The title brings fond memories of carefree days of yesteryear. Unfortunately, as adults we all begin to wonder where those days went when we are doing laundry, paying bills, cooking dinner, and working. Alas, one of the many reasons I am a teacher. Although, the pit falls are everyone is on vacation at the same time. Walk into a restaurant, a store, or even a coffee shop and you hear the dreaded "Hello Mrs.... " from wee little voices you were trying to escape. Well, not everyone tries to escape but we sometimes like to think we do. ;0)
People think "Teachers have is so good summer vacation is awesome." I would rather spend my year working and then dictate when I get to have a vacation. Oh the joys of planning everything you want to do into a short two month period. Oh did you think teachers got three months off... That got thrown out the window years ago. School starts in August and gets out in June. That leaves two months folks.
I stayed the week after school was out to pack up my classroom and get it ready to move. Not every teacher has to move every year, I am one of the lucky few (sarcasm) that has had to move around schools and classrooms for the past six years! Maybe next year will change, which brings me to the next point... I will be returning to my classroom in August to get it ready for the coming school year. It will take a week or so to get things ready and prepared for my students.
In reality I get a total of six weeks off... Already a week has flown by and we are headed into the next. I hope time slows down enough for me to relax... Not likely, as I am constantly reminded I have things to do and accomplish before school starts again...
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
The End of Year 1
Much to my surprise I ended the year upbeat and more excited about next year than I have ever been! The school I work at opened their arms to me the first day and haven't let go since. I am relieved that they are kind and wanting to improve their teaching for the students. ALL OF THEM!
This is a rare find. Having come from many different district and schools my observations have been that about 10% of the teachers are there for a paycheck until retirement. They choose to not interest the students and help them grow. They fall into the same routine and curriculum with no updates each year.
As all technology gets updated so should our teaching. I encourage those who have fallen into the same old, same old routine to seek out something new and try it. If it doesn't work then fine but keep trying something new. One thing a month, a week, or a day you choose.
This year marked my 11th year teaching. It was the first I was able to teach general education. I enjoyed it but found my weaknesses blaring out at me each day. Having never really taught a class of over 15 students I was overwhelmed with 33! Even 25 students in one of my classes was hard to manage. But, I tried one new thing a month in classroom management. I found some times it didn't work but I moved on. I adjusted what didn't and focused on what did.
As they year came to a close I grew excited about my prospects for next year. Big changes for my new students but back to something familiar for me. Challenges will be presented and students will rise to meet them. Perhaps because I will help them along the way. Perhaps because I won't be willing to put them on an island and say "Stay there, you are different, you are only going to do this and not that."
From my first years of teaching I always looked at my special education students as those who are able to accomplish much more than we give them credit for. I want to push them to their limits and then expand what they do know. The brain is mysterious and complex and is able of much more than we know. I hope to encourage, challenge, and help my students gain new skills and confidence to try something new and exciting.
This is a rare find. Having come from many different district and schools my observations have been that about 10% of the teachers are there for a paycheck until retirement. They choose to not interest the students and help them grow. They fall into the same routine and curriculum with no updates each year.
As all technology gets updated so should our teaching. I encourage those who have fallen into the same old, same old routine to seek out something new and try it. If it doesn't work then fine but keep trying something new. One thing a month, a week, or a day you choose.
This year marked my 11th year teaching. It was the first I was able to teach general education. I enjoyed it but found my weaknesses blaring out at me each day. Having never really taught a class of over 15 students I was overwhelmed with 33! Even 25 students in one of my classes was hard to manage. But, I tried one new thing a month in classroom management. I found some times it didn't work but I moved on. I adjusted what didn't and focused on what did.
As they year came to a close I grew excited about my prospects for next year. Big changes for my new students but back to something familiar for me. Challenges will be presented and students will rise to meet them. Perhaps because I will help them along the way. Perhaps because I won't be willing to put them on an island and say "Stay there, you are different, you are only going to do this and not that."
From my first years of teaching I always looked at my special education students as those who are able to accomplish much more than we give them credit for. I want to push them to their limits and then expand what they do know. The brain is mysterious and complex and is able of much more than we know. I hope to encourage, challenge, and help my students gain new skills and confidence to try something new and exciting.
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