It seems like this summer flew by. For five weeks, I ate, breathed, and lived a job (literally) that made me appreciate my teaching job 5000 times more. One thing I need to remember: It could always be worse.
August is weird though. It signals the end of the summer and, thus, the beginning of the new school year. I'm ready for this year to be a lot more positive than last year was. I'll still be teaching Advanced Placement, 4 Honors, and 1 College Prep, so there will be nothing new curriculum-wise, but I do plan to make some changes that'll make my lessons more interesting and less teacher-involved (since that's a bad thing in education these days, apparently). Not to say I won't still do my job, but I'll try to make sure the students are doing a lot more work than usual.
Although there's this new push for a more "student-directed" classroom, I am more confident now that my method is actually working. I've communicated with many of my AP students from the past school year, and so far everyone's (I've heard from 6 of 15) scored 5's and 4's on the national exam! How could I think I've done anything wrong?!? I do expect that a few that haven't answered have scored lower; however, I hardly think anyone would get below a 3, even the student who really struggled throughout the year.
My "new" batch of students will not be so new. The ones in AP I've had at least twice already and the 4's I've had at least once. The only newbies will be the 1's, not counting the ones who may end up back in my class for not having passed last year. I just have to make sure everyone's on track right at the beginning.
I really intend to focus on not becoming too stressed out this school year. I definitely cannot let the handful of rude students get to me. I must remember, they're just teenagers.
I also need to start blogging more. Not just as a stress release, but as a means of examining my practice. It's just that I'm usually too tired or too lazy when I get home. Also, my memory is horrible, so usually, I just forget how thing went. Perhaps I should get better at journaling my notes at school immediately after (or during, if possible) lessons. Yes, lesson reflections. Good goal, I think.
24 more days until the beginning of the school year (for teachers at least)!
4 comments:
Good luck this year!
I hope that i'm still reading your journals when i become a spanish teacher. your somewhat inspirational as to what i could do.
Thank you both!
August is like a month of Sunday nights as far as I'm concerned. I feel the same stress and sadness that the summer(or weekend) is over. I'd love to hear what kind of plans you do, since your students are so successful. I have had one student (so far) take the WSU placement test. She placed in the fourth semester which is excellent for only three years. If she takes that class and gets a B or better, WSU will grant her 12 semester hours of credit. I am recommending a class below that which can still earn her 8 semester hours. It feels good to have our students do well, but I wouldn't guarantee how some of mine will do. Many of my seniors got VERY lazy during the last half of senior year.
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