August 2009
12 posts
So tired...
Exhausted. We went on a class retreat to get to know each other better. It was long, and exhausting, and there was one bathroom for 25 of us, but overall it was a really good experience. I learned how to rely on others and really listen to what people saying, which obviously will have to be an ongoing skill. I feel like everyday I’m learning valuable skills that I didn’t know before. I...
July 2009
11 posts
Meeting the Teacher
I met my lead teacher for the year and I think she’s fabulous. She seems so down to Earth, yet energetic and fun. It’s obvious that she has the students best interest at heart, and is interested in exploring the use of data to provide teaching insight - which I love! I’m so excited to work with her this year. I can’t wait to meet our kids and get to know them.
Two things I...
Day 1
Today was my first day of Master’s classes. I was disappointed in the amount of handholding that they seem to do to cater to adult students, and slowly easing into classes. I’m so ready to dive right in that I feel like we’re just wasting time talking about feelings…maybe education classes are like this? I know that I will probably regret this post at a later date when...
Less time with the fam?
Research found that the number of hours devoted to family socializing has contracted sharply since 2006 after fluctuating around 26 hours per month (ranging from 22.6 to 29.8 hours) through the middle of the decade. By 2008, shared time dropped by more than 30%, to 17.9 hours.
I wonder if this is true across all socio-economic brackets? Sad stat that cannot be good for our children!
Work-Life Choices
“There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.” —Jack Welch, former GE chief executive
Becoming a teacher is a work-life choice to me. I choose to have a lower earning potential in order to have more time with my family. Even though I don’t have kids now, I live away from my family and want to...
Those who cannot do, teach.
What a great start to my Monday morning. I was greeted with the phrase “Those who cannot do, teach.” I feel like people’s opinions of teachers vary as they only see their summers off or spring breaks, but not grueling days or taking work home every night. I DO my job very well, and resent the idea that I can’t “do” so I’m teaching.
I’m going into...
“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier...”
– Helen Keller
How did you feel about 6th grade?
I found out I’m teaching 6th graders this fall at a school that is made up of 96% minorities and 98% free and reduced lunch (under poverty level) kids. It makes me so excited to work in one of the district’s poorer schools, but I’m not sure how I feel about 6th graders. I’m worried they may smell. Or have serious attitude. Or not take me seriously. Or be bigger than me....
Remain optimistic in the face of a challenge
“We’ve done a lot of research on the characteristics of our teachers who are the most successful. The most predictive trait is still past demonstrated achievement, and all selection research basically points to that. But then there is a set of personal characteristics. And the No. 1 most predictive trait is perseverance, or what we would call internal locus of control. People who in the...