Believe it or not... - H
...I think I'm getting a little pooped by all the physical activity we've been involved in the last couple of weeks. Tennis has become a more regular part of our lives. We've been hiking a bit more. (We just went today on a pretty leisurely hike to the top of Angel Island, Mt. Livermore.) Then we're off to another backpacking trip at the end of the month. I'm really excited about snowboarding season coming up, but I wonder if I'll have any energy by then. I definitely prefer the summers because I feel well-rested every day, although work has its perks too. I think I would get restless at home if the summer lifestyle never ended.
I'm enjoying my students a lot more this year than I have in the last two years. People keep asking me how school is going so far. I don't really know what to say. It's off to a smooth start. I've already build a good rapport with all of my classes, and a good number of them already feel comfortable enough to speak up during class discussions, some make jokes and facetious remarks at times. I think the latter started on the third or fourth day of school! They seem to feel comfortable with me already, and that makes me feel really happy. What's changed? I don't think it's the kids as much as it is me and my approach to teaching this year. I decided that I don't have to jam through all the content, that less is more, that taking time to make sure the kids understand what the lesson is about is more important. I realized that I can't assume that some things are common sense and that I need to take time to explain things with full detail. I decided that it is more important to lay a good foundation at the beginning of the year with regard to my expectations of their behavior specifically regarding their social interactions, in-class behavior, and ethical decision-making as well as classroom procedure. I realized that it's possible to be strict and nice, that these two are not mutually exclusive. I realized that I can be too strict at times and that there is more room for grace and mercy... I love my job.
Teaching is incredibly dynamic, and this in combination with the ability to see progress, improvement, and change is the ultimate hook. I see these things in my students of course, but I'm actually talking about myself. I'm constantly challenged to design better lessons, to consider my interactions with my students and/or their parents, to consider my teaching practices and what values I am reinforcing, to think about the subtle affect that I may have on each one of them because of the tone of my voice or a passing remark, to think about whether I am making a positive or negative impact. Because of my job I am challenged to become a better person in some ways, and I'm learning some skills that will help me if I have my own kids in the future... and not only that, but in my day to day interactions with others too.
Thank you , Lord, for providing more than I asked for or could have imagined.
I'm enjoying my students a lot more this year than I have in the last two years. People keep asking me how school is going so far. I don't really know what to say. It's off to a smooth start. I've already build a good rapport with all of my classes, and a good number of them already feel comfortable enough to speak up during class discussions, some make jokes and facetious remarks at times. I think the latter started on the third or fourth day of school! They seem to feel comfortable with me already, and that makes me feel really happy. What's changed? I don't think it's the kids as much as it is me and my approach to teaching this year. I decided that I don't have to jam through all the content, that less is more, that taking time to make sure the kids understand what the lesson is about is more important. I realized that I can't assume that some things are common sense and that I need to take time to explain things with full detail. I decided that it is more important to lay a good foundation at the beginning of the year with regard to my expectations of their behavior specifically regarding their social interactions, in-class behavior, and ethical decision-making as well as classroom procedure. I realized that it's possible to be strict and nice, that these two are not mutually exclusive. I realized that I can be too strict at times and that there is more room for grace and mercy... I love my job.
Teaching is incredibly dynamic, and this in combination with the ability to see progress, improvement, and change is the ultimate hook. I see these things in my students of course, but I'm actually talking about myself. I'm constantly challenged to design better lessons, to consider my interactions with my students and/or their parents, to consider my teaching practices and what values I am reinforcing, to think about the subtle affect that I may have on each one of them because of the tone of my voice or a passing remark, to think about whether I am making a positive or negative impact. Because of my job I am challenged to become a better person in some ways, and I'm learning some skills that will help me if I have my own kids in the future... and not only that, but in my day to day interactions with others too.
Thank you , Lord, for providing more than I asked for or could have imagined.
posted by haed at 8:51 PM
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