This was a challenging year. 4 preps: world geography, math research, language arts, and reading. In a lot of ways it felt like my first year of teaching because I had taken a year off between my first and second year. Also, I had to adjust coming from a small alternative school, where there was much less bureaucracy.
I found that my intensive classes made me a better teacher than my honors classes. They could tell when I was unprepared, and would take that opportunity. I had to be on my game.
Beginning graduate school was a definite plus. It meant I had no time to stop and breathe in life. I didn't get to see my friends and family as much as I would have liked, but it helped shape me. It gave me a bigger picture of education, a solid anchor. An inquiring mind. What are we teaching? Why are we teaching this? Who are we teaching what to whom? Who decides?
I am so thankful for all of the teachers who showed me how to do things- and how not to do things. I had a wonderful mentor teacher. How wonderful to be next door to a master teacher. To step inside her classroom and observe was like stepping up to the table to a delicious meal, when I was very hungry.
Teaching is a spiritual battle.
I wish I had had more fun with my students. I was so focused on getting them to "do the work", I missed a lot of opportunities for joy and play.
I remember (one of) my SAL's at the beginning of the year reminding teachers to "stick to the curriculum". He described it as, "You're moving into a house, the first thing you need to do is check the plumbing. You shouldn't be painting the walls." And I remember thinking, "Painting the walls is important."
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
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