You Can Only Do So Much

You Can Only Do So Much dan skognes motivation blogger speaker teacher trainer coach educatorHardly a day goes by that I don’t hear a teacher lamenting that they can’t seem to get everything done that they need to do. They are overwhelmed by the demands of the job. They have kids to teach, parents to update and meet with, lessons to plan, co-workers to collaborate with, papers to grade, rooms and boards to decorate, Principals to appease, and when the day is over, they have their family to take care of. Me time? What is that?

Being a teacher is demanding on so many levels. I think everyone ought to be forced to be a substitute teacher for a week. That would solve most of the problems we have with parents, don’t you think? There is nothing like walking in someone’s shoes to better understand what they do on a daily basis. LOL.

There are two sides of the coin to consider. On one side, you can only do so much. You only have so much time, limited resources, and a finite amount of energy and patience. On the other side….and this is the side that we may never get to see, we are changing the lives of future generations. Never underestimate what you can do because I can tell you first hand that what you do matters. You ARE having an impact….even when you can’t see it and even if you don’t believe it yourself. Whether you are a Superintendent, Principal, Front Office Staff, Teacher, Teacher’s Aide, Nurse, Counsellor, or any of the support people who man our schools….what you do matters.

When you sow into the lives of kids, the returns may not be immediate. In fact, it may be many years down the road for each child before they actually practice what you taught them…but that is the beauty of teaching. The seeds you plant are not wasted. It may or may not come to be in your lifetime where you see the fruit of your labors, but the seeds will sprout and develop at some point given the least bit of nurturing from someone else and a willingness to sprout on their own.

The seeds you sow today are destined to be the plants for your students to climb throughout their lives to reach their destiny, and they are our future.  Every seed matters. Every word counts. Every encouraging thing you do to help them, re-direct them, discipline them, love them, and show them the way is not wasted.

Thanks for all you give today….and all you are sowing for our tomorrows. Just know that what you do matters.

P.S.  If you know a teacher that is struggling, please let them know how much you appreciate them (and be specific as to WHY you appreciate them). That word of encouragement will be like water to a thirsty soul. They need to know that someone recognizes who they are and that what they have sacrificed is not in vain.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

6 Responses to “You Can Only Do So Much”

  1. Cristina Andreescu says:

    So true! We just need to hear some appreciating words from time to time, to recover some energy and reinforce our trust -to be able to continue what are really doing and to go on with our lives as we are. You REALLY understand this! Thank you for telling the world who we are and what we are doing here! God bless you!

  2. Esther says:

    I agree appreciation is a MUST for a teachers growth but Not everybody is a born teacher, so most times they are struggling to connect with their pupils. However, every seed they sow is important .Innovative lesson planning helps!!

    • Dan Skognes says:

      Ester, I wish everyone was a born teacher, but sadly there are some that give teachers a bad name. Obviously, we don’t appreciate them for what they do…but they DO give a valuable lesson in what NOT to do. Shalom! Dan

  3. Mary Frye says:

    Thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful words. I really needed this today! It was a beautiful reminder as to the reason I decided to switch careers and become a teacher. You’ve inspired me to contact my former teachers to let them know how much they mattered to me!

    • Dan Skognes says:

      Thanks for the feedback Mary. I hope you will contact your teachers and let them know. That could be the very thing they need to hear at this time in their lives. We all want to know that what we do matters. God bless you. Shalom! Dan