08/01/2025
Lewisville ISD teachers return, en masse, to school on Monday, August 4.
The desert, one of the most difficult places to survive, mandates every thought and action must impact survival. Nothing else matters. Lessons survivalists have learned from the desert benefit teachers, especially new teachers, i.e., those new to profession, changing districts or campuses within the same district, or even grade levels or content areas in the same campus. So, what can we learn from the desert?
1. Embrace the unknown. Teachers plan—we plan for instruction, classroom management, and so many other things; however, even the best teachers with the most comprehensive plans cannot anticipate everything that is just beyond the horizon. When something unexpected happens, do not let it rattle you. Stay calm and heed the other lessons of the desert.
2. Gather information early. Scope out your surroundings, know how to find critical people such as the secretary or custodian when you need them (they are only two parts of the team that make your teaching experience positive). Know the students in your classroom and who their parents are. Make note of any special needs or considerations each may have. Also, find out who the “go to” person on your campus is as this person may prove invaluable as you navigate the politics and culture of the school environment.
3. Build a plan. Have a master plan, or at least an outline, of what you want to accomplish throughout the year. Think about where you want your students to be at the end of a lesson, a grading period, and the school year, and let that act as your blueprint when you develop your lessons, teach, and assess your students. Always over plan, too. You’re better off running out of time than running out of instruction.
4. Think before deciding. Try to avoid making snap decisions. Even though you can’t separate your emotions from your logic when you think, try to identify as many alternatives as possible. When making decisions, consider your plans and the information you have about the situation, the reality of the student or students impacted, and then consider potential outcomes.
5. Focus on productivity rather than activity. Avoid busy work. It doesn’t help students, and it only creates more work for you. Engage students in activities that move them toward mastery of your learning objectives and/or new skill sets. Let everything build on itself.
6. Plan to win. In your classroom, winning equals success. You want your students to master the content. You don’t want to “teach to the test;” when your students master the content they will perform much better on the state assessment. More significantly, it positively impacts their social and emotional growth and also gives you positive vibes about what’s happening in your classroom.
7. Achieve what’s possible. Success will look different for each student and it’s not necessarily getting them to the same place but ensuring they have opportunities to experience success. And when possibilities are achieved, celebrate them.
The Lewisville Education Association is here to support all teachers through advocacy at school board meetings, in Austin, and in Washington, D.C. When you join LEA/TSTA/NEA, you are becoming a part of 3.2 million educators nationwide committed to elevating teaching as a profession and to excellence in the classroom.
Welcome to LISD and make great things happen in your classroom.
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