The dreams have begun

I have three weeks until the first day of school, and the teaching dreams have already started. I don't mean aspirations and hopes kind of dreams; I mean REM sleep dreams.

These dreams follow a predictable, yet challenging, pattern. A disruptive and defiant student is acting out, and it's severe enough that it must be addressed now. I have to employ the correct techniques to deescalate the situation, restore order, and protect our established norms. If all goes well, we can get back to learning and I can continue explaining some science concept.

This is tricky territory for a normal mortal like me whose System 1 mode of thinking wants to unleash my inner drill sergeant. This response isn't wise, but it's an easy flip of the switch for my brain.

I know these are adolescent students who are just testing boundaries - an entirely normal, and expected, behavior at this stage of life. So instead of getting loud and firing scathing observations to establish dominance and control, I have to wrestle with the drill sergeant (in my mind) for a moment and allow my System 2 mode of thinking develop a better plan.

The fate of the dream is entirely dependent on the outcome of this wrestling match. It doesn't always have a good ending.

Thankfully, when my classroom is full of real students in a few weeks, I know I'll be in greater control of my responses. After almost two decades of teaching, I've got it wired pretty tight. But that drill sergeant in my mind is brutal.