Dr. Seuss: Still Inspiring

This summer, my mind has swirled with new instructional strategies, collaborative activities, innovative laboratory experiences, and protocols to use in my classroom. With a list of ideas to learn/try/do spanning many pages, it is easy to feel overwhelmed – especially during a week of teacher in-service training that was jam-packed with important meetings and critical information. My biggest barrier is always time. Can I get an amen?

Then, Thursday, this blog post landed in my inbox. Having followed James Clear for some time, I knew that his words would inspire me…and, as expected, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was so moved by his message that I shared it with my school leadership team, as I believe his message speaks to all educators and how we approach barriers.

The Wierd Strategy Dr. Seuss used to Create his Greatest Work (James Clear)

Two professional colleagues. A friendly $50 wager. 50 words. Bestseller.

In his blog, James Clear highlights “The Power of Constraints”: They inspire creativity and force us to get the job done.

Let that marinate for a second.

In educational conversations, we talk extensively about barriers. We talk about our limited instructional time, limited collaborative planning time, fragmented community support, students who enter our classrooms with significant gaps in knowledge, lack of transparency on standardized tests, limited instructional resources, unreliable technology, …

How many of these barriers are within our control? Not many. Yet, these barriers occupy our minds, our conversations, and our time.

What if, instead, we “Dr. Seuss” this? What if we view these parameters as opportunities: Opportunities to create within the specific confines and with a sense of urgency. Insurmountable barriers become creative opportunities.

We all have constraints in our lives. The limitations just determine the size of the canvas you have to work with. What you paint on it is up to you.  ~James Clear

It is up to you if your mindset is your canvas or your paintbrush.