My Poor Husband
Andy has been working practically nonstop for days now. I feel bad for him. On top of working all the time, it has been raining for days. And when it rains like that, his room gets flooded. Talk about not getting a good nights sleep. His 5 hour nap that he thought he was going to get turns into only 3. Poor Andy.
Election Day
I am eager to see how the election turns out. I'm so excited!
Classroom
Today was a very hard day at school. The kids were so talkative. I felt like I didn't get anything accomplished. But I think I am getting a handle on some of the kids that I often have trouble with but now I have issues with new kids. I keep trying to adjust to them and change my normal style of teaching. I continue to keep our routines the same because I know kids need consistency. I guess I'll keep trucking along but the daily headaches don't help me at all. Stress headaches! UGH!
I also know that the stress from being away from Andy probably adds to the way I feel in the classroom. So I wonder if maybe I think it's not as bad as I think it is. Maybe my level of patients is lower than in my previous years of teaching. I have always loved being a teacher. Now I feel like such an awful teacher for not being exciting about going to school.
I think we should always learn from our experiences through reflection. But sometimes we should trust our intuition. I have always thought I would be better with the older kids and through this experience I have proven that assumption to be correct. Often we think we might not like something and then we try it. Then we find that we do enjoy it. This is not one of the times!
I have mentioned Michaele before in a previous blog. She is a wonderful teacher and is so knowledgeable. She is amazing with the little ones. I am a big enough person to admit that I am not. But I have made the effort to try my very best every day, which includes getting advice from others (we can always learn). I have always felt fortunate to be in a career that I love. I have been living my dream. For that I am very thankful. Not everyone has that same fortune.
Teacher Cardigans in my Etsy Shop!
1 year ago
2 comments:
Just found your blog and been reading up. I understand those long days! Are you still in 1st? And Dan had the same kind of trouble in oversees- his room flooding. Work never stops over there. And I hope he will be able to get a real lion back through security for your nephew! :)
Happy November to you Daisie~ and thank you for the praise. What you might find remarkable is that I feel exactly the way you do in reverse: I don't think I could ever be a truly effective teacher for *older* children. Though I've taught summer school for grades 2-6, and enjoyed fifth or sixth grade buddies spending time with my Super Stars (even sixth graders who were former students of mine!) I've never felt that flow, or connection with them that I do with the five and six year olds. Though I'm certified in three states to teach grades K-8, I shudder at the thought of teaching students any older than third graders...truly. I would not be the teacher they need or deserve- I leave that to those special teachers like you who have just the right temperment and tone to make students' experiences meaningful and rewarding. Like you, I gained that knowledge and perspective through experience.
That being said, you're right- you do owe the first graders your very best. It's not their fault that you've discovered it's not the best match. Thankfully the placement isn't year long!
First graders are chatty- it's how they acquire and master language. They won't learn vocabulary, spelling, writing, reading, negotiating, social problem solving, humor, or expressing sympathy and friendship by watching a video or by listening to you read or speak as they sit quietly. They have to *do* all of it, and they have to do it verbally. Remember, while several talk, many listen. They get more from each other than they would get from just hearing one teacher all day long.
Hugs, and *hang in there*. Build strength from the fact that other teachers have noticed that you've made a positive difference for the kiddos.
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