“That’s it! I’m done. No more Technology – I don’t get it, my students don’t get – I certainly can’t use it to teach.”
That was my 8am “Good Morning” from a talented teacher as I walked into the teacher lounge.
I am an Instructional Coach and my primary role is to work with my fellow teachers to support student learning and growth – many times utilizing “technology” as a tool to enhance the student experience. After all, we are a 1:1 district. Strategically, my goal is to coordinate efforts with teachers in our district with a focus on the development and implementation of instructional strategies in all content areas and to support effective planning, instruction, and assessment for learning.
I have been her coach for the last 5 years. When I heard this – I thought of so many different ways to respond:
- “Oh, that stinks!”
- “I’m sorry to hear that.”
- “Having a bad day?”
Instead, I looked at this teacher and said, “NO! You are not allowed to say that. You can go to a corner and scream into a pillow all you want, but you won’t quit!”
She looked at me and….laughed!
We all need to remember that there are going to be times we want to pull our hair out, say “the kids can’t do it”, and “I quit!” In these moments we need to remember we have a choice!
We have a choice to continue to learn or give up.
We have a choice to challenge ourselves to be better or take the easy way out and quit.
This teacher’s choice…She chose the opportunity to get better and continue to move forward!
We sat down later that week and talked about all the ways she can continue to use technology with her students to engage them in their learning. Ideas such as using “Explain Everything” to show what they are thinking in math or students creating books about the science unit they are studying using “Book Creator”.
Sometimes all we need is a good idea or direction on where to begin. No doubt, all of these changes in today’s education process can be overwhelming. I am here to tell you that is “OK!” You are not alone in your frustration, your fading confidence or your feelings that you will never “get it.”
Our book, NOW Classrooms K-2-Lessons for Enhancing Teaching and Learning Through Technology, will help you get started! We aren’t promising that you won’t have frustrations, but we are promising your kids will be engaged in the meaningful lessons we share and you will have a starting point!
Now, go be brave and try something new! You and your students can do it! 
Even if it means you might spend a minute or two in the corner of your room while screaming in a pillow!
Post by Nicole Ring, instructional coach
@NicoleRing58