I had a wonderful day today with 5th graders. Tomorrow, kindergarten for part of the day, and then a couple partial days with 5th and 4th graders. Lucky doesn’t like it when I am gone, but he likes having me home for at least part of the day! I like getting paid…
It’s funny — when I am away from classrooms for a couple of days I start to wonder if I am any good at it, if I should even be there. I think perhaps if I just stayed home I would start to pick up the art and crafts that had the potential to make as much money as — and in my fantasy world a lot more than — teaching. I consider how much more use I would be around the house if I focused on my physical health (teaching is admittedly hard on me day-to-day, I come home physically exhausted and fighting viruses several times a month) and got the house and yard in better shape.
And then, when I step in the classroom… I have said it before, but it’s true: I am getting more and more comfortable with that discomfort of not knowing where things are or what is supposed to be happening. I find that I am getting pretty good at quickly identifying the kids who are off task, figuring out how to explain things, and back-filling. I am still working on things like finding where things are likely to be in the room; locating supplemental materials in advance of needing them; and, perhaps more importantly remembering all of the end-of-day rituals. I am starting to correct papers sometimes, and am giving occasional observational feedback to teachers in the notes I leave (so-n-so seemed confused, the kid in the back was reading a book during explanations…).
I am enjoying myself more and more, starting to differentiate better on the fly, and moving things ahead more efficiently in general. AND I am becoming more articulate about what is going on in the classrooms, now that I have some time to think about it. I have a lot of fun talking with other teachers nowadays.
Hope your week is going well, too!
2 Interactions on “A lovely week so far!”
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I had to call in sick for the Wednesday job, but really enjoying the rest of the week! And looking forward to next month: it starts with the week-long Spring break that this year only one of our children gets (the other has his Spring break from college a week earlier). Then I have already scheduled four days in a row, one of those teaching three consecutive days for the same teacher! VERY excited about that.
I go back to what I said in the original post: when I am away from classrooms I begin to wonder if I really have what it takes; when I am there, it feels as natural as breathing — or riding a bike. The more I teach, the stronger I get just like riding a bike! And now it is well and truly Spring, we are seeing more and more flowers and leaves on the trees. A sorrow that so many of the ornamental plum in our area were damaged in the January storm and are being removed. Hopefully they will plant trees just as lovely (and perhaps native too?) — or shrubs. Blueberries might be nice… both native AND edible!
I am so happy for you. I knew you would be at home in the classroom when you were able to quiet your inner critic. I think you and I have inner critic choirs! Best of luck to you always,
Anne