Practiced Avoidance

May 22, 2015
Issue #357

You are going to judge me and you will be completely justified in doing so.

I have a shoulder impingement injury. I have been assigned stretches and exercises, which if practiced daily will lessen the pain and bring back my range of movement, yet I don’t do them. They aren’t very hard. They don’t even take very long. I don’t have a single good reason for avoiding them. 

How is it better to live with stabs of pain so intense that I go from being a normal woman to one with circling cartoon stars of pain above my head? How is it better to live for months, careful not to make movements that cause mind-numbing, nearly faint-inducing pain? It isn’t. I get it. It isn’t.

All of you with healthy bodies are thinking, That doesn’t make sense. Just do the moves and get better. And you are right. See, I knew you'd judge me.

But until one of my loved ones steps in to hold me accountable, or until I decide that I am tired of the complete lack of improvement, the stretchy purple band and illustrated list of moves collects dust while I practice avoidance.

So now I know.

Now I know and can relate to that special brand of reluctant reader who wants to be proficient, but doesn’t read. They have what they need in their book boxes, but avoid engaging with text. They are given time to practice, but don’t use it. It doesn’t make any sense. And time after time, they shrug and say they don’t know why they don’t read, they just don’t.

But being a nonreader is a pain inducing experience we can’t allow. So until our reluctant readers become voracious and independent readers, we must assess accurately, instruct wisely, support and scaffold brilliantly, check in with daily, cheer on optimistically, and tenaciously impart the message that reading is a superpower they must have for themselves. No judgment, just understanding and the message that they are too important to let slip through the cracks. 

News from The Daily CAFE

Live Chat with the Sisters!*

Bring your questions and success stories to our live chat, Wednesday, May 27, 4:00 PST. We can't wait to connect with you online.  

I'm Thinking—I Know

Here is a simple way to raise engagement and quickly assess the status of the class during discussions.

Perimeter Challenge*

This math activity provides practice in measuring the distance around the outside of a figure.

Math Daily 3 Board*

This video explains the Math Daily 3 board, gives you insights on to how to build it, and explains what should be posted on it.

"I Can" Bookmarks

Help students remember the key factors of these  strategies with easily reproduced bookmarks.

1  Voracious Reading*

2  Ask Someone to Define the Word for You*
 

Five Ways to Be a Best Friend

Here are five things you can do to be a valuable and treasured best friend.

Math Daily 3 Check-In

Professional Development Opportunities