Being on edge with my administration contributed a lot to the ways I reacted to conflict with my students, and working with students to deal with their own frustrations. To say I had a short fuse was an understatement. I would go home at the end of the workday and feel immensely guilty about how I handled interactions with students and the lack of meaningful experiences they had that day. I wondered, how was I supposed to improve my teaching practice and actually affect student learning, if I was under this pressure? Honestly, I don't know how upper elementary teachers do it with all the testing and requirements of student data as well as performing for visitors. It's ridiculous, and reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Chip Wood, it is the job of the school to meet the academic needs of the child, not the other way around” (2007, p. 27). So to summarize my lows, it has been a month filled with stress about things that don't actually have anything to do with students learning, enjoying learning, and enjoying one another.
On to my HIGHS. And they are HIGH! One of the happiest days came on the Tuesday after Sandra Deal visited our classroom. This day felt like a dream. It felt like all the weight on my shoulders was lifted off and I enjoyed so much my students and learning together with them. It didn't hurt that the weather was amazing and we did all our small groups outside and enjoyed the natural playground. Furthermore, my students wanted to help me set up small groups for their peers, and so I let a few children help me put the groups together and for the next 3 days they helped set up the groups outside. It was such a great display of leadership, community, helpfulness, and enjoyment.
Another high was venturing into some inquiry based experiments with water. I expected that students would engage in learning in some way--but I never guessed they would direct their own learning by asking questions, investigating together, and finding ways to solve complex problems. I simply got to sit back and enjoy their discoveries. This was such a huge high for me because my heart needed some encouragement. Watching students learn and enjoy learning together is what makes it all worth it for me. I'm also looking ahead to what we have going on in the next few weeks. I'm brining in so many guest speakers (many of them family members of my students) and we're finalizing our TICC projects--which are going in so many directions (GOOD THING!). I'm just excited for what we will accomplish in the next months. Finishing grad school and leaving my school (for a new exciting opportunity) is bittersweet.
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you and your future endeavors!!!
It seems as though this is the time of year where administration puts a lot of stress on teachers. I'm glad that you're students and their learning were able to offer you some encouragement! You are going to be such an amazing Kindergarten teacher. I hope that you never get lost in the demands of education and continue to be the authentic teacher that you are. It has been an honor to peek into your classroom these last two years!
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI am truly happy to read your blog! I can definitely appreciate the fact that you were not discouraged by Sandra Deal coming to visit and stuck to what's true to you. We recently had an accreditation visit as well as a visit from the school superintendent and I remember feeling so much pressure to be "perfect" but the truth is learning can be a little chaotic sometimes (especially with little ones). Thank you for allowing them to still bring their whole selves in the classroom...no matter who is present!
Lindsey, GIRL, COHORT BUDDY,
ReplyDeleteWe were TRULY in sync this month. I apologize for all the caps but I really connected with your blog post this month. Many of the concerns that you had with your school Administration and the external pressures mirrored concerns I faced this past month. With our busy school it is easy to feel as if we are alone in the work that we do. But, after reading your blog post I quickly realized that we faced many of the same situations this month. Much like your school community our school leaders often put a great deal of pressure when school visitors are visiting our school community. I felt the stressed that you mentioned this month, because I was under so much pressure I felt as if I had a very short fuse with my students. As I reflected I had to remind myself that my frustration did not stem from them, rather it stemmed from external forces. With that being said, I really want to push each other to rely on one another and share stresses that we are dealing with, that way we won’t feel as if we are going through things alone.
Finally, your highs seemed REALLY high this month. It think it is great that you are using mentor texts as Anderson mentioned. I also love the window you have opened for your students to be inquiries and ask and answer questions about the world around them. I really appreciate you developing your students into inquirers from a young age. It requires them to question the world around them so by the time they get to 2nd grade and beyond they are critical thinkers. I am also so excited about the new chapter you are approach. We are both completing our MAT program and you are starting a new job! YAY! Don’t forget to celebrate your wonderful highs and lets power through this last month together ☺
Lindsey! What a month you have had! I continue to be so amazed with ALL that you do to connect with your students in so many different ways, I am so sorry that the administration put so much pressure on you when it would have been amazing had it been just like it is each and every day in your classroom. I am so impressed by all the ways you involve your students in their learning and truly take the time to incorporate so many inquiry based projects...I think one of the greatest things you do as a teacher is make learning FUN! I know that you bring so much joy to your students. Bring on April and May!!! You rock!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is forever honest and gets right to the heart of all of my own feelings and reflections. I can so relate to your end-of-day frustrations and regret, feeling the ways our adult relationships trickle down into our interactions with kids. I'm so happy to hear about all the ways you sticking with your teaching convictions have yielded incredible results. I would have loved to see your little scientists at work! They are going to be so prepared and confident for the next levels of scientific reasoning thanks to your hands-off approach. I also felt like your nonfiction poster project had a very Ladybugs and Swirling Galaxies vibe to it. I bet it completely rocked! Thanks for being such an inspirational teacher and an awesome friend and accountability partner. Love you!!
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