It definitely got me wondering what an inability to feel fear would be like in everyday life for my students and me. What would the absence of fear allow students to be able to accomplish? What thoughts, questions, ideas would they share, what designs, innovations or challenges would they take on?
For me, the best things in my life that I am most proud of and enjoy immensely did not come easily, I had to work at them. I appreciate them all the more because I know I earned it! Can I convince my students that the best learning happens when you are uncomfortable?
I saw a post that changed the word FAIL to “First Attempt In Learning”. Awesome! I have it up in my classroom; it truly applies to real life. In all that we first try, we stumble, fall and fail, maybe the second time too, heck maybe even months later but we keep going at it. Or we don’t and we move on and try something else, and we learn something from that too.
What did I learn today? Try, and try again. Don’t be afraid. We are all learning, all day long, in everything we do. The best stuff in life is scary but getting to the other side of that fear feels awesome!
Jessica Bates (@Jessica4books) Jr. High Science & Social Teacher who is a voracious reader, lover of food & talks way too fast!