This has been on my mind lately. Teachers (myself included) often say we’re doing certain practices like retrieval, inquiry, student choice, feedback cycles, or collaboration. We believe we are. We even tell others we are.
But when you really stop and look at the day-to-day flow of your classroom, sometimes the truth is we’re not. Not in the way we imagine. Maybe we’ve done it once or twice, or a version of it, but not with purpose or consistency.
I’ve made a point to pause and ask myself: Why am I doing this? Am I doing it regularly? Does it actually make sense for my students? Those questions have helped me see what’s real versus what’s routine.
It’s easy to fall into the comfort of saying we “do” something because it feels right or sounds good. The harder part is being honest enough to admit when we’re not and then making the small adjustments that bring our intentions and actions back in line.
Moler's Musings 