I’ve been fascinated by the #OneWord movement in recent years. One word that you will use to motivate and drive you for the upcoming year. It’s been a challenge to find just the right word. In 2018, I chose the word #BOLD as I wanted to be BOLD in what I was doing both personally and professionally. In 2019, I was struggling to find the correct word and while at church I found my motivation, #IMPACT. This year I’ve been thinking about my 2020 #OneWord and it came to me fairly easily.
As I was processing what I wanted to do, I was thinking of various words. #Failure was an idea that popped into my mind. I’ve never been afraid of failure (Frequent Attempts In Learning) so the idea was that #FAILURE reminded me that I should try some things that might not actually work. Failure has always been apart of my path to success. Great idea but the thought was not quite right. Another idea that I had was #Learn. I never would have imagined that I would become a lifelong learner. I am always looking to expand my horizons and learn a new way to approach a subject or topic. I’m starting to choose non-traditional activities to teach my students. I really enjoy being that out of the box teacher for my students to learn a new movement that they would have never considered. Again, I liked this idea but it wasn’t quite right. I’ve finally settled on the word #Uncomfortable. To me, it’s combining the two above thoughts together. I’ve learned how to step into uncomfortable stages in my life. The first time that I submitted a proposal to present at the CAHPERD state conference, it was uncomfortable. Would I be allowed to present? Would I be successful? Would anyone come to see my presentation? Was I good enough? This is something I struggle with EVERY SINGLE TIME that I present. I’m always asking people I trust, “Was that okay?” I always have a bad night of sleep before presenting because I want to do my best. I was uncomfortable when I was asked to join a National Board Certification cohort. Everything I had ever thought about teaching was placed under a microscope. I questioned everything from what I was teaching, assessments, and how I knew students were learning. I hated this time and I loved this time. I became a better teacher because I subjected myself to reflecting on everything I did as a teacher. This was the greatest growth I’ve ever experienced as a teacher. I was uncomfortable when Ryan Csajko and Rich Wiles asked me to join the #ESPEchat crew. I really had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know if I could contribute. Luckily, they were both super supportive and gave me advice on how to handle my first chat. To be honest, I felt the win was that I survived. I’m not sure the first chat I moderated was amazing (or any of them) but I felt like I was okay and that I could do a little better. It pushed me to try harder. I felt uncomfortable in 2015 when @PhysEdAgogy hosted their #PhysEdSummit and they suggested someone else host a summit. I felt a sense of “I can do this!” I had NO IDEA what I was doing and I remember having conversations with the @PhysEdAgogy crew and getting advice/help on everything. I’m still a bit amazed we pulled it off and I now look back at having completed five summits with 55 sessions. I know that EVERY ONE of those presenters and countless moderators felt uncomfortable, too, but we did it! I was uncomfortable when I was nominated for CAHPERD Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. I was worried that I wasn’t enough. I was worried that someone would call me out for lacking a specific skill that was vital for being given the TOY award. This is something that has continued to haunt me. I was shocked to hear that almost every TOY feels the same way. I was given advice from my friend, Patty Kestell, who told me this feeling motivated her to up her game even more. This was amazing advice that helped me realize I was not done! I still had more work to do. I can continue to provide numerous examples, but I hope your starting to understand. I realized a few years ago that I’ve become accustomed to being uncomfortable. I’m okay with having those feelings as I have learned to deal with it and push through. Each one of these examples could have forced me to shut down and not progress as a professional. I could have let those thoughts and doubts overwhelm me. I’ve become comfortable being uncomfortable. Being in the uncomfortable state allows me to grow. This is exactly how the body responds to a stimulus that is beyond us, it provides the opportunity to grow. I can already tell that 2020 is going to be a year that I’m going to be uncomfortable. I have three things that I can see that are going to get me out of my comfort zone. In 2020, I’ll be starting back again as an adjunct professor. This time will be for undergraduate students. I’ve been completely blown away that this opportunity has come my way. I’ll be taking over for a professor who has spent years teaching this class and he has felt the need to give it up. I’m excited to teach technology skills again and can lay a foundation for undergraduate students to be prepared for their teaching profession. I’m uncomfortable because I’ve never worked with this “grade” before. Will they respond the same way my graduate students did in 2018? I’m realizing I’m wanting to show them high quality physical education practices in assessments, backwards design, and lesson planning. Is this going to be too much? Will I be physically able to handle teaching a 16 week course on top of my teaching responsibilities? Will my family be okay with me doing it? I was asked to join a Vintage Baseball Team last spring. I have not played baseball since I was in high school and have not been around the game since I coached in the late 90s. During our first “practice” I was told to put on this glove that reminds me more of an oven mitt than a baseball glove. Catching the ball was not easy. The bat is longer and heavier than I’ve ever attempted to hit with. I have not hit against live pitching since around 1998. I’m worried that my body is going to break down or get hurt. I’m realizing I’m making a lot of excuses for why I cannot do this. I talk to my students and my own children about challenging yourself even when your unsure. I guess it's time to put up or shut up... This year will mark the first time that I’ve had a student teacher. I’ve wanted the opportunity to share and guide a student teacher, but we’ve never had a #PhysEd student teacher at my school. It looks like I’ll be hosting two student teachers in 2020, one in the “spring” and one in the “fall.” As it’s becoming more likely that this will happen, I'm starting to realize how “type A” I really am. I’m going to have to give up control of my class. What was I thinking? What if they want to teach a sport/activity I’m not really wanting my students to practice? Will I expect them to perform like a 20 year NBCT veteran? Will I chase them away from our profession? Will I be able to provide them with the advice they need to become an effective teacher? I’m starting to question myself if I’m really ready for this. This isn’t going to be as easy as I wanted it to be. As I’m typing, I’m realizing that I’m afraid. Maybe that’s what makes #Uncomfortable so powerful. To step forward even when your afraid of what might happen. Joshua 1:9 and 2 Timothy 1:7 both remind me where my focus should be. Being timid/fearful can keep you in your comfort zone. I feel that urge to keep moving forward. This year is going to be a year that will have a profound effect on me. It’s a year that I’m going to need to be #Uncomfortable again. The uncomfortable nature of this year will help me grow again. I know that through growth I will become a better person, husband, father, friend, student, and teacher. Hopefully others will see me being uncomfortable and take a chance by doing something new, something scary. What’s holding you back? What is that thing that you’ve wanted to try? What is your #OneWord for 2020?
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Matthew Bassett
Professional and personal thoughts from a simple educator. ArchivesCategories |