The Simple Things

It came to me in a dream:

Try harder to do the simple things.

So what are the simple things of teaching?

Listening. Listening connects us with our students. It is through listening that we learn what our students need. By listening we learn how to connect with our students. Listening is how we show we care.

Courage. Courage gives us the will to act on what we hear. Courage compels us to act in spite of our doubts and fears. Courage moves us beyond our own needs so we may serve the needs of our students.

Through listening we discover how we may serve; through courage we nurture our will to serve. Listening reveals to us the reasons we are to serve; courage provides us with the strength to serve.

Now, may each of us have the courage to listen.