Kristin Ackerman
March 16, 2012
I recently joined a running group and I was reminded of how scary it can be to try something new. As I pulled up to the running store, my stomach fluttered with butterflies and I seriously considered turning around and driving home. I told myself that I was being ridiculous, I have been running consistently for ten years, it is not complicated, you just put one foot in front of the other. My pep talk didn't work. I couldn't shake that panicky feeling that I might not be able to keep up with the group. After several minutes of waffling, I promised myself that if the other people were too fast or intimidating I could leave, but I needed to try.
It is not often in my day to day life that I feel intimidated or panicked. However, my students are trying new skills on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I introduced long division recently and realized a student was experiencing everything I did the night I tried out the new running group.
Garison is a funny, witty, laid back kid who wears a smile wherever he goes, but I saw a different side of him during that math lesson. We were working in a small group and he asked to go to the bathroom; the perfect escape. When he got back we started working one-on-one. I modeled the necessary steps, then we practiced together and then I let him try a problem on his own. My heart broke as silent tears rolled down his face. I looked at him and said "Garison, I think I might know what you are feeling. Can I tell you about what happened last week when I tried something new?" As I shared, he calmed down. Then I asked him if we could try again and by the end of the day he was teaching other students how to divide!
The pressure and fear of the unknown can be very intimidating and yet we expect our students to do it all the time. The running group that I joined turned out to be great; the people are friendly and I am keeping up with the pack! I am working on speed drills and pacing and most importantly, I am learning how to handle that awful panicky feeling. When my students reach that uncomfortable frustration level, I know just what to say and how to encourage them because I feel it too.
Struggle does not feel good but it teaches us that we can achieve more than we think. So, my students and I are not going to let the butterflies, the voices in our heads, or the panicky feeling stop us!