As I sit here, looking at this blog that was created with the best of intentions, I recognize the fact that my goal of keeping up with posts throughout my first year of teaching was a lofty one. I intended to post lessons and updates and anecdotes on a somewhat regular basis, but--as is the case with many things in my life this year--my good intentions weren't enough to make it happen.
So, here I am, nearing the end of the 5th Six Weeks of my first year of teaching. (50-something school days left this year. What?!)
While doing so, I learned some valuable lessons. As it turns out, most things that I thought would be important weren't...and vice versa. So, in true teacher form, I've gathered a few of the lessons learned throughout the swim...
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| Dory gets it. |
I've learned so much in this whirlwind of a year. I've only recently begun to feel as though I have some semblance of a handle on things. One day, earlier this year, while working on some STAAR Test strategies, one of my students turned me onto a quote from Dory, Ellen Degeneres's character in Finding Nemo. "You know, Miss C," started the student, "we just have to keep working hard. Like Finding Nemo. 'Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...'" [Beaming with pride at that connection. How true!] This precept also proved applicable to my method of survival this year... although, at times, my tactics were more just-keeping-head-above-water (and sometimes frantically panicking at the prospect of drowning) than swimming...
1. It's perfectly okay to go to bed before the ten o'clock news is over.
I could fake it in previous desk jobs with lots of coffee and a little extra lip gloss...but, keeping up with these kiddos, day-in and day-out, requires more rest than I ever thought possible. Seriously. Go to bed!
2. Stay on top of grading and grade posting.
I got in the [bad] habit of keeping up with grades in a paper grade book [?] and waiting until the weekend grades are due to enter most everything into my district's grading system. I should have never done this. I repeat: I. Should. Have. Never. Started. Doing. This. It provides for a stressful couple of days at the end of each grading period. Trust me on this. Next year = new ballgame.
3. Even your sweetest, kindest, most respectful, well-mannered, well-behaved kids...are still kids.
...and you're still their teacher, who bosses them around everyday and assigns their homework. In their minds, you are an enemy to a certain extent...even if you've established great rapport with them. They may love you, but they won't always like you. So, you may overhear two of your precious students discussing your "crabby" disposition in class one day. A student may write a simile about you describing you as "as tall and scary as a monster." I love my students and I try to give them the best version of myself everyday, so I can't take comments like this to heart...even though tall, scary, crabby monster-teachers have feelings, too.
4. Embrace the 'plan'ny-ness.
It was never my style. Where some people might see my reluctance to plan things months in advance as irresponsible or flaky, I've tried to make it a strength--after all, you can't get bent out of shape when you're flexible! [wink and point] Now, I am in a career where planning is not only a huge part of my job, it's a LIFE priority for many in the school biz. I know I'll never completely convert to a plan-your-day-in-15-minute-increment types...but I have learned that a little tentative planning is a necessity.
5. Keep it simple.
New classroom behavior systems, new homework ideas, new grading plans, etc., all seem like such great ideas at the time. "This is going to positively change my classroom climate, motivate my students, and greatly enhance my quality of life! Yeah!" If only that was always (ahem...ever) true. The question I have learned to ask before implementing a new system is: Is the benefit to my students worth the time and energy it will take for me to keep up with this? Is it worth it? Bottom line. While we're being honest, I am still working on finishing up a daily Random Acts of Kindness project that we started in January. We should have finished in March, but it's been really difficult to get everything in! We'll muddle through and get it finished, but, in hindsight, the parameters of the project weren't exactly realistic. Live and learn.
6. Nobody "gets" what you do.
The earlier you understand this, the better off you'll be. Sadly to say, the general public--[people who do not work in public education]--often consider the workload of a teacher to be a cakewalk. And, unfortunately, this will never change. No matter how close someone is to you...no matter how often they listen to you describe aspects of your job in detail...they won't get it. All they see is the paid time off and the perceived notion that we get to go home at 3:00 everyday. I used to think this myself, before I was a teacher. So, I've learned to keep the venting to a minimum amongst non-educators, and not let things get too heated when others have "opinions" on public education. Appreciate those who appreciate you, be thankful to have a job that you enjoy, and move on. :)
-The crabby, tall, scary monster-teacher with the mouth full of saltwater
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