August 4, 2016
Today was my first day of professional development at HW Byers High School, Mt. Pleasant Mississippi. My recent ideas of preparation have been finding a mindset to handle prolonged stressful situations. My school preparation has been organizing resources bequeathed to me by MTC second years and alumni, tie shopping at Salvation Army with Mr. Jaffery, mapping curriculum, looking at content for a class I have no resources, and writing syllabi and parent letters. Until today I hadn't seen my classroom for more than thirty minutes and hadn't met anyone from the school other than a fifteen minute meeting with the principal. Ryan Brennan and I car pooled to the high school. The day was got and the sun was hard. We had a short professional development session with staff members and the principal. After our PD session, I worked setting up my room. I made a checklist of supplies, and I cataloged items left in the room from the previous teacher, an illustrious MTC alumni. I covered a bulletin board, wiped down surfaces and white boards. Am I ready? As ready as I'll ever be. I have spent the majority of time after summer school with my roommates, all second year MTC, each providing me with quality and so far helpful advice. I am excited to get started, to learn the kids names, to start teaching biology, to uncover and study the ecosystem of my classroom. I feel good standing in my classroom. I like the lighting. I like the corrugated iron walls that lend a barn or garage atmosphere. I am comfortable in barns and garages. Tomorrow I will hang posters, great garages have great posters. I said to Brennan while in my room: "Here is where I am going to live for the next 187 days." He laughed and said: "Yea, you'll spend more time in here than you will at home." I haven't spent much time focusing on my fears in the classroom. I am most weary of kids steamrolling me. I have nightmares about not being able to manage students, not being effective or enthusiastic enough, fearing nothing in my class will be accomplished, and all students will fail the state test and I will be fired in a blaze of glory. As soon as these thoughts run their course, like Phoenix, I rise from the ashes, regain confidence and attempt to embody the teacher I see myself being. |
April 14, 2016
I am still excited to teach biology. I get more and more excited for biology everyday. The time I spent in Room 57 at HW Byers has turned me from a person who wants to teach into a teacher. I am not staying in Mississippi, but I'll always think of and be thankful for Mississippi. There are too many people to thank for this transition, but I have to thank the students. In the last two years I have had great experiences with students everyday. Since summer school I have built my muscle memory to teach everyday. It still work hard in preparation, I'm still there every day, I don't quit, I rest when I need it, and I smile. I am not full of anticipation anymore. I am full of confidence. I know that teaching is my job now. Teaching had made me a better person, and with education I hope to make better people. |