Well. I think I have officially hit the point of summer where I am starting to get excited about school again. This last year was pretty stressful, I had some very interesting class dynamics going on. It was all a bit crazy. Between the group of kids (The combination was phenomenal! It was wild and crazy, but I enjoyed them immensely!) I had and a constant stream of people through my classroom (aides, SPED, whoever else felt like it...) I was pretty worn down by the end of the year. I probably would have written more about it, but thinking about it was somewhat painful...ANYWAY.
I am now getting to the point in the summer where it is all about the future and looking forward. I think that there are many things I will do the same, but I have been working more on some of the mechanics of my class, my procedures for students and my expectations. I have taught these things over and over to my previous classes, but I believe I will put even more emphasis on it this year.
Education is a tricky thing. The actual planning, teaching, and relating to students is very enjoyable and quite simple. The expectations, communication, and measuring up are somewhat difficult. Especially for the teacher, not to mention the students. I suppose interpersonal relationships can be the hard part. I am more afraid of disappointing an administrator than of being a bad teacher. The hard part of an administrator's job is that they have too much to do, too many teachers, too many papers, and too much to report. This of course carries down to the classroom where, instead of being able to enjoy teaching and building student relationships, stress comes into play and unrealistic expectations are put upon all involved. Teachers are worried about reports, tests, and performance. Students are worried about reports, tests, and performance. Administrators are worried about reports, tests, and performance. We should have these things. Reports. Tests. High Performance. They are crucial to measuring progress. But, somewhere in all this achieving, we lose something.
How do you get it back?
I think being organized solves a lot of these problems. I do not feel that I am a poor organizer or manager, but I realize I can improve. Classroom structure sets a precedent for kids to follow. They want to know what is expected. I want them to know what is expected. I believe teaching and learning should be fun, that it should really apply to life. Just like life, there are consequences at times, but if I can teach them to go through my class and learning to follow our class procedures they are learning success patterns for the rest of their lives. My most successful students are those who give their all. If my students are struggling with a concept, verbally lashing them is not the answer. Pulling them back to my desk is the answer. Having an aid assist them is the answer. Gentleness. Meekness. Love Unfeigned.
I guess in all of this it is about people. If we lose the trust of the people we are responsible for, it is very difficult to get it back. Reports, tests, and performance are important, but I feel my main responsibility to my students is to be a trusted adult that can offer some guidance. Not just on their math, or language arts, but in their lives as well.
So. I am getting ready for a new year. I have been organizing a little more. I have been planning different things to do. I think it will go well. But please remind me if I start freaking out about reports, tests, and performance, that this whole education sphere is really about kids and helping them be ready for the future.
It's interesting to me that in the course of my teaching thus far, the Lord has been teaching me many, many lessons and giving me insights I wouldn't have gained otherwise. It is about people and kids and service. A teacher has a responsibility to give their all for these kids. They may be a little crazy at times, but so is there teacher, and I wouldn't trade the opportunity I have had to teach any of them! (Just make sure you ask me on the right day!)
