When my son first started watching TV, he liked a show called The Furchester Hotel (2014-2017). A British Sesame Street spinoff with an unbelievably catchy theme song and some serious star power…ELMO. It is a story about a ½ star (out of five) monster hotel owned and operated by Elmo’s aunt Funella, uncle Fergus, cousin Phoebe, and Cookie Monster runs the restaurant and helps with other odd jobs.
Each episode follows a similar pattern: a new guest arrives, therе is some catastrophe that happens to thе new guest or started by the new guest, the staff scrambles to fix the issue, issue fixed. My favorite part of each episode is Tea Time. About two-thirds of the way through the story, things seem to be trending in the right direction only to be derailed by Tea Time.
First, a nondescript monster bangs a gong and yells TEA TIME (always at the worst stretch for the heroes)! Next, a group of unidentified monsters (who looove Tea Time) peaks their heads out of their respective rooms in excitement. Finally, the monsters trample through the scene, ultimately undoing the excellent work of Elmo and his family. Luckily, in the end, it all works out.
Now I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make – when I first started drinking tea, I had never heard the word “steep.” In simple terms, steeping is how long you let the bag soak in the water. Steeping for time releases the flavor and nutrients into the water, and each different type of tea requires a slightly different steep time. But I didn’t know that! I thought steeping meant dunking the tea bag up and down, in and out of the water. So, in the beginning, I took the dunking process incredibly seriously. And now I can never go back.
I dunk my tea bag 34 consecutive times, with each dunk for the same amount of time to the same depth below the surface. Why 34? Oh, for so many fantastic reasons. One because 34 was my soccer number as a kid. And two because my first AOL Instant Messenger screen name was Callstar34 (I liked Converse All Star shoes). But the real reason goes back to my wife. Shanna taught me in Hebrew 17 is Tov, or good. 17 + 17 = 34, or double good. The only thing better than being good is being good good. It seems silly to tell people and especially seems funny when you write it out, but it works for me. Dunking my teabag 34 times makes me feel aligned with the universe. It makes me feel connected to my wife and family.
Steeping tea is also my metaphor for the role of a teacher. There are so many variables a teacher considers every single day, non-negotiables to do the job well. These variables are aspects of the job the average person doesn’t think about when considering the role of a teacher. To be a teacher means thinking about, managing, establishing, and maintaining a host of responsibilities. And like my equally timed and consistent teabag dunks, not one of the responsibilities can be ignored, forgotten, or taken lightly. They are equally essential to do the job well for kids. Being a teacher is complex and challenging to be good at, let alone good good. The following are the 34 Steeps for Good Good Teaching:
1. Collaboration
2. Relationships
3. Democracy
4. Identity
5. Agency
6. The Whole Child
7. Assessment
8. Communication
9. Planning
10. Preparation
11. Perception
12. Differentiation
13. Documentation
14. Leadership
15. Power
16. Instruction
17. Engagement
18. Knowledge
19. Safety
20. Environment
21. Social Foundations
22. Discussion/Questioning
23. Money
24. Time
25. Opportunity
26. Research
27. Change
28. Control
29. Choice
30. Action
31. Health
32. Technology
33. Reflection
34. Hope
Now actually imagine a teabag soaking in water, the flavor and nutrients release and combine giving the drink distinct and unique properties. Teaching is the same. Each teacher might do the job a little differently, but the same intention or goal remains, the pursuit of a fuller humanity for kids. Good good teachers implement these steeps naturally/organically into the daily routine.
TEA TIME!