Connection always comes first.
The Day I Threw Out My Lesson Plan
It was a rainy Tuesday, and I had planned the perfect lesson — slides, group work, and a hands-on task. I was ready. But the moment my students walked in, I could feel it: something was off. They were flat. One looked like she’d been crying. Another slammed his bag down and muttered something under his breath.
I paused. Took a breath. And then I said: “We’re not doing the plan today.”
Instead, we pushed the desks into a circle. I asked, “How’s everyone doing, really?”At first, silence. Then, one hand. Then two. Stories of pressure, exhaustion, a friendship fallout, and a sick parent. I listened. We all did.
That 45-minute conversation changed everything. The energy in the room shifted. When we finally returned to the unit later that week, they were more focused and kinder to one another.
I still believe in the importance of structure and planning.
Have you ever had a moment like this, when your students needed something completely different than what you’d planned?
🍀Share your story below. These are the moments that shape us as educators.