be a great teacher

I have truly flourished this year. I am more patient, kind…sure, when this season rolls around I’m a bit more exasperated.

When my students feel loved, everything is OK. I can’t snap, but speak politely and and voice my concerns. I can do it, but it’s a huge change of habit… we’ll see!

Even though having a ST has been a complete nightmare, I feel I’ve grown as a teacher. If nothing else, it’s given me time to be reflective about my teaching practice and where I’m going.

Most importantly, it’s given me time to lesson plan at home, where I think more in depth about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it.

I need to focus on my piano skills, but that’s not going to happen until the ST leaves. He’s gotta go first and then I can actually have my room as my own room instead of running away from it rapidly.

With concentration and diligence, I should grow more each year. I have to grow more each year.

I don’t know if someone drugged them, but my kids love me this year. It’s only October, and I’ve literally gotten more compliments about the kids loving everything I do, that I’m funny, that they love me. HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Considering the mess I walked into, I feel like I’ve triumphed.

My teaching is even excellent – I’ve managed to refine what I do. Now onto fixing the one suggestion my sup had for me, and I’m on the way. I’m really happy where I am right now, and I have to remember to look back on this when I’m not.

It’s been a great start to the school year.

The things to watch out for this year are mainly disciplining the kids. I have to realize that I work in a district that requires kind disciplining, no matter how awful the act. I have to remember that.

Also, now that the Halloween show is no longer an issue, I need to work towards making every day a better one. I’ve achieved goals in the past, and I know I can do these – they’re simple. On to being tenured!

As for the masters degree, it’s not going to happen. However, I am working towards some continuing education credits which will have the same effect. Yeay for me for letting go, and yeay to me for still getting the same end result!

pbbbbbbbbbbbbbfffffffffft.

So I’m going for a second masters to refine my skills. Isn’t that worth something? To want to do well, to try to and fix my deficiencies should be worth something.

I think I’m going to go back and re-detail all my goals and put at least 3-4 steps on how to achieve them. I just need to be in the mood, and focused so that the goals are right and relative to what I need to do.

That’s a little scary as I type it. I realize that in January, I’ll be at my fourth year teaching, and I need to act like it.

I know I’m a great teacher, but I also know the things I could fix. Starting with looking at some great ideas for bulletin boards will be a great start this summer. It’ll make me think about things and really go for a good school year.

By August 1st, I should have a Halloween Show and Holiday Show all picked out and ready to show Jean. It’s a good deadline to work with, and I know I can do it.

It seems like I worry about the same things over and over again. I feel that I’m very nice, polite and patient with the kids. But some of them overstep boundaries that I would have never overstepped as a child. EVER. And it’s a hard fact to cope with that no matter how nice, firm, and consistent I am, there’ll always be a kid who gets my goat.

I figured that the best way around this is to plan really solid, concrete lessons that engage the kids so much that they don’t want to misbehave. It’s a fine line being a specialist, but I think at least I know where the line is.

OK, I’m not screaming. Not at all.

But with the pressure of Acting Club, Show Season, and other things, I should have a little more patience.

I’m going to slap a big smile on my face (as if I don’t have one already) on Monday morning and really have a lot of patience and love for the kids.

I finally feel closer to the kids in a really good way. I feel like I’m friendly with them, but not their friend, and kind to them while still being a teacher to them.

I’m starting to enjoy it a bit more, and I hope that I can stay there, for many reasons. I know I can get upset at times, but I hope I can just stay put.