First week of teaching

On the way home from my last day of my first full week of teaching I imagined I would be a tad bit exhausted. And why should I not be, for there are never enough hours in the day to get all your work done as well as any sleep. However even with my sleepiness I was longing to get more done, and in truth there is always more to do. But you see new teachers like myself must be alert and not allow burn out too quickly. The job is exciting, its demanding, it’s a challenge, and let’s be honest it never ends. We go home from the busy week and our ideas are flowing and desire to get back in and try a new lesson is simply all we can think about. Relax, Monday will be here soon enough.

I have learned a lot this week from my students and from my fellow teachers. One thing is for sure, it is always good to surround yourself with people who not only have experience but can be encouraging and considerate. This is good to remember in any working environment, not just teaching. Life lessons are always present, just be watching.

Our first week of an awesome second grade year began and finished well with fairy tale stories and mathematical equations. I would say the reading time is the most fun for the students, especially when encouraged to work on answers and when they receive confirmation of doing a good job. I want so desperately for them to get the meaning of the lessons though. We talked today of the message of Beauty and the Beast and how it is not good to judge a book by the cover. We talked briefly about prejudice. My second graders did a great job and I hope they were listening.

Some mornings I might be driving to work a little dazed. In fact, if I am not careful I might forget if I am coming to school or going home since the sun is still low on the horizon. In my car I currently have Dr. Chuck Missler’s commentary on the Book of Matthew. I have been enjoying that since the 10^th of August. I love being able to listen to good rich Bible study during on the road times. Those are the times when I am the student. Which reminds me of another point.

Teachers will always be students. We do not cease learning once we begin teaching. Every day is a learning moment. We learn what the students know, they need, where we think they will grow. We learn about what makes sense to them and new ways to teach them. We learn development skills, classroom management, learning styles, ect. Overall we as teachers are sometimes our own worst students because it often feels like we still need to learn the basics. But be open to learn, be open to grow. There is always something new and exciting ahead of us. This first week of teaching for me has already taught me a host of valuable lessons as I press on ahead.