TAKING A BREAK CAN KEEP YOU IN THE RACE

Learning to renew and refresh ourselves during a journey is an important key in completing the journey successfully. Being able to take a break, temporarily change our focus, or even redirect our thinking can allow us to return to our primary mission with a renewed sense of purpose. I used to hear people use the expression, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (Jill a dull girl).” I think this expression reminds us that every now and then, it’s vital to our well-being to simply take a break.

When I talk with principals and teachers in the Springfield Public Schools, it’s satisfying to hear common discourse about the work that we do and the results that we want. From school to school, people are analyzing data to inform instruction. I believe that anything one consistently works hard at doing well, one will improve in and eventually get satisfactory results. You hear the stories of Michael Jordan shooting foul shots over and over each day until he perfected his shot. Although that’s just one example, it tells a story that can hold true for us today. When we focus ourselves on increasing student achievement and our energy is directly applied to that sustained effort, the results will be positive. However, we must remember the importance of balancing intense work with relaxation.

Several weeks ago, I visited a school in the eastern part of our state. One of my colleagues who accompanied me reminded me that during our visit we were not to say the word MCAS out loud to the students because we were told that it stresses them out. If anyone needed to make reference to MCAS, they simply said the “big test.” Now, at first I thought “how ridiculous is that?” But, after some additional thinking and dialogue with others, I realized that this was a strategy adopted in this school that helped people to stay focused on the work at hand without allowing the work to become too stressful. It was actually an attempt to release themselves from pressure, to take a break, while still remaining strong contestants in the achievement game. Who was I to criticize what apparently worked well for them?

Learning is hard work. Going to school each day prepared to work and learn requires a sense of determination and drive. Participating in class and continuous engagement in the lessons and activities requires students to stay in control of their thoughts and actions. Understanding the tasks and striving to complete them successfully forces students to pay attention, follow directions, and stay focused. Meeting the mandates of MCAS and other assessments with scores of proficient or better is a tall order. Are we up for the challenge? I say yes, we are, and I am seeing the evidence in classrooms throughout our district.

Yet, it is incumbent upon all of us to include times in our daily routines to excuse ourselves from stressful demands and simply relax. Can you identify the one thing in your day that helps you feel renewed or refreshed? If you can, good for you! If you can’t, you have homework to do! n