If you are like many educators, teaching can slip into monotony when the days start to feel the same: bell, lesson, transitions, paperwork, repeat. Yet the NICE and WAND frameworks invite us to see divinity even in the most routine moments—to find meaning in the morning bell, beauty in repetition, and joy in imperfection.
When you teach from a place of wonder, the mundane becomes magical. Ordinary lessons turn into opportunities for connection and discovery—both for students and for yourself.
Good news: you can find wonder in the everyday with five simple practices.
These steps include:
- Step 1: Slow Down
- Step 2: Make Reflection a Ritual
- Step 3: Shift Your Perspective
- Step 4: Invite Joy into Routine
- Step 5: Honor the Sacred Rhythm of Teaching
Let’s look at each step in more detail…
Step 1: Slow Down
The fastest way to lose wonder is to rush through your day. Usually, you can avoid that by taking a few deep breaths before class begins and noticing what is already here. Presence makes room for revelation.
For example: Before students enter, pause for 30 seconds. Notice three sounds, two colors, and one sensation in your body. Let your shoulders drop. Then greet students with steadiness instead of speed.
Step 2: Make Reflection a Ritual
If you do not name the good, it disappears. Usually, you can avoid feeling like “nothing meaningful happened” by recording one ordinary miracle each day.
For example: Keep a small note titled Ordinary Miracles. Write one line: “A student smiled when I noticed them,” “The class laughed together,” “Someone tried again.” Over time, you will build proof that wonder is already living in your room.
Step 3: Shift Your Perspective
Some tasks feel boring because we only see the surface. Usually, you can avoid dullness by asking what the moment is teaching you. Curiosity turns routine into growth.
For example: If grading feels heavy, ask: “What am I practicing right now—patience, discernment, consistency?” If the copier jams again, ask: “How can I respond with calm instead of control?” The question itself is a spiritual reset.
Step 4: Invite Joy into Routine
Routine does not have to be sterile. Usually, you can avoid emotional flatness by adding warmth to the tasks you must do anyway.
For example: Play soft music during setup. Display a quote that lifts you. Add a tiny “joy cue” to admin work—light a battery candle while you email, sip tea while you prep, or say, “This matters,” before you begin. Joy is not extra. It is fuel.
Step 5: Honor the Sacred Rhythm of Teaching
Teaching is cyclical: new students arrive, old ones move on, and the classroom renews itself each year. Usually, you can avoid feeling trapped in repetition by witnessing the cycle with gratitude.
For example: At the end of each week, write: “What is being renewed in me?” and “What is being renewed in my students?” Take one moment to thank the rhythm—because even the routine is part of the miracle.
Wonder is not always loud. Often, it is quiet. When you slow down, reflect, shift perspective, invite joy, and honor the rhythm, routine becomes revelation—and the ordinary becomes a place where sacred learning lives.
I hope that you enjoyed reading this blog post, written especially for you. It was taken straight from my mind and heart as I felt vulnerable to share glimpses of my world with you. The article was polished and meticulously reviewed to make sure it was in the best possible light before it was published so that it may serve you well.
If you’re seeking additional resources or personalized support, feel free to reach out at www.insightfuleducation.org. Together, we can cultivate classrooms where you and your students feel empowered to learn and thrive, which is aligned with the NICE Teacher framework (Nurturing, Integrated, Courageous, and Encouraging).