This week consisted of ups and downs. As a newer teacher, I know I am not where I want to be in regards to classroom management. I know that I need to be more firm and consistent, but I also know that takes time. Through it all, I am thankful to have an amazing admin who is acting as my cheerleader and is taking time to give me constructive criticism while providing positive areas as well. I am naturally an introvert, but, when I teach, I feel like that part of me goes away. i also tend to be hard on myself, so when I try to think of successes, I have a hard time because I tend to compare myself to others around me. I know that I have great students who are absolutely capable of learning, and I want to be the best teacher I can be for them which is why I frequently pause and reflect.
On Wednesday, I tried a new tally system which included a tally and a little stop sign visual cue placed on their desk for them to refocus, a 2nd tally if earned which included a reflection sheet and a 10 minute break in a buddy room, and a 3rd tally if earned which is when I would send the student out for the rest of the period and contact home due to that being a step. I started to mark tallies on my whiteboard which helps me see where my students are at and also helps the students know where they are at as well. I honestly had a much better day on Wednesday due to taking the time to explain my new system and owning up that I wanted to reset some things in my classroom. Now, some things still need to be worked upon such as when students have computers out while I am teaching. I only had an issue with 2 of my students doing that, but the way that I addressed this is by pausing all the screens during the time I am teaching and making sure that their screens are all the way down. This is an important part of my classroom procedures because I want all of my students to be paying attention to the lesson. Then, when students are practicing their skills on the computer, I start a filter session for the duration of the class period where I block access to websites that they frequently go on that is not what we are doing in class such as youtube. This has helped tremendously. I am still reflecting, and I know that change takes some time, but I am willing to grow and learn as much as I can because I truly want to become better.
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I just went on a walk around my neighborhood, and it made me think about how far I have come in my journey thus far. Last year, I was published in 2 books, and in June, I started my very own podcast.
As a newer teacher, I am always amazed at how much support I have received from my amazing PLN. Kind comments from others that I inspire them in someway mean the world and push me to be a better educator. I was thinking about goals that I have for myself in the upcoming year, and one goal is to finish my manuscript which scares me a lot due to being a new experience for me but is one that I want to accomplish. I also just want to be all in as an educator meaning that I am giving 110 percent to my students. I was having a rough day two weeks ago due to having the flu, and I received an email with a shared document that one of my students shared with me saying that he hopes I feel better and that my class needs me. It brought tears to my eyes because I was doubting myself as a teacher, and that note was like a sign from God showing me that I am making a difference somehow and that I need to keep going. I always get small reminders that I am on the right path, and for me, those reminders come from my students. I have bad days too due to being a human being, and I have my own flaws and imperfections, but I think about my students frequently, and their joy and laughter make me a better person. I try to be better for them. I keep myself busy because I like to do a lot and feel productive, but I also know I need time for myself too, so this break was a nice way to kick back and relax. I had time to think through my behavior plan and my room formation, and I plan on making a few changes, but even though the break is ending which can be hard, I know that I want to be a positive force. My to - do list is never ending, but I am fine with that because I know things get done at some point. I know some people think I am crazy due to being 24 and doing podcasting, blogging, and starting #newteacherjourney, but this is my journey, and I would not change it for anything because I think it makes me a stronger educator because it reminds me of why we do what we do. I tell my students about my Twitter presence, and I am happy to be living the best of both worlds in a sense because Twitter is an outlet for me at times. Thank you for sticking with me and being by my side. I appreciate all of you. For me, 2019 was filled with joy and hard times as well. Last year, I found out I needed to search for a new teaching position due to budget cuts which resulted in many tears and questioning if I am in the right profession. In April, I also found out that my grandpa passed away with cancer which was also hard especially as a new teacher. I did not take a day off due to wanting to be with my students and finding comfort in their love and kindness.
Thankfully, I did find a position in June and accepted, and I am thankful to be where I am at currently. I feel like I am learning a ton which can be overwhelming at times, but I feel support from every angle and know that I am at a great school that truly keeps the needs of the students at the forefront. Now, I am nowhere near perfect and make mistakes that I reflect on. I have cried a few times this year as well, but those tears have taught me that I care and that, if something is not working, then I need to brainstorm some solutions or ask someone for advice. The one thing I have learned this year is that asking for help does not make you weak. One admin at my school regularly meets with me and gives me strategies and ideas that I try in my classroom. She also let me borrow "Tools for Teaching" by Fred Jones which I plan to read. I know that she cares, and even though sometimes I am my own worst critic, I know that I am in control and have the power to make changes that will result in me being a happier teacher and a happier person in general. As a newer teacher, my confidence level is not very high, and that makes it hard, at times, because I find myself being critical of everything I do even though I am trying my best. Before I started teaching, I looked up all kinds of strategies ranging from organization to classroom management, and I still do look up strategies or ask for input via Twitter and Facebook, but what I learned is that every approach will not necessarily work for me, and I need to experiment and find my own teaching style which takes time. I was watching one youtuber today, Courtney Raine, who mentioned how it is important to find your own niche and ride that wave. What she meant was to find something you are good at and continue to do that because that is your strong point. All in all, I know I want to make changes this year both in my classroom and my own life mainly in self care and staying healthy. I am in the process of writing my manuscript, and although that seems daunting and overwhelming, I know I have many blog posts that I can pull from ranging from student teaching, my first year, and my journey thus far. I am thankful I started blogging because it gives me time to reflect and get my thoughts down, and it is fun to read through older posts because it shows me where I started and where I am now. Every experience makes me stronger, and I am thankful for the lessons. |
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April 2024
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