I wouldn't say that blogging is my thing - afterall, aren't there too many blogs around as it is? What is one more? Then I considered that when I taught argument and research writing, I always told my students how important it was to join the conversation on any topic of interest - therefore, I need to practice my own lesson! Afterall, arent' we suppose to model the behavior we want to see in our students?! So here I am!
Before I start, I guess I should explain a bit about me as an educator. I'm new to the practice, only having taught high school for 3 years. I took the long route to education, working as an bookkeeper/accountant for 18 years prior to switching over to teaching. When the company I last worked for sent me back to school to finish my bachelor's degree, I discovered the need to make a change. While I enjoyed my job, the company, and the people I worked with, I found that it didn't fulfill me. In truth, it never had. Taking business classes at night only confirmed how little passion I had for the work I did. Don't get me wrong - the work is important and I felt very strongly about maintaining my integrity and professionalism, but without some passion for the work, I knew it was time to make a move. I graduated with a BA in English/Economics, while my partner and I made plans to move to Hawai'i for his new job. The move proved to be the perfect opportunity to attain a Master's degree in Secondary Education and I hit the ground running in Hawai'i.
At 38, I entered a high school classroom as a student teacher and by the end of that first day, I knew I was home. I was where I was meant to be - it certainly took me long enough to get there! How do I put this? I felt alive and, in so many ways, awake for the first time. That's what I love about teaching - it's a living process - vibrant, energetic, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic. I can end the day exhausted yet still looking forward to being back the next morning. For the very first time in my life, I truly LOVE what I do! I'm excited to keep learning and getting better - I know I have a long way to go, yet I feel hopeful every day. Is it like this for everyone? I wonder what others feel and certainly - I know a few teachers who confessed to not having this attitude or feeling at all - I wonder what the reasons are for their choice of this profession?
Perhaps it's my age, or my previous career, that drives me to feel and act the way I do when it comes to teaching. I just feel that it is vital, whether you are in a public school or a private school, that teachers feel that passion everyday. Our career impacts the very key to our future and if we don't bring all the passion we can muster, then what are the reasons to keep doing it? This past school year allowed me the opportunity to observe my students in other classrooms. This presented chances to see other teachers in action. I've seen some really good teachers, I've seen teachers who are on their way to being good, and I've seen teachers that left me shell shocked as to how they are still in a classroom. Clearly our public education system is broken and our profession is often the one looked at with blame, yet the truth is, the responsibility lies across the board from families to administrations and from unions to individual teachers. We all bear some responsibility. I include myself in these statements as well.
It is with this in mind that I wanted to start this blog - to talk about the issues and complexities of teaching and being a teacher in our American society, in public education, and in this moment in time. The thoughts here will be my own, unless quoted and cited (that's the English teacher in me), everything I say will be done with the understanding that I, too, have much to learn in order to truly be "good" at my practice. Look for weekly postings and feel free to comment. I'll read and respond to comments as best I can given any time and workload constraints. If nothing else, allow this to be a forum for educators and parents to discuss and sound off on public education and the issues that entangle this complex system.
Prior to my first issue - to be posted by July 1st - how about sharing what your first day in a classroom, as a student teacher or in your very first classroom as "the teacher," felt like and how it feels teaching today. I'd love to know, so speak to me!
Before I start, I guess I should explain a bit about me as an educator. I'm new to the practice, only having taught high school for 3 years. I took the long route to education, working as an bookkeeper/accountant for 18 years prior to switching over to teaching. When the company I last worked for sent me back to school to finish my bachelor's degree, I discovered the need to make a change. While I enjoyed my job, the company, and the people I worked with, I found that it didn't fulfill me. In truth, it never had. Taking business classes at night only confirmed how little passion I had for the work I did. Don't get me wrong - the work is important and I felt very strongly about maintaining my integrity and professionalism, but without some passion for the work, I knew it was time to make a move. I graduated with a BA in English/Economics, while my partner and I made plans to move to Hawai'i for his new job. The move proved to be the perfect opportunity to attain a Master's degree in Secondary Education and I hit the ground running in Hawai'i.
At 38, I entered a high school classroom as a student teacher and by the end of that first day, I knew I was home. I was where I was meant to be - it certainly took me long enough to get there! How do I put this? I felt alive and, in so many ways, awake for the first time. That's what I love about teaching - it's a living process - vibrant, energetic, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic. I can end the day exhausted yet still looking forward to being back the next morning. For the very first time in my life, I truly LOVE what I do! I'm excited to keep learning and getting better - I know I have a long way to go, yet I feel hopeful every day. Is it like this for everyone? I wonder what others feel and certainly - I know a few teachers who confessed to not having this attitude or feeling at all - I wonder what the reasons are for their choice of this profession?
Perhaps it's my age, or my previous career, that drives me to feel and act the way I do when it comes to teaching. I just feel that it is vital, whether you are in a public school or a private school, that teachers feel that passion everyday. Our career impacts the very key to our future and if we don't bring all the passion we can muster, then what are the reasons to keep doing it? This past school year allowed me the opportunity to observe my students in other classrooms. This presented chances to see other teachers in action. I've seen some really good teachers, I've seen teachers who are on their way to being good, and I've seen teachers that left me shell shocked as to how they are still in a classroom. Clearly our public education system is broken and our profession is often the one looked at with blame, yet the truth is, the responsibility lies across the board from families to administrations and from unions to individual teachers. We all bear some responsibility. I include myself in these statements as well.
It is with this in mind that I wanted to start this blog - to talk about the issues and complexities of teaching and being a teacher in our American society, in public education, and in this moment in time. The thoughts here will be my own, unless quoted and cited (that's the English teacher in me), everything I say will be done with the understanding that I, too, have much to learn in order to truly be "good" at my practice. Look for weekly postings and feel free to comment. I'll read and respond to comments as best I can given any time and workload constraints. If nothing else, allow this to be a forum for educators and parents to discuss and sound off on public education and the issues that entangle this complex system.
Prior to my first issue - to be posted by July 1st - how about sharing what your first day in a classroom, as a student teacher or in your very first classroom as "the teacher," felt like and how it feels teaching today. I'd love to know, so speak to me!
