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.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2024
Categories |