Stories From the Field: Simple Lessons Are Often the Strongest
Ten years ago, on a warm late-July morning, I was adjusting my necktie, watching myself in the mirror of the staff restroom at STEM Preparatory Academy. Staring into my own eyes, I realized by the movement of my lips that I was repeating a mantra, “you can do this, you can do this…”
It was mere minutes before the buses would arrive on my very first day of teaching. I was afraid. I was full of questions and worries: Will they like me? Will they listen to me? What if I forget my plans for the day?
To my great surprise, the first day went swimmingly. It was as though a gear within me had fallen into place, engaging a previously dormant function. In the weeks that passed, my rapport with students continued to strengthen; I felt comfortable in the classroom; I had jokes! But there was something missing.
My lessons were terrible.
As a Reading teacher, I knew the content thoroughly. In fact, I had gone to college to study English. And being comfortable in my teacher persona meant that most students felt engaged. But my lessons felt overly complex, chock full of the hippest pedagogical methods, byzantine group activities, crammed with one too many standards and not enough time to teach them.
About three weeks in, I started spending my planning periods holed up in the backs of my colleague’s classrooms, wolfing down sandwiches and taking notes on their own pedagogical prowess. And what did I discover?
Simple lessons are often the strongest.
Don’t worry: I’m not calling for a referendum on gallery walks. Activities that get students up and about, engaging multiple intelligences are golden. But the more I watched my fellow teachers, I found that their best lessons had built-in economy.
With the help of my Coach, I was able to simplify my process, saving time and ensuring that each component supported the day’s objectives. As a new teacher, of course, there were fits and starts. But progress was steady. As my confidence grew, my mantra evolved: “Keep it simple, keep it simple…”
To this day, I continue to use that mantra. In my work as a School Account Manager at Common Curriculum, I find that the same principle of simplicity holds true for our partner teachers. Though the platform boasts dozens of pre-built templates to match every teaching style — and even the ability to make your own — teachers rave about our most basic of templates, keeping their lessons focused, clear, and built to meet the needs of their students.
