One Day At A Time, One Student At A Time

By Dr. Marcia Davis-Dawkins

One Day At A Time.  It’s easy to say that life can be very overwhelming, so much so that we have to remind ourselves to take a breather and live for the moment. Far too often we spend most, if not all, of our waking hours worrying about things over which we have no control. Most of us are guilty and we don’t have time to live for the moment. Stress can hinder us from succeeding or moving forward. The strains and frustrations that challenge us daily can be daunting and tedious. We struggle and find ourselves trying to lift our heads above waters.

As adults we can do certain things to prevent feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. One important bit of advice is to try not to think about what can happen in a month or a year. Concentrate on the twenty-four hours in front of us and do what we can to get closer to where we want to be. Other tactics to follow include, but are not limited to:

• Get plenty of rest in the form of sleep.
• Exercise regularly (at least three times a week).
• Set SMART goals
• Invest and keep a planner so things that have to done can be seen at a glance and act as reminders
• Check things off as they are done, concentrating on the most important tasks that take precedence and will foster a sense of accomplishment
• Meditate/practice yoga

How do we as adults/educators teach our students to live one day at a time?

How do we as adults/educators teach our students to live one day at a time , or take even one moment at a time? Often times as we are teaching, we try to finish everything according to our lesson plan. We are rushing to finish the curriculum so they can be ready for the standardized tests, but are we pushing them too much? Do we try to integrate brain breaks in our lessons? We could incorporate William Glasser’s Theory, where the teaching approach spotlights problem-solving and making better choices in order to achieve specific goals. It focuses on the here and now instead of the past. Basically, William Glasser’s Theory should convince us to understand that the worst classroom behaviors are chosen by students who have lost control. We should establish a learning environment in which each student feels like a key person in a group and where teacher-student interactions validate and support self-esteem. This involves taking care of routine details, having a clear set of logical standards and systematically following them and wanting others to do so also. As teachers with rules and expectations, we can be more flexible and provide an environment where Glasser’s Theory is evident since we want to be more effective. We might not make a difference to all the students, but if we get at least one then our job will be done.

Role Models

n a sense, we should be role models in the classroom and live for the moment. Life is really too short to waste much time worrying or sweating the small stuff. Tomorrow is not promised, so we should live at peace with everyone. As a matter of fact, when we find ourselves worrying about what others say about us and even considering a rebuttal, we should think about choosing our battles – is it worth our time? Often it is not about having all the answers, but rather trusting ourselves, leaning in the direction of what feels right and focusing on living the day in front of us the best way we can.

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