Chasing Things

There is a lot of chasing in the world.  Dogs chase cats.  Meteorologists chase storms.  Dogs chase their tails.  The foolish chase the wind.  Star gazers chase comets.  Dogs chase the mailman.  Cats chase laser pointer lights.  Dogs chase more things. Police chase bad guys. Sometimes we dream that we are chased by things that go bump in the night.   Greyhounds chase a fake rabbit.  Little kids chase fireflies (also known as lightning bugs to us older folks), Deb chases kids going west on 231. O.J was chased while in a white Bronco.  We all chase dreams.  Wait a second!  Deb does what?  Yep, it’s true – she went on an extended hike this week through a good portion of Crown Point “proper” to reason with a child who was making a bad decision.  That has to count for extra credit somewhere.

In our profession, we all chase kids in many ways.  Sometimes, this is in a physical way as demonstrated by Deb.  Other times, it is chasing them in a myriad of ways.  Maybe you want a kid to improve their behavior and you keep after it.  Another time it may be about turning in their assignments.  Perhaps you are wanting to take them to the next level in understanding.  The chase is designed to result in a catch.  There are many chases that beg the question, “What do I do now that I have caught what I was chasing?”  That’s where the relationship part comes in.  That’s where the ability to spiral up and down with your students comes into play. That’s where you vary your levels of Bloom’s questions. That’s where you use your informal assessments.  That’s where the example comes in.  That’s where you match your words and actions.  That’s where your dedication shows through.  That’s when you make the difference.  That’s when you truly show them that you care.  While we often concern ourselves about the seemingly continuous chase, it’s really about the catch.  Make the most of every opportunity.