‘You can do it; just be the turtle’

In the teaching world, there are two groups of teachers: those that share their brilliant ideas, and those that hoard them.

I don’t know what it is about some teachers, but when they discover some fantastic strategy to teach kids to read or balance an equation or understand photosynthesis, they become like toddlers who wrap their arms and legs around their favorite stuffed animal and yell “Mine!” to anyone coming close.

It is refreshing, then, when a teacher is willing to share something benefiting the children in his or her classroom. I got wind of a neat philosophy that created magical moments in Stacy Lacy’s fourth grade class at Hannan Magnet Academy, so I asked if I could share it in my column. She said yes.

Sometimes I wish I could teach elementary school because they seem to have way more fun than we do over at the high school. In high school, kids compete over who has the more expensive shoes. In elementary school, students compete over who reads more books! What a utopia.

The challenge was on: Mrs. Lacy’s fourth grade class versus that other fourth grade class down the hall. The competition was simple. Which class could read more books in a month? For two months, Team Lacy fell just a little short and were needing a pep talk.

In the midst of a discussion on strategy, a little hand politely raised. The insightful fourth grader compared the friendly competition between classes to the story of the tortoise and the hare. He retold how the tortoise never changed her course, but remained slow and steady, focused on the finish line. Eventually, as we know, the tortoise crossed the finish line first. The pint-sized philosopher encouraged his classmates to stay the course and remain focused.

A new identity was born with these words of wisdom. Mrs. Lacy’s students transformed from fourth graders to focused turtles. A chant and a dance were created. Posters and t-shirts were designed. And a classroom motto resulted: “Be the Turtle.” In the midst of challenge, classmates would encourage each other: “You can do it; just be the turtle.” The concept became the students’ mantra.

It also became the legacy of Mrs. Lacy’s fourth grade classroom. Her reputation as the turtle lady preceded her, and students at Hannan often wondered what all the fuss was about — until they walked into her room on the first day of school and heard the story of the tortoise and the hare. Until they were offered the opportunity to conquer the daunting tasks set before each fourth grader with the realization that slow and steady really does win the race. Until they chanted and danced and heard the encouraging words, “You can do it; just be the turtle.” Then, they knew.

What insight the little guy had when he acknowledged his classmates’ discouragement and offered them hope. I probably can speak for many teachers when I say how often and easy it is to forget the simple story of the tortoise and the hare when we are bombarded with the many finish lines we must race towards: Standardized testing; mean parents; lesson plan deadlines; grading mounds of papers. Even if you aren’t a teacher, the race seems endless and hopeless at times.

We all might want to sit and be a turtle in Mrs. Lacy’s class someday — to be reminded of the importance of keeping focused on the finish line. To see how amazing the view of the journey is when we move slowly and steadily. And to taste sweet victory as we look back at where we have come from and are inspired by our own adventures.

I’m thankful Mrs. Lacy was willing to share a concept that worked in her classroom, because I needed to hear the story once again. I needed a little motivation to get out of my shell and keep putting one foot in front of the other until ultimately I see the checkered flag.

Be encouraged, yourselves: “You can do it; just be the turtle.”

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 4:33 PM with the headline "‘You can do it; just be the turtle’."