My Lesson Plans Turn into Scrambled Eggs...Hooray for the Yolk Breakers!

Ok...I've been teaching almost 18 years, so what I say, I say with the benefit of experience.  Good teaching, really good teaching is more like scrambled eggs than eggs Benedict.  I've had this book idea in my head for several years now - How is Good Teaching Like Scrambled Eggs?  Let me explain.

Every year, every month, every week teachers spend hours carefully planning each portion of their day in little sections.  What's going on in science this week?  Fossils.  How about social studies?  Economics.  Time to plan for Language Arts. How about contractions?

It is beautiful.

These plans look so pretty on paper.  Gourmet, even.  Standards are aligned!  Essential questions are asked!  Rigor is appropriate!  Differentiation is implemented!  It's enough to fill any teacher or administrator with joy and pride!  Much like the aforementioned eggs Benedict - perfectly timed, measured, and executed.  Absolute bliss and luxury.

Hate to burst that yolk, but good teaching, really good teaching doesn't happen like that.  It just doesn't.  Really good teaching happens when the kids are asking questions, looking for answers, and (oops!) getting things wrong!  Timmy has to share the "fossil" he found on the playground.  Is that a contraction on the poster next to the lunchroom door?  Did our class hit an economic bump in the road not having enough of everything we need?

Real teaching that sticks breaks the yolks!  It's messy!  It's not always finished minilesson to closing share in 47 minutes.  And it's not always observable by those who only "pop in" for evaluations.  Is planning necessary?  Yes.  But it's time to let go of the concept that learning is a gourmet experience.  It's more like diner food..messy, filling, and happening everywhere!  Hooray for the yolk breakers!!