Addressing Overwhelm and the Need to be Perfect in Your Intervention

Hey there! How’s it going?

As we’re settling into 2021, and finally figuring out how to navigate all of the changes that 2020 brought us, we’re starting to experience brand new changes all over again. If you, too, are facing new changes - we get it, and we’re experiencing those changes right here with you!

Let’s reflect on everything we (as a community of educators /interventionists/SLPs) have accomplished over the last year…

Last spring, so many of us had to make an abrupt switch to online learning. It was expected that this transition be seamless, and for so many, it was quite the opposite of that. Let’s be honest, it was hard. We weren’t sure how we were going to make online learning effective, how to transition all materials to be used virtually, and the hardest part… we weren’t able to see our students in person anymore. It was tough.

But, over time we were able to adapt. We came up with ways to transition materials to an online format and continued to hold our connections with our students even though we weren’t with them. Things were finally starting to settle down in the ‘new normal.’

Then, of course, more changes and transitions came with the new year.

So many of you have spent the past few months switching your instruction back and forth between in-person learning and distance learning. It feels as though just as we were getting comfortable with and adjusting to online learning, we’re now starting to make the long-term switch back to in-person learning.

Yay! This is amazing news... for SO many reasons!

You can finally get back to the instructional space where you are most comfortable, you know that you have the materials and resources for effective instruction, and most importantly... you get to be back with your students!

While there is so much to celebrate with this, there can also be a lot of overwhelm.

So today, use this as your reminder to take a step back. Take a breath. Take a moment for yourself.

It is so easy to put pressure on yourself to deliver perfect instruction. But, let’s get real for a second. What is perfect instruction?

It doesn’t exist!

Sure, some days or some lessons may feel like they went perfectly. And they probably did! But so frequently, for so many of us, we make mistakes. And that is okay!

Every single time you sit down with a student to provide intervention, you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. (Granted, that is assuming you’re following a systematic and explicit curriculum).

With so much changing in our instructional environment, let’s take a moment to change our mindset, too.

Rather than focusing on the need to deliver perfect instruction, let’s focus on progress instead.

You can think about this progress in anything. Whether that be progress towards finding materials that are right for you (for some inspiration, check out our free resources here) or seeing your students make progress towards their goals. Progress is the key, not perfection.

This year, our team decided to make a health and fitness goal that we are all working towards together each week. As part of this goal, we have been taking virtual classes on the Peloton app. One of our favorite instructors from this app has helped us with this mindset shift, as she often states…

“You can be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time”

So, our reminder for you today is just that. What you are doing for each and every one of your students is incredible work, and they are so lucky to have you. But, while you are taking care of your students, it is important to remember to take care of YOU too.

As you continue to move through this transitional period of instruction, take that reminder with you. Progress, not perfection.

You’ve got this.

For more information and next steps, check out our FREE workshop: How to Create Systematic, SOR-Aligned Lesson Plans. This workshop will help you determine what actually needs to be included in a Science of Reading-based lesson, how to build a lesson plan based on the Science of Reading, and how to optimize your lesson plans. Plus, we’ll share our lesson planning guides!