Perfectionism is a conundrum. Because, yes, as you said, we teachers should strive for perfection, but...the trouble with striving for perfection is that it often precludes adaptability and responsiveness. In other words, sometimes trying to get some perfect stops you from getting it right. And what I mean is that, like every teacher, I spend a lot of time before the semester planning my lessons. I revise them and try to make them as "perfect" as I can. And then the actual lesson time hits and the plan gets chucked out the window in favor of in-the-moment student needs.
I don't think this is news to any teacher.
But I think it's important to remember because perfectionism only works within strict limits: I'm going to make my syllabus as up-to-date and relevant as possible = good. I'm going to teach this syllabus that I have perfected regardless of whether my students respond to it = bad.
As always, interesting post. Glad to see you back and hope you had a good summer!
Perfectionism is a conundrum. Because, yes, as you said, we teachers should strive for perfection, but...the trouble with striving for perfection is that it often precludes adaptability and responsiveness. In other words, sometimes trying to get some perfect stops you from getting it right. And what I mean is that, like every teacher, I spend a lot of time before the semester planning my lessons. I revise them and try to make them as "perfect" as I can. And then the actual lesson time hits and the plan gets chucked out the window in favor of in-the-moment student needs.
I don't think this is news to any teacher.
But I think it's important to remember because perfectionism only works within strict limits: I'm going to make my syllabus as up-to-date and relevant as possible = good. I'm going to teach this syllabus that I have perfected regardless of whether my students respond to it = bad.
As always, interesting post. Glad to see you back and hope you had a good summer!