It is time for me to make a confession. It is time for me to come clean. Because it is easy to speak about all of the things we do in our 7th grade classroom, it is easy to share ideas, to give advice, to hopefully help others engage students more. And yet…some of those things that I love the most we are not even doing.
We haven’t started blogging yet. This monumental cornerstone of our classroom has not found its hold. It lurks on the horizon, taunting me, reminding me of its presence, and yet, we are not bloggers. We haven’t had many discussions of how to change education, how to share our voice with the world, how to make a change so that the schools we go to become better with us in them. We have not been geniuses or innovators. Nor have we Skyped much. We have not taken the system apart only to put it back together. And I am ok with that. For now.
Because while we have not done all of those things, we have slowed down instead. We have gotten to know each other, we have read picture books, we have book shopped for half a class. We have written stories for our eyes only, the classroom so quiet I barely dare move. We have talked about what it means to be a reader, a writer, a human being. We have stopped when we needed to instead of forged on. And the ease at which we now operate in our classroom is profound. The conversations that slowing down has allowed me to have with my students are irreplaceable.
So while we are not global students. While we are not innovators. While we are not out there changing the world, I know that it is only a matter of time. That my students will get to experience those things when they fit into our day. When we feel the need to take our voices further than our own four walls. I know it will happen, it just has not happened yet. And I am ok with that.
If you like what you read here, consider reading my book Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students. Also, if you are wondering where I will be in the coming year or would like to have me speak, please see this page.
Pernille Ripp 
“I am Ok with that” says it all. You have respected what these kids need and given them that. When you do decide to blog, let me know. I’d love to connect our classes.
YES. I find that my excitement to “DO ALL THE THINGS!” often is so overwhelming for my students. We’re also not blogging individually… yet. Or many of the other things I know we will be doing… but I have to be patient and remind myself that these things don’t do any good if I force them too soon. Last year is not the same as this year, and slowing down is okay. Such a good reminder, Pernille. Thank you!
I love how honest you are in your blog Pernille. Sometimes I think about your classroom and others I see on twitter and start to feel horrible for all of the things I am NOT doing. As I read your honest words about what you have not started yet, but also about all of the things that are happening that are amazing, it makes me reflect on my own teaching, on my own classroom. There are moments of magic, that are happening inside the room, and just for us, and sometimes that’s okay. I also reflect often on how important it is to build community, and that takes time, and slowing down also allows kids to talk and feel comfortable. I am realizing more and more how important this talk time is.