I can only imagine what you’re thinking. “Lessons from a fly? You’ve got to be kidding me. I teach! I don’t have time to talk about flies!” I admit that I don’t usually make time to talk about flies either. In fact, I find them quite annoying. But here’s the deal. The other day I found myself captivated by a very large black fly that was absolutely determined to fly through glass. It buzzed and bashed itself against my window time and time again to no avail. And even when I strongly suggested exiting through an open door, its refusal was unwavering. In the end, the stubborn thing knocked itself out. This got me to wondering, “How many times have I knocked myself out trying to ‘fly through glass’? Do I approach challenging situations with fly-like behaviors? Ugh!” OK, maybe you wouldn’t have gone there, but I did, and here’s what I learned from a fly:
1. Saying the same thing over and over (buzz, buzz, buzz) tends to annoy people.
2. When you’re not getting the results you want or need, try a new approach.
3. Don’t be afraid to take the suggestion of an onlooker. His or her idea may be a really great one!
If nothing else this experience confirms my belief that teaching and learning can be all about the moment. You know what I mean, those teachable moments. In this case I was the one learning something from an unexpected situation.
So do you have any stories about learning on the fly? (Sorry, I just couldn’t resist the pun.) Or how about sharing a favorite teachable moment from the classroom? I’m waiting…
I am a mentor teacher and have lab students most years. One reason I love this is because as I observe them, seeing children with their new eyes to teaching, it reminds me to step back and remember those first years teaching. I remind them to step back and let the kids “do it” to watch the process take place. This keeps me from “doing it” for the kids.
I like to hear what the students say and I always encourage them to be honest and let me know if I could do things a different way. This leads to some good conversations on how we teach and what our teaching goal is.
I absolutely LOVED the Fly story!!!! I knew there was going to be a lesson learned, but I was very curious about what it could possibly be involving a fly. The teacher’s insight from watching the fly, made so much sense and is so packed with truth!
I am going to keep this one in the fron of my planning book so that each time I go to write a lesson, I will review this story first! I know it will help me to be more open and creative — and on the look-out for my own “fly expereinces”!
You have no idea how many times I behave like that fly, and when I finally realize what I am doing I cannot stop laughing!!! It is a great lesson!
Are you kidding? I am posting this by the copier and in the lounge. Our staff members will love this! Thank you. SO true! LOL
I use the poem by Emily Dickinson: “Bee I’m Expecting You!” Then the kids must create a response to the Fly why they, the Bee, are not home for Spring yet. I have had incredibly creative stories. Bees getting married, in the hospital, writing from the inside of a car because they flew in while someone was driving and they the person went into the store…
Great teachable moment with the fly story. I can see what your are saying about repeating your lesson over and over. Simply today I wrote the directions on what my third graders were to write using the spelling words for the week. I had to repeat the written directions that were on the dry erase board more than three times and still could not understand what they were to do. I felt like the fly who kept going back and bumping back. I can see what you are says. Yes, sometimes inspirations come from the oddest places. I have done it myself at times.
Fly into the moment! Breath.
Living in the south has taught me to go with the moment;its winter we can get rain, snow and 80 degree weather all in the same week. Last week we had our first real spring day, the kids were ready to get outside and run. The best moment was sitting in the grass and picking flowers, looking for ants ,not surprisingly, I soon had a group around me, quitely looking for clovers and being at rest.
What happened to wanting to run.. we did but in that moment we just breathed.
Kids are amazing thats why I love teaching!
I loved the lesson from the fly. I shared it with my classroom staff. I will now try to live a better life and not be annoying. I will continue to take suggestions as we all can learn from someone else even our students. Thank you for sharing.