Make your bed.

by Amy Ferguson

On May 17 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas. In this inspiring speech, McRaven discussed the small things we can do to incrementally transform our lives.

Brailsford was convinced of the merits of a concept that he referred to as the ‘marginal gains’, positing it as a ‘1% margin for improvement in everything you do’.

These inspiring figures know the small stuff soon adds up to become the big stuff.

As teachers, often we focus too much on the big picture - the inspection, the improvement plan, the lofty shift in reporting strategy being trailled. The big things can make us sweat and shift our focus from the most important things - ourselves and our students in our classrooms.

How can we shift classroom culture? How can we ensure organic learning in our classroms? How can we spark curiousity or instill initiave and problem solving skills in our young people?

1. Make your bed. Create a classroom that becomes fertile ground for learning by introducing one small strategy for change. Maybe its changing to a coaching style, or beginning every lesson with a subject based challenge. Choose one thing and and do it every day.
2. Lie in it. Embed this small change into your classroom practice. Let you and your learners adjust to this small change. Make minor tweaks if you need to until you're happy with it.
3. Change your sheets. Once your new idea has been embedded, evaluate its success. Has it impacted the classroom climate? Have you noticed a shift in your learners' since implementation? Get your students involved too.
4. Lie in it. Once you have collected feedback from your students, considered your own feedback and applied any minor tweaks, continue with your learning strategy. Watch the growth in your students and take pride. You made this change happen.
5. Don't be afraid to toss out your sheets. If it's not working for you or your students, get rid of it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You have emerged from your experiment more informed and you included your students in the process. If nothing else, your students will be grateful for being part of the journey.

Sources

Group, M.D. (2022). The Magic Of Marginal Gains Theory | Sweat The Small Stuff | MDG. [online] Mindset Development Group. Available at: https://www.mindsetdevgroup.com/blog/marginal-gains-theory/.

Amazon.com. (2019). Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World: William H. McRaven: 9781455570249: Amazon.com: Books. [online] Available at: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Bed-Little-Things/dp/1455570249.

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