Time. Our most valuable commodity.

As I am in the middle of Thanksgiving Break I am reflecting upon what is most important to me.  At the top of that list is time.
 
At first glance it would seem that we would have enough time.  After all, the sun rises and sits each day.   We have the same 86,400 seconds with each passing day.  We can accomplish so much in this amount of time yet we all complain that we do not have enough time.  Why is that?  Have you ever wondered where it all goes?  I do.

The ignorance of youth tricks us into thinking there is plenty of time but the reality is that time is finite. 

​Yes, the sun will continue to rise and set in a predictable manner as it has done since the beginning of time.  What makes it finite is in how we utilize our time.  What do we spend it on each and every day.  Do we spend our time on the things that really matter?  Do you know what really matters to you?  Do you build your days around what really matters to you?  Those are hard questions to answer and I encourage you to really reflect upon them.
 
In education we are guilty of spending our time focusing on the things that may not matter much at all.  If you do not believe me, just check out John Hattie’s visible learning research.  As you look over the list what surprises you?  Where do you spend most of your time?  What is most important to you as an educator?  How can other see what is most important to you?

How can others see what is important to you?

As Americans we are guilty of spending our time focusing on work.  It is a part of our American culture.  We work more than anyone else in the industrialized world.  I am not saying that work isn’t important.  I am as guilty as the next guy or gal about spending too much time working.  What I want you to think about is: how is the work – life balance in your life?  Are you making time for what is most important to you?  How can others see what is most important to you?
 
As you push through the remainder of the calendar year and close out the fall semester think about how you are spending your time in your classrooms.  Are you engaging kids in learning experiences that are meaningful to them or are you wasting their time?
 
Think.  Achieve.  Succeed.
 
Jeff