Rejuvenating Your Passion for Teaching and Learning How to Balance

AN HONEST REVIEW OF MY EIGHTH YEAR

Christmas Break could not have gotten any slower this year. It was a grind to get to 2:00 on Friday, December 17th.

As my fellow teachers and I would pass each other in the hallway, we would say things like “I can’t believe it’s almost here!” and “Today is going SO SLOW!” 

Each day was a struggle to get up. A struggle to get out the door on time. A struggle to get prepared for the day ahead as I rushed around in a slight panic. Usually…doing something I should have done the day before.

Now that I am a few days into break…I can say “I did what I could.”

That has to be enough. Angela Watson and countless other wise educators echo the same sentiment. Sometimes it just has to be enough. Not perfect. Maybe not even done. Just. . . enough.

That is not quite how I wanted my 8th year of teaching to be during break. I’ve considered branching out into different areas of education. Either in conjunction with teaching full time or following a different path altogether. 

I’ve realized that this year is HARD. Not just for me. For all of us. I just keep going and checking things off the list. I feel like I’m in robot mode and I am ready for a change. I’m not sure what. Just a change.

WHAT CAN I IMPROVE ON IN 2022?

GOAL #1

Since I’m ready for a change and I am lucky to work in a district that allows some autonomy, I will be working with a Literacy Coach during 3rd Quarter to improve my intervention instruction. 

My group this year does well in identifying the basic reading elements and applying those skills in a new context. However, I feel like they would benefit from a deep dive of the material we consider “heart standards” in our district.

“Heart Standards”  are the ones our 4th grade team chose to add to our standards-based report card as skills they need to know by heart by the end of the school year. We can introduce them during any quarter and choose to assess them any quarter. We have flexibility in choosing how to structure that.

I would like to get better at taking the data I have and learning how to differentiate better during our RTI (Response to Intervention) time. Hopefully, I can learn from our coach how to make this time more meaningful for my students.

GOAL #2

Grading. 

Tackle it. Even when I don’t want to.

It’s the worst thing. . . besides report card time. I just can’t keep up most of the time. When I am caught up, I fall behind quickly. I’ve learned how to prioritize some of the papers that should be checked vs. the ones that don’t have a need to be checked.

I am a part of Angela Watson’s 40-Hour Teacher Workweek, but I tend to get bogged down in the details a lot. I need to just set aside a day to do it or a time. I always just squeeze it in when I can. Usually last minute. Then, I end up with a stiff neck and I’m mad at myself that I’m stuck doing it on a Sunday.

GOAL #3

Back to the basics. Keep it simple and functional.

I have too much. . . clutter, books, pens and pencils, trays, bins, etc. I want to go through my collection of odds and ends that I have curated over the course of the past decade. Some things and systems I can get rid of.

There are a few things that have worked for me over the years. Some of the systems I use are:

• Student Mailboxes 

• Teacher’s “Mailbox” – I use a blue basket to keep items in

• Teacher Toolbox – for supplies

• Monday – Friday Drawers

• Reading, Writing, Math Drawers

• Tubs for ELA and Holidays/Seasonal

• Math Tubs – for organizing materials

• Morning Meeting & Schedule

• Morning Work / Problem of the Day

• “The Lantern” from Laura Santos from Core Inspiration

• Group Drop Boxes from Laura Santos

• Standards & Focus Boards

• Student Display – iReady Challenge Cards

• Rainbow Drawers – *need to reevaluate use

 

It’s still hard to figure out how to use some resources. Our classrooms are not quite back to normal. We can’t have our usual room layout with student desks, so it limits space in the room. It feels old-fashioned being in straight, forward-facing rows. 

 

I hope that by clearing up unused items and rearranging certain materials might make the room feel more accessible and organized. 

 

CHALLENGE 

 

My challenge for myself this year is to actually finish my goals. I can plan and come up with all kinds of lists. Follow through – not so much.

 

I need to be honest with myself about what I can actually accomplish. I need to stop putting so much on my own plate. I love to start projects, but rarely finish them. 

 

This year, I need to realize the amount of knowledge and research that I have put into my career can finally start to pay off now. I can continue to learn while really nailing down what has worked for me throughout the years. 

 

I can do this. So can you.

 

I hope you have a very Happy New Year and look forward to great things ahead!

 

Warmly,