a great
model for learning in general.

We learn to juggle drop by drop. It is not through success, but through many small mistakes (drops) that we learn to juggle. We learn from these mistakes and keep on trying until we accomplish the skill. Through juggling we learn that with practice we can accomplish great things. 

"Juggling & Whole Brain Learning"

Upon arrival to school, you receive a text message from your teaching assistant - she has missed her commuting connections; she is going to arrive late.

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

Photo person drops by your classroom before school with surprise instructions - please have parents review these proofs, check off if they want picture, and, if they don't, have them take a new form to set a new sitting date...I'll be back at end of day to collect this information from you.  How can you continue the planned morning activities and still get this information from families (without a teaching assistant to help)?

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

Quick, make sign for families, add reminder to daily message, hope that it takes care of itself....

Your principal says your report cards are overdue and she needs them right away; you feel certain you posted them on the school's Dropbox some ten days ago...hmmm.

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

Quick, take a minute to search... There they are - you inadvertently placed them in the wrong folder; you need to upload them again; you can fix this during the children's nap-time....

You shared the new specials schedule with families, celebrating the addition of a P.E. class; children and families arrive expecting this class, but you have just found out that - for unknown reasons - P.E. isn't starting this week.  So, do you pop everyone's bubble?

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

No, you decide to take children to the P.E. room and do an improvised P.E. of your own.  You've never led a class in this room before - the heating system has such a loud and unexpected growl, the children cannot hear a word you are saying....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

You dare to strain your voice, projecting over the heating system. As if on cue, one child's nose starts to bleed and bleed and bleed - and you don't have any tissues in this room, there's no bathroom nearby, and there are 21 classmates throwing balls....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

Back in the classroom, nosebleed is stopped, children are at centers, teaching assistant has arrived; you should call the child's family, to be certain that the nosebleed is a common experience and not some new, unusual thing.  You go to the family contact folder...hmmm...this family's telephone number is missing from your contact info folder....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

You go to the principal's office to get the family's current info; there is a big meeting in the principal's office which you will be interrupting....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

You get the file and go to photocopy it - but someone's in the midst of a big photocopying job....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

There is a new phone on the wall of your classroom, allowing you to call families and continue working with the children...you dial out, but there is so much happy noise in the classroom that you cannot hear a darn thing on the other end.  You hang up.   Admin person runs in from reception area - I'm transferring a call to you from someone's mother, pick up your phone!  It turns out, you can't hear the new phone ring, either. You pick up phone, and continue to hear nothing.  You dart back to the reception area. Admin is not happy - I just put the call through to you!  Back you run to your classroom....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

As you talk to the family, you scan the classroom, keeping eyes on the children...ahhh,

• two students standing ineptly on the side of play activity, unable to negotiate the wide gulf of friendship, how to play together, how to join in; if you weren't on the phone, you could work some magic;
• a couple children are running wildly around in the classroom, squealing, taking advantage of you being on the phone, giving all the signals that they need another location or another play idea; if you weren't on the phone, you could work some magic;
• one child begins screaming loudly - he has just spilled water from his water bottle on his clothes and he detests this cold sensation; you know he will not be consoled until he has changed his clothes; if you weren't on the phone, you could work some magic;
• two classmates run up to you with lots to share, talking over one another, ignoring your signal to hold their thoughts just for one moment, calling out, so excited, so elated...if you weren't on the phone, you could work some magic;
• one child begins emptying math manipulatives from the cabinet, one by one, trying to find the perfect one with which to play? A pile of loose, small, mixed-up pieces begins to grow; aack! if you weren't on the phone....

Deep cleansing breath.
Learning how to juggle.

Several plates in the air.

*****

Finally, nap-time.
You are certain that you'll get a moment of calm now.
You have to get to those report cards!

Except, one child; he does not want to take a nap; yesterday, he had an accident during nap and he doesn't want to repeat this; he needs several repeat trips to the bathroom before he feels calm enough to fall asleep. Finally, he falls asleep. Also, the few remaining restless ones fall asleep.  Yes!

As if on cue, a child wakes up crying from a bad dream....

This is just one of those days....

*****

At day's end -

Take home folders are not stuffed and ready to go.
One child's jacket and another child's winter hat are completely, utterly lost.
There is something unknown spilled all over the floor in the snack area.
Not one family has signed the photo log, to indicate whether or not they want photos.
Principal has not received the report cards.

Truth is, somedays, you are not a skilled juggler.
Tomorrow's another day.

*****
It is not through success, but through many small mistakes (drops) that we learn to juggle. We learn from these mistakes and keep on trying until we accomplish the skill. Through juggling we learn that with practice we can accomplish great things. 

"Juggling & Whole Brain Learning"