I follow and love this blog by Dan Meyer and particularly the post I linked here. He talks about speaking to the new teachers entering the world of math education and how awesome it is to be counted among such great people, and I can totally relate. I am entering a new phase in my teaching career. Next year will be my 10th year of teaching and wow, what a run it has been. I can't believe I'm hitting double digits; I still feel like a rookie and in many ways I still am. I currently teach in a great math department of 4 and I am the rookie-est. The others are into their teaching careers 15 or more years, two are looking ahead only a few years and they can see retirement. I am the rookie.
However, next year, I will no longer be the rookie. We are adding a 5th math teacher to our department which is so exciting that we have the numbers and interest in our student body that we need more math teachers. We recently went through the hiring process to find the best person for the job, and we found her. Yes, her. First off, how great that another woman will be joining our department, I've started a trend! Second, and this is where I explain the "new phase of my teaching career," this new teacher is a former student. I had her in 8th grade during my first year of teaching.
I have now been teaching long enough to have my former students as my peers. Next thing you know I'll be having former students' children....and the guys I work with tell me that will make me feel really old.
So, the connection to Dan's blog...
It's such an exciting time for me, to think that one of my former students, who I found to be a hard worker, intelligent, caring individual, also chose to be a math teacher. I'm counted in the same category as her and a few others of my former students (who were all awesome, by the way) that are becoming teachers. I'm thrilled to be among such great people. I'm thrilled to know that there are more great people entering the world of education. They have made the decision to teach and make a huge impact on the world.
I'm also anxious to start our work together as a department of 5. There will be so much learning taking place, it will be unreal! Learning from us "non-rookies" yes, but the learning that will take place by the 4 of us, learning from our new teacher who is fresh from college and full of energy and excitement for her new career. I am very much looking forward to this new experience and phase in my teaching career.
Here's to a great start to the next ten years of teaching!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Delinquent
I have been a bit delinquent lately, like some of my students, about keeping up with my blog. I have so many thought, ideas, and frustrations floating around in my head, but I have so many things going on at school and at home, I barely have a moment to sit down and reflect right now.
So here are some thoughts, in no particular order, that just need to get out of my head. Writing gets them out of my head so I can move on...
1. I am not signing up to do an overloaded schedule ever again. Ok, I say that today, but last week I agreed to do an overload next year, but it is opposite an underloaded quarter, so I feel like that is different. Last quarter was an overload and so is this one and this teacher just needs a prep hour to sit down and think for a few minutes. I want to be a great educator, but right now, I feel like I am spread way to thin to be great. I am doing my job and I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances, but I am far from doing what my best would be if I weren't spread so thin.
2. I love computer programming and I think it's the best way to teach students to love logic, computers, and a little bit of math on the side. It's the most applicable class that I have ever taught and I love that it is an opportunity to teach students a skill in the most hands on way possible and they dive in and are amazed at what they learn. The 9 week course is a whirlwind and at the end they are able to look back and actually see some awesome progress. This is the bright spot in my overloaded day.
3. Grad school. I am loving the challenge that it is bringing me. It's been timed very well and I have reached a point in my career and life where I need to reflect and analyze carefully and grad school has filled that need for me nicely. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, it's one more thing in my busy schedule. But, I have found an outlet for my educational needs as a teacher. I am diggin' it.
4. I am not a high schooler anymore, but when I was, I was just as immature, annoying, and clueless as the ones that I teach every day. Now, I should say, not all of them fit into all or any of these categories, but there are some that I see each day that sometimes fit all three. They are my great challenges. I love my students, every single one of them. I want to see them all succeed, but man oh man, can they be annoying sometimes. I have found myself thinking back on my own high school days and remembering being similar on some occasions; it's helped to remind me that someday they too will outgrow this stage in their life. They need experience and guidance (from me and others) to help them through this tricky time in life.
5. I love it outside. That has nothing to do with math, but if anyone else has been here for the winter, they know. This winter was brutal and it feels so good to finally be outside. And just like my students, that makes me want to be in the classroom less and outside more....which can make for some tricky days finding motivation both for myself and for my students. Spring is here.
6. Today I received one of the best complements from a student....we were discussing some of my 'nerds.' I can call them nerds, because they say it's OK and because I am one of them, and I was referred to as "Queen of the Nerds" because I take the math and computer students to contests and do such nerdy things. But that wasn't even the best part....this student said, "She's queen of the nerds, but it's cool because she does it with style." Meant a lot to me because I try my hardest to make math and computer programming look fun, cool, exciting and to have a student notice that it just might be cool was great. Now, this was coming from one of my said 'nerds' but I am still going to count it.
7. I am full of great pride right now because I took a team last week to a programming competition, our first one ever at my school, and we came home with the first place plaque. It was awesome. I have taught these students since they were in 7th grade math, and I have always known they were gifted in math and computer and to guide them through this programming journey (which they did all on their own, I was just there to remind them to stay on track) has been awesome. To have them capture first place at our first programming competition was icing on the cake. I was bursting with pride and still am today. I am thrilled that their hard work was recognized. I am also thrilled that they are only juniors and I get to spend another year with them learning and growing.
8. I am blessed to have the job I have. It felt good to get all of that out of my head. And I know that it started out negative, but wow, it helped to see the blessings and all the great things that are part of my every day life. My head feels calmer now and my heart is happy. Even though this is my math blog, sometimes it's going to have to act as my reflection blog. What a great exercise for me; I feel strong again and ready to take on the rest of this week. Ahhhh....10 pounds lighter.
So here are some thoughts, in no particular order, that just need to get out of my head. Writing gets them out of my head so I can move on...
1. I am not signing up to do an overloaded schedule ever again. Ok, I say that today, but last week I agreed to do an overload next year, but it is opposite an underloaded quarter, so I feel like that is different. Last quarter was an overload and so is this one and this teacher just needs a prep hour to sit down and think for a few minutes. I want to be a great educator, but right now, I feel like I am spread way to thin to be great. I am doing my job and I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances, but I am far from doing what my best would be if I weren't spread so thin.
2. I love computer programming and I think it's the best way to teach students to love logic, computers, and a little bit of math on the side. It's the most applicable class that I have ever taught and I love that it is an opportunity to teach students a skill in the most hands on way possible and they dive in and are amazed at what they learn. The 9 week course is a whirlwind and at the end they are able to look back and actually see some awesome progress. This is the bright spot in my overloaded day.
3. Grad school. I am loving the challenge that it is bringing me. It's been timed very well and I have reached a point in my career and life where I need to reflect and analyze carefully and grad school has filled that need for me nicely. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, it's one more thing in my busy schedule. But, I have found an outlet for my educational needs as a teacher. I am diggin' it.
4. I am not a high schooler anymore, but when I was, I was just as immature, annoying, and clueless as the ones that I teach every day. Now, I should say, not all of them fit into all or any of these categories, but there are some that I see each day that sometimes fit all three. They are my great challenges. I love my students, every single one of them. I want to see them all succeed, but man oh man, can they be annoying sometimes. I have found myself thinking back on my own high school days and remembering being similar on some occasions; it's helped to remind me that someday they too will outgrow this stage in their life. They need experience and guidance (from me and others) to help them through this tricky time in life.
5. I love it outside. That has nothing to do with math, but if anyone else has been here for the winter, they know. This winter was brutal and it feels so good to finally be outside. And just like my students, that makes me want to be in the classroom less and outside more....which can make for some tricky days finding motivation both for myself and for my students. Spring is here.
6. Today I received one of the best complements from a student....we were discussing some of my 'nerds.' I can call them nerds, because they say it's OK and because I am one of them, and I was referred to as "Queen of the Nerds" because I take the math and computer students to contests and do such nerdy things. But that wasn't even the best part....this student said, "She's queen of the nerds, but it's cool because she does it with style." Meant a lot to me because I try my hardest to make math and computer programming look fun, cool, exciting and to have a student notice that it just might be cool was great. Now, this was coming from one of my said 'nerds' but I am still going to count it.
7. I am full of great pride right now because I took a team last week to a programming competition, our first one ever at my school, and we came home with the first place plaque. It was awesome. I have taught these students since they were in 7th grade math, and I have always known they were gifted in math and computer and to guide them through this programming journey (which they did all on their own, I was just there to remind them to stay on track) has been awesome. To have them capture first place at our first programming competition was icing on the cake. I was bursting with pride and still am today. I am thrilled that their hard work was recognized. I am also thrilled that they are only juniors and I get to spend another year with them learning and growing.
8. I am blessed to have the job I have. It felt good to get all of that out of my head. And I know that it started out negative, but wow, it helped to see the blessings and all the great things that are part of my every day life. My head feels calmer now and my heart is happy. Even though this is my math blog, sometimes it's going to have to act as my reflection blog. What a great exercise for me; I feel strong again and ready to take on the rest of this week. Ahhhh....10 pounds lighter.
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