People have always told me to dream big, and, sometimes, that is easier said than done. As a soon to be 1st year teacher, I felt supported mainly because of Twitter. Of course, I met amazing professors throughout my time at ISU and amazing CT's as well, but I found myself wanting something more. Due to having some time on my hands this summer, I decided that, if I wanted to try something new and venture beyond what I am used to, now is the right time to start. That is where my vision for #newteachertribe came into play.
To say that I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received thus far is an understatement. I thought that I would get a few likes, but it has surpassed that beyond my wildest dreams. I have professors from other states wanting to get their new teachers to join in, and I truly could not be more thankful. I posted a tweet yesterday around 7:40 in the morning, and it has 320 likes, 18 retweets, 67 comments, and it has reached 23,511 individuals as of this moment. Think about what impact one idea has! This #newteachertribe will be helpful for me due to starting this journey, but I envision this hashtag to be one where new teachers can share successes and concerns while mentioning questions they have and advice they would like to receive. I will be hosting a chat potentially on Sunday nights at 8 PM to get us ready for the week ahead. At first, I will be moderating the chat and will have topics such as classroom management, differentiation, educational technology, etc, and eventually, I will have a sign up sheet and have guest moderators host the chat so they can get their chance to shine as well and share their perspective. I would not have been able to start this journey without my former teachers, professors, and of course, my #PLN. They all inspired me to reach for the stars, and due to being a soon to be new teacher, I have that excitement that I want to contain and not lose. One teacher replied to me and said she wants to feel like a new teacher again. This hashtag is for new/veteran teachers who want to support each other during this process because, as @raehughart mentioned, it takes a village. No one should be doing this alone, and I am a young teacher just starting my journey, but I want to leave a legacy behind. My goal is to be the best teacher I can be for my students, but I also want to support new teachers coming into the profession and be a voice for them along with being an advocate especially due to myself a new teacher right now. We all heard about the drop out rate going in for new teachers, and I know that no one wants to be a part of that statistic. That's why this vision became a reality for me. Sometimes, it takes one tweet to make a change. I do not know where this hashtag will take me, but I am grateful for starting this process, and I am excited to be the founder of the #newteachertribe.
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I had the pleasure of getting to know an incredible teacher last semester whose light truly shined so brightly, but that did not mean her journey was always easy. In life, we all fall down sometimes, and we need strength to pick us back up. This teacher dealt with loss due to her sister passing away from cancer, and the way that she talked about her sister made me realize how much she truly meant to her. On Twitter, I posted a tweet about wanting to give back to her, and I was grateful to have had Taylor Mali, Dave Burgess, and another author send her books and encouraging notes. The power of connection continues to amaze me.
As I am embarking on my journey as a soon to be 1st year teacher, I wanted to take this time to dive deep into what made Mrs. Peoples such an amazing educator and one who inspired me to be my best on a daily basis. I was blessed on many occasions to see her kindness shine through, and not only was she kind to her colleagues, but she also blessed her students in multiple ways. When she was out, the students made her a card and waited eagerly for her to come back. She inspired me to be the best version of myself, and she took time to brighten my spirits when I was having a rough day. I strongly believe that we have angels around us, and I think that Mrs. Peoples is one. She cares a lot about others and is truly a light in this world. As I get older, I know that I want to take a page out of her book and shine my light in others lives. I will never forget the impact she has made in my life, and I know that she will continue to impact other lives as well. This post does not do her enough justice, but I hope it made you realize the unknown impact that we can have. I will be graduating in two days, and as my CT told me, graduating can oftentimes feel like a surreal experience. I finished student teaching last week, and my last day was truly one to remember. In the middle of my math lesson, my CT wrote "It's time to celebrate Ms. J's last day" on the smartboard while I was walking around the classroom. She tend told the students that we were all going outside. She had the students arrange themselves in a circle, and the students shared good memories that they had of me and funny moments. It was heartwarming to see that the students appreciated the fact that I was always willing to help. Then, a few students came out with a storage container that had 3 layers filled with teaching supplies and notes from a student/parent. My CT mentioned that the day was bittersweet because, on one hand, they were sad that it was my last day, but they were also happy because they know that I am starting this new chapter in my life.
The reason that I wrote this post is because I wanted to thank the individuals who got me to this point. Of course, my parents were instrumental due to them helping me with the financial aspect of college and always supporting my dream. My mom just told me, a few days, that she loved how I never give up no matter what obstacles come my way. My faith also helped me because, through prayer, I was able to find the light at the end of tunnel and never felt alone. College is filled with a lot of twists and turns, and I am happy that I stayed on the right path and focused on what really mattered the most to me which was my education. I also wanted to thank my professors. Without them, I would absolutely not be where or who I am today. They molded me into the young woman I am today and into the teacher that I am as well. My diploma means a lot to me, but they are all a part of that. I think of my diploma as a mosaic with little pieces that come from all the individuals who have shaped me into who I am today. I am still applying for positions and will hopefully have my own classroom in the near future. I am excited to officially graduate. A lot has happened for this past year. I had an article written about my Twitter usage, I obtained 2 scholarships, and I obtained Honors Program Scholar and Honors in my Major. Thank you all for being a part of my journey. |
AuthorMy name is Ms. Jachymiak, and I am a pre-service teacher currently attending Illinois State University. This blog follows my journey as a student teacher. @MsJachymiak Archives
May 2018
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