- I love fall. The weather is great, the students are eager, and I have energy.
- However, I feel that my energy is dwindling. It could be because the amount of sleep I am getting varies inversely with the time I spend working on school work.
- I have done a lot of work with students and reflective assessment, and WOW, it's awesome. My students are responding well to the reflective assessments we have used thus far and I'm anxious to continue to try new things in my classroom. I love to help students find ways to reflect on their own learning, no matter the content. I hope that they can learn ways to track their personal progress and be able to identify when they need to ask for help.
- My College in the Schools course is rockin'. I have been helping students focus on technical writing skills. I have morphed from a math teacher to an English teacher. Although I have always known it, I am realizing more and more that I am much more than a math teacher. If I can help students learn something that is worthwhile to their lives, whether it be math, communication skills, or compassion, I have done my job.
- Being on a non-overloaded schedule is amazing. I feel I have a little more time to put into my lesson planning.
- Mentoring a new teacher is an awesome experience. Especially when that new teacher is a former student you have seen transform over the past 8 years. Awesome.
- I have a robotics team this year. I know nothing about robotics, but I do know a few things about working together as a team, and that's what I have been helping them do. They are going to rock it at the robot competition. I could not be more proud of them and their efforts to produce the best robot they are capable of producing. They are awesome and provide me with yet another reason to show up to school every day.
- Having a Kindergartener in the school system puts a new perspective on being a teacher. I have changed my philosophy a lot over the past 10 years, but this year makes me think even more. One thing I want to work on more is parent communication. Even in high school, parents want to hear how things are going both good and bad. I have tried to be right on top of communicating. I need to continue to put that as a priority. Parents want to know how their child is progressing and how they can help. I need to share more with them. Perhaps I will put together an email list to let parents know what is happening in Algebra classes.
- My favorite class to teach is my CIS course. I love to have conversations with the students about their futures. Often it makes me think perhaps I should have gone into academic counseling. Love talking personality tests, interest inventories, college choices, major selections, career goals. Love it all.
Fall is in full swing, as is school. It's always a challenge, and always exciting. Homecoming week is coming up and that's always a fun way to spend a week showing school spirit and enjoying the festivities. Hopefully as I continue my work with my reflective practices, I will update more on my philosophies and my class progress.
