Power through with...resilient thinking and planning

<p>The uncertainty and constant changes have been one of the most stressful parts of this school year.<br />  <br /> Nearly every teacher I know has invested countless hours into setting up a system for one approach to learning, only to find out that everything’s going to be completely different the following day … and then it’s all going to change again two weeks after that.<br />  <br /> Resilient pedagogy (as defined by Joshua Eyler) is “a combination of course design principles and teaching strategies that are as resistant to disruption and to change in the learning environment as possible.”<br />  <br /> The idea is that the essential qualities of your lesson plans will be in place, no matter what changes in the way you deliver instruction.<br />  <br /> <strong>A resilient approach to teaching requires us to SIMPLIFY and SCALE DOWN.</strong><br />  <br /> <strong>You’re not going to be able to offer kids all the resources and options you wish you could … and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.</strong><br />  <br /> Everything in our world right now is limited and restricted to an extent. If you go to a restaurant, for example, there are limitations as to where you can sit and probably fewer choices on the menu. <br />  <br /> It’s the same for your instruction: the menu of options is different, and simplified. Since we were trying to cram in way too much to our pre-pandemic instruction, resilient pedagogy returns us to what is essential and most important.<br /> <br /> <strong>As you think about supporting your students during these final weeks of the school year, ask yourself, <em>What would this look like if it were easy?</em> </strong><br /> <br /> <strong>Then pick simple, flexible options that are going to reduce stress for you, your students, and their families. </strong><br />  <br /> I know that many of you are under immense pressure to hold to pre-pandemic expectations and learning standards. Many of your students are going to be taking standardized tests this year.<br />  <br /> Do what’s necessa