It's time to walk my talk. This afternoon I met with admin about my goals for this year. It's so nice for someone to ask about my goals and be able to give authentic answers. For better or for worse, I am opening my classroom. It's a thing. I'm committed now.
How is it possible that every year I forget how hectic pre-planning is? In the summer I think, "We have a week, I'll accomplish so much." Two days in, I've actually accomplished nothing on my list save for sending a few emails. I've accomplished ZERO things. In two full days of work. Welcome to teaching. It's a good thing I love it. :)
Showing posts with label personal goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal goals. Show all posts
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Expectations and levels
Last night during the Global Math Department webinar, Annie made a comment that (paraphrase) "You can't only teach a (struggling) kid multiplication tables and expect that he will make progress." It's so obvious, and yet so seldom done.
Enter today. I'm in the hallway waiting for one of my admins and end up chatting with an English teacher friend. She tells me about these two American Lit books that they are reading and how she will juxtapose the two stories so that her students can answer this essential question about American literature and their identities. It sounded really cool and complicated, so I said, "Oh, this is in your AP class?" She said, "No, it's my college prep." My first instinct was to say, "But it sounds too hard for them." Then I remembered Annie's comment. If you don't give them any challenging work, they will never have the opportunity to grow, to improve.
In our faculty meeting today, we were asked to identify two or three things that we want to work on this year in our teaching. High five to TMC16, I already have a list. But I've been thinking of my own fears as well, am I shying away from doing something because it seems scary or hard? I will never grow unless I take on the challenge.
Enter today. I'm in the hallway waiting for one of my admins and end up chatting with an English teacher friend. She tells me about these two American Lit books that they are reading and how she will juxtapose the two stories so that her students can answer this essential question about American literature and their identities. It sounded really cool and complicated, so I said, "Oh, this is in your AP class?" She said, "No, it's my college prep." My first instinct was to say, "But it sounds too hard for them." Then I remembered Annie's comment. If you don't give them any challenging work, they will never have the opportunity to grow, to improve.
In our faculty meeting today, we were asked to identify two or three things that we want to work on this year in our teaching. High five to TMC16, I already have a list. But I've been thinking of my own fears as well, am I shying away from doing something because it seems scary or hard? I will never grow unless I take on the challenge.
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