Teaching affirmation

Yesterday I got the most lovely email from a parent whose son I teach in my Maths class. I had called her concerned about her son's attitude towards Maths, not because he was exhibiting any negative behaviours, but because he had seemed to have lost his love and enthusiasm for Maths, in such a quick period of time.

We met that afternoon in my classroom for an informal meeting, and it turned out he was just having a few "off" days because his friend was not at school. I had such a nice conversation with both the boy and his mother, who was so affirming and encouraging. His mum said such nice things about my teaching style and how I was her son's favourite teacher, and then followed up with an email the next day discussing the conversation she had with her son after they came to see me.

She ended the email with "So, once again, I would like to thank you very much for all the wonderful work you have done and also for your time, enthusiasm, patience and outstanding professionalism as a teacher, towards our son. I hope that you are here at this school for many more years to come, because the students here are very lucky to have such an amazing & caring person guiding them through their school years."

But that wasn't my favourite part- even though it was very sweet.

This was the kicker:

"I would like to share with you these appropriate quotes:

· The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. ~William A. Ward (her emphasis)

· The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~ Anonymous "

Laura's Wedding: Professional pics

What I've Been Up To

It's been a LONG time since I've updated this little blog... it's been a little neglected because life has gotten in the way!

So... what's been taking up all my time?


Thirty one children, seven hours a day, five days a week

:)


Teaching has become my number one time consumer. I go to sleep thinking about lesson plans and wake up thinking about seating charts... not to mention reports, assessments, calling parents, assemblies, competitions, school dances, awards, notes home, projects, extension groups, photocopying, grades, discipline.

To give you an idea of how full on this whole teaching thing is, let me paint you a picture of what's been happening in our school community lately.

#1 : Reports had to be finished and proof read this week. This means constant checking of grades, comments, and general ticking-of-boxes, with lots of last minute changes that add to the already immensely high stress levels. Let's just say that I now have a renewed appreciation for all of my teachers who spent hours working on MY school reports! I had no idea about the amount of work that goes into them. Every i must be dotted and every t crossed. And every comma must be in the right place! Teachers are grammar and punctuation aficionados!


On top of reports being due, we have also had to find time for:
yearly exams (and the tonne of marking, grading and ranking that comes with them!)
the handball competition
the school disco
award ceremonies

You can see why I've been a little distracted! Lots has been going on... and in the middle of it, I'm trying to secure myself a job for next year, seeing as I'm only filling in for a teacher who's been on maternity leave. Trying to find the time to start filling out job applications whilst in the midst of the craziness of what is Term 4 is a little difficult!

Not knowing if I'll even be employed next year is even scarier!

I had this whole plan about how my teaching career would start, and this has not exactly been how I thought it would go... But, it has been great experience and a HUGE learning curve.

I have learnt to be tough, and stick to my guns. I've learnt how to (almost) control a classroom of thirty-one rambunctious ten year olds. I've learnt how to be caring and strict at the same time.

It's been one huge rollercoaster ride... a baptism of fire, if you will.

Not what I expected, or how I imagined my first year of teaching to be. Not better or worse than what I thought, just... different.


There have been awesome days and there have been days that really sucked.

There have been moments I've laughed and moments I've cried.

Days I've smiled and days I've yelled.

Days that I've been on Cloud 9 and days that I've gotten more angry than I ever have before.

Days where I have taken the frustration home with me.

Days where I've been disappointed, and anxious, and sad, and joyful, and ecstatic all within the same seven-hour period.

Days where I've felt uplifted and days where I've felt downtrodden.


I'm told this is life in the adult world. After so many years of being a student and feeling like a kid despite being twenty-something, it's strange. And I think it'll take some getting used to.