Dear Teacher,
Oversized inflatables have become a fixture on farms every October, but most of them stay tied down. However, a giant inflatable pumpkin broke loose on Sunday, October 11th, after a gusty weekend in Cary, North Carolina. The "escapee" from Phillips Farm left the premises while helping host the farm's annual Pumpkinfest. Video shows a massive orange decoration rolling down a road and heading straight toward an uber driver. "It's gonna hit us," the driver can be heard saying as the pumpkin bounces closer.
However, never skipping a beat, Phillips Farm leaned into the moment, joking that Pumpkinfest went a little off-kilter, but that the farm still had a "gourdeous" day. The farm also thanked the Uber for helping bring home the runaway pumpkin.
And you, Teacher, there in your classroom, may feel a bit off-kilter, too. Likely, you've implemented the same tried-and-true instructional components that have always been successful. Whether they're your daily Powerpoint slides, your high-school creative roll-taking questions, or your behavioral clip chart, you've put into place strategies for success. Yet, with a wind of change, your plans blow out the window leaving you chasing structure and sanity.
However, knowing you, you handle a runaway classroom moment without skipping a beat. You joke with your students. You admit you're human. And you enlist their help to get things back on track. Why? Because you know that the sign of a good teacher isn't pupils sitting in little rows like pumpkins in a furrow. Instead, you recognize that a great educator has the ability to adapt to the unique needs of every student.
"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."
~Dolly Parton
Rolling with you,
Mindy
Christian Educator & School Counselor