Last week started the new school year but technically I am still in my first year of teaching so I am picking up with my list of things to be thankful for! The beginning of the school year can be administratively CRAZY: kids coming in out of your classes, lots of papers, teaching procedures, IEPS, 504s, ESOL accomodations, getting to know names, and lots of paperwork for the school.
As the new semester starts though I am thankful for a lot. One being that I get a fresh start. All the mistakes I made can be revisted and I can choose a different way of handling situations. I also have a lot more courage this time around to try something that is very different even if it doesn't work out all that well.
In the midst of these new faces, another very encouraging thing is all the OLD FACES. Truly, nothing has thrilled my heart more the past few days then students I taught last semester come up to talk to me. Not just ones who wave when they walk by (trying to not let me embarass them) but those who actually stop and come say hello and talk to me. It is SO exciting and encouraging to me, not because I was just the greatest teacher ever last semester (because I wasn't!) but because these kids are intimately acquainted with my failures and shortcomings as a teacher but they still knew I cared about them as a person.
I saw a few from my precious fourth block who only had 14 last year. I got to know them very well so from them I got a lot of hugs and big smiles as they told me about their summers and new classes.
I have seen kids from 1st block who didn't get me for Algebra Part 2 yell, "I really miss you. I wish I had you still even though this teacher is good too." (And I made the MOST mistakes in their class for sure!)
I have had students I honestly did not like very much or who barely passed my class (and even those who didn't) come and tell me about their new classes and how they are "doing homework finally!"
Lastly, I have had a few former students in my class again! That can be a scary thing because all the change I want to make they will know is a "change." However, two said in their beginning letter to me that I was one of their favorite math teachers because I didn't not like them even though they were not the strongest math students or even hardest workers last year. The third wrote to me thanking me that "I did not give up on her last year." This student taught me last semester how far I was from experiencing pain and the real world when I was in high school. She has had to grow up so quickly but she told me she is motivated not only to pass but to do really well in my class this semester. Her letter reminded me why I wanted to be a teacher and why the crazy and exhausting first weeks of school with mistakes galore are so very worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment