Today is the third day of the #5days5words blogging challenge, and today’s word is not a new one for me, but I’m considering it from a different perspective: change.
As many of you know, I love to discuss my parking habits, but there’s another thing about driving that I have not shared here before: I have been driving the same car for the past 17 years. I love my little Honda Civic. I bought it before my first year of teaching, and it’s been my first and only car for my entire teaching career thus far. This car has travelled with me to seven schools, from Ancaster to Stoney Creek, and through countless grade changes: from Kindergarten to Grade 6. When I taught full-day, alternate day Kindergarten at two schools in Stoney Creek, this car was my third classroom. I jokingly had a “tenant in the trunk” with all of the materials that I brought back and forth between the two schools. And even through 17 years of driving — with less than 183,000 km on it — this car is still going strong. But today, I bought a new car: a Honda HRV.
This Is It!
Shopping for a new car has had me thinking a lot about change.
- Never before have I had a back-up camera. How will this change my parking experiences?
- I’m used to the size of my little Civic. How will a change in height and size — particularly the front versus rear end — impact on my driving and parking experiences?
- The radio now exists on a screen. How do I program stations for my listening pleasure? (I love to blast my radio each day.)
- They make cars now without keys. What?!?! I think the Honda employee enjoyed my reaction to this news. There comes a limit to what everyone is willing to change, and for me, the lack of a key is that limit. I will stick with a model that requires a key. 🙂
I share this story here, for when it comes to my professional life, I’m someone that embraces change. It may scare me, but I still go for it. But this car shopping experience reminds me we may all have areas where change terrifies us enough that we stick with the familiar. We choose safe. I did this with my car, and right now, I’m trying hard not to throw up as I think about this next big change. This year though — starting today — I’m taking a different kind of risk. Yes, it worries me. Yes, I wonder if I will love and feel the same comfort with this new vehicle as I had with my first one. Sometimes though, a change — as hard as it may be — is worth it. In what areas are you more reluctant to change, and how can you make a change in one of these areas this year? I hope that I’m not alone in doing so. Just be prepared that my #avivaarriva tweets are about to take on a whole new level of fun beginning in September. I wonder if I can incorporate my “driving change” into my Annual Learning Plan for this year. 🙂 There’s no doubt that I have a lot of new learning ahead.
Aviva
The new car looks fabulous. Change is hard, but also, often good. New car perks are an added bonus, but practising change in all areas of our life are good to keep us from getting stagnant. You are up for the challenge. I look forward to #arrivaaviva tweets.
Thanks Kristi! Great reminder about the need to also practice change in all areas of life. Now let’s see if the backup camera makes my #avivaarriva experiences a little less stressful than usual. 🙂 Thanks for the continued support!
Aviva
Congratulations on the new car! Honda’s are amazing. Another teacher/blogger I know just got a new car after 15 or so years, and “had to” upgrade to a smart phone so her car and phone could communicate. That’s a lot of change at once.
I enjoy change, but I don’t like last minute changes. In fact, if someone comes to my room in the morning to say that there is extra supply coverage available (as happens sometimes when a supply teacher is going to have a little different day than the resource teacher would normally have) I have to say no thanks because I hate those last minute changes to my day. I can’t just walk away from what I am doing! When I find out about changes, a change in grade assignment, or classroom assignment especially, I am always instantly in “fight or flight” as I anticipate all that this entails, but it doesn’t take long for me to find all the good that will come from the change.
Thanks Lisa for the comment! I am still without a Smart phone … maybe another change at some point. 🙂
Your change example is one that I could so relate to. I am also one that becomes stressed by last minute changes. I can understand the kids that need a routine schedule. I am so like that. A number of years ago, a speech pathologist on the Autism Team suggested a “change card” to help prepare one of my kids for last minute changes. Maybe I could also use one. I wonder what part of this change scares us the most, and if facing this fear, would make it better.
Aviva
What an interesting personal perspective on change – so refreshing from the usual mantra that we get from HBR or Leadership Freak! You have me wondering about what change I resist. That question will take a bit more reflection!
It’s very helpful to hear about resistance to sudden change. As educators, we are faced with shifting realities every day, and it is part of the work to respond to that. However, leaders can do their best to anticipate change and prepare for it – with things like change cards – to help reduce the fear of uncertainty.
I wonder how we are preparing our kids for the remarkable pace of change today. Does our ability to model a calm approach to changing realities help children feel more confident about the changes they are asked to experience in their classroom environment?
Great word!
Thanks for your comment, Donna! I never really considered the change that I resist, until I went looking for a new car, and then I realized that I am not as open to change in all areas of my life.
Learning to respond to sudden change, and just change in general, is so important for adults and for kids. Your question makes me think about Stuart Shanker’s work. Often how we respond to things as adults impact on how kids respond. If we’re reluctant to change, or stressed by it, does this then influence student responses? I think so, but I’m also curious to hear what others think. Maybe working on our own feelings towards change will ultimately benefit the children that we support.
Aviva
Congrats! Your car’s gorgeous and shiny! I’m pretty resistant to change myself – I’ve been learning that not all change is bad. But I’m still sorting out my feelings on the subject.
Niketa
Thanks Niketa! Change is not always easy, even if it is valuable. How do you work through change even if it is difficult? I wonder if talking about some of these difficulties for kids would make it easier for them to adjust.
Aviva