One Month Down

I recently finished my first first full month of teaching.  This year is much different than the last, when I was student teaching. My tips for myself remain relatively the same: remain calm, smile (a lot), and ask questions. 

My tip to my teacher-self: When there is a fire drill that interrupts the middle of class, one of the best ways for teachers to get students back on track is, “Ok, we left off at…” A group of normally distracted students immediately redirect their focus. This is much harder to do if students are in the middle of a Math test as I recently discovered. 

1. Tip to Teacher Self: Do not hand students exams or any graded work back at the beginning of class. Whether in middle school or high school, even at a school where grades are not the preeminent focus, students will turn their focus to their performance on an assessment. Unless the assessment is being reviewed, in order to help students get better I am of the opinion that it is better to wait until the end of class. Multiple hands shooting up with questions about their assessments, the distraction in transitioning to whatever activity is supposed to be happening, has led me to believe that certain items should only be handed out at the beginning of class if they serve a practical purpose. 
2. Teachers get distracted too! This is not a surprise to me, but we are expected to always be ready. For instance, I like to be at school well-ahead of schedule. I plan for disturbances in metro service. On a particular morning this past month, multiple teachers were waiting to use the only available printer. This set me back by approximately one precious hour. Though I was still early to school, it left no time for my usual prep. This was a good lesson to learn. I must always have systems in place that will allow everything to continue to run smoothly. My saving grace is being consistent. Having routines helps not only the students, but also me; I am more comfortable , and can still be effective (maybe not at the highest level) when the unexpected occurs.
3. Worry is a distraction. Constantly thinking about student progress and even self-progress in the space and place that is school can be detrimental. As I am occupying this role as a co-teacher it may not always be helpful to think about whether or not I fit in, or if people believe I am effective, or even if I am liked. This can be detrimental to my being fully present. Navigating this space is not easy but I do not need to make it more difficult by trying to figure it out. I do not abide by “que sera sera,” as I do believe that choices made consistently can have a positive or negative effect on the future. Choosing to learn what I can and use the resources that I have, may be the most practical thing for me to do write now. 
   
   Ciao for now, 
   Your fellow teacher - Ms. St. Jean (aka Martha during off hours).