This year I learned how to practice reflection, meditate and engage in other relaxation methods to reduce stress. What better way to engage in all three than going out and weed whacking in a hot, mouse infested creek. I have found being outside and doing something productive yet mind-numbing can be a true source of stress reduction. I feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels lately, not feeling like I’ve accomplished much but on the verge of something great. I wonder how many of my first graders feel this overwhelming sense that they just can’t keep up with the demands of the classroom. If there is anything valuable I’ve realized this year is that this program has helped me reconnect with my students in a new way. I am a student. I have been reminded of the pains of learning, being accountable, and meeting deadlines. Volunteering truly felt like stepping away from the impending stresses of school life, and had an added environmental benefit. In essence, it nourished not only the individual but the community.
In the classroom, it is so easy to get consumed by meeting timelines. Make sure you’re on this page, by this date, and this material needs to have been covered so students can move on to the next skill. My students are 6 years old and probably already suffer from stress and feeling overwhelmed. Taking a day like this recharged my batteries so I could come home and blog about it! Why wouldn’t it benefit them in the same way? Sometimes, it seems like you lose track of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. If you remember what your goal is; the end result can often times seem so far away and perhaps unattainable. Conversely, today’s goal was highly attainable, and there was an end to it. Take out the noxious weeds along this creek. With the right tools and a little time, the goal was met. There was a feeling of productivity and accomplishment that followed. In front of me was a visual reminder of my success in meeting the goal. It didn’t look pretty, but the weeds had been flattened. Again going back to the meditative nature of this work today, I really didn’t think much of anything but where was the next weed. It was exactly the mind-numbing exercise I needed to put myself back to a place where I can think clearly and forge ahead with the next school assignment. Allowing students the time to disengage mentally, tackle a small attainable task and feel a sense of productivity can only motivate them further in their longer range learning goals.
Jax, I totally agree with you. I needed to be outside today, too. I have been feeling stuck inside in front of a computer a lot, especially lately. Service learning was a nice break from inside a classroom, but still being productive. You could tell how grateful they were for our brief time spent. Sad, but you are probably right about how stressed your first graders are, but something like this would be great for them to do.
ReplyDeleteI too felt really relaxed today until I got light headed while swinging the machete. I was a bit of an over achiever when you left me down in the bottom alone. But, even so when I was done, I had to find my center, and was thankful for the work I had just completed. I know kids need those little breaks to reflect in our classrooms also, otherwise how will they learn?
ReplyDeleteWell said. We all find ourselves in a rut, and need to be able to dig ourselves out of it. What a way to do that, change things up a bit, and volunteer at the same time. We not only helped with restoration of the creek, but also to ourselves. We can definitely relate to our own students, there is just a vibe in the air, when you have been in the classroom too long, and the students are just getting anxious…not for anything in particular, but a change would be welcomed. Service learning would be a great way to incorporate change, and learning all in one.
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