Best Practices

I confess: I tire of the term “best practices.”

While I cannot argue with actual definitions of best practices — here’s a nice list; here’s another nice list —

my eyes glaze over

when I read stuff like this.

It’s not that I object to standard data-driven instruction. It’s that I read these lists less as best practices and more as desirable outcomes. Which leads us back to the question of best practices.

That is, what best practices lead to and maintain “high standards and expectations”? or “strong leadership”? or “supportive, personalized, and relevant learning”?

Here’s my (o so partial) list:

• practicing mindfulness

• paying attention

• cultivating compassion

• feeling curiosity

• doing emotion work

• looking for fits

• looking for stereotype threats

• attuning relationships (with people and content)

• connecting and engaging

• going for the emotional bedrock

• insisting on self-care and care from others

The big difference for me? The body. Best practices are embodied.

Fully embodied.

Mantra: I’m getting in my body today. And staying there.