Oh Tuesday! How I
love you! It might sound nerdy, but I love Tuesdays because they are not
Mondays, but also because of Tell all Tuesday with Diana at My Day in K and
Teach, Talk, Inspire! I absolutely love being able to connect with amazing
teachers and share your thoughts, ideas, life and get advice.
This week we get
a chance to talk about the top 10 things that we have learned from teaching.
There was so much to choose from so I’m taking a few from this year and some
from just all of my teaching experience.
9 years of
teaching will teach you more than you expected. Wow! Did I just say 9 years?
Out of all my 9 years it has to be said that this year has been my hardest and
was my most educational year.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Ask for help:
There is nothing wrong with asking for help. It took me a few weeks to learn
this one. I’ve never been scared to ask for help, but I always worried what
will others think if I’m always asking questions. Let’s be honest……WHO CARES!!!
2. Never give up!
There will be lots of times that a lesson doesn’t go as planned, or your kids
do not understand what you are trying to teach them. There might be that one
kid who you have worked with over and over again on behavior and just when you
think he might get it- he goes back to his old ways. You have that “want to
bang your head against the table” moment and think “why do I keep doing this?”
Then out of nowhere that one kid who had no idea “a” was a letter and it made a
sounds reads all of his popcorn words or the little boy who always ended up on
“Parent Contact” now gets to outstanding once a week. These moments are the
reason you never give up- it will happen, but you have to keep going.
3. Honesty: I
learned this one so well this year. There is a huge difference between real
honest (like with friends and family) and professional honest!!! When one of
your admin who makes it seem like you can always be honest says “please be
honest” they don’t really mean honest. You will
have to sugar coat things and might not want to say that you thought it was a
dumb idea for a move to be made..
It’s a fine line between honest and professional honest in the education world.
4. Be prepared:
every day it’s important to be ready for each day because let me tell you- it
was those moments where I was searching for a book or looking for a file on my
laptop that my kids knew it was crazy time. It never fails- they read you, they
know you’re at a weak point and they always take advantage of it when you’re
unprepared. Never fails!
5. It never ends:
It’s summer ya’ll and I’m still thinking of work-ALWAYS!!!! I come home, say hi
to my family, cook dinner while typing a lesson up, do all my family stuff
while thinking of what I can do to help the child who is struggling, and toss
and turn in bed because I’m still thinking of work. It never ends.
6. Every child
has a story: This goes for those children with the ideal family situation and
those who have a completely different life. Each child has a reason for certain
things in their life and certain behaviors. It might be the fact that their
parents are going through a divorce and they are confused, it might be that
sweet boy # 1 was born premature and struggled their 1st 2 years of
life, Sweet boy # 2 could not hear until he was 3. Regardless of what it
is, it can affect their day, their mood and sometimes how they are learning.
Take the time to learn what makes them tick and work with it.
7. Spending-
DOLLAR SPOT AT TARGET! need I say more? I’m teacher poor ya’ll not because I
don’t make enough, but because I’m always spending $ on my class. Sigh!
8. Value: We all
know it- not everyone thinks what we do is important. You will have that moment
where a parent or any person for that matter makes that know to you. Ignore it-
your student value you and that’s what matters.
9. Remember # 6?
Just like every kid has a story. That story might make you realize that you are
the only happy a child has in their life. They love being at school because you
are there and you take them away from what might be going on in their life.
10. We all know
that it’s not just rainbows and lollipops. This job is hard. It ask more of you
than most people know or realize. It pulls at your heart, makes you cry
sometimes, and can consume your life. It’s hard ya’ll!! But it’s worth it!!
And there’s my
novel- it could be longer, but this is what stuck out to me. Thanks for reading
this novel! Don’t forget to link up!!! See ya’ll next Tuesday!!!
