Last year was a particularly grand learning experience for me because it was something that took me out of the comfort of the four walls of my own classroom and took me to directing a school-based program and coaching teachers and working as a liaison with the administration. My step also coincided with my youngest son starting kindergarten, so I had more tears than I thought I had--whether they were for my son starting school or me leaving the classroom.
Along with any new job, there's a learning curve, and this one had a steep one in managing a lot of expectations--the teachers', the administration's, the parents'. Plus there was the administrative side of things in managing schedules, purchasing supplies, managing students' files for the program, and learning how to negotiate with vendors. In all this, I tried to manage the day-to-day activities with projecting for future plans, but here are 3 things I've learned from the 2017-2018 school year:
As I'm back in the classroom this year, but at a different school, I've described my experience this way: It's like putting on a new pair of running shoes, but just the newer model of the same make I had before.
School is school. Kids are kids. And I love teaching.
Along with any new job, there's a learning curve, and this one had a steep one in managing a lot of expectations--the teachers', the administration's, the parents'. Plus there was the administrative side of things in managing schedules, purchasing supplies, managing students' files for the program, and learning how to negotiate with vendors. In all this, I tried to manage the day-to-day activities with projecting for future plans, but here are 3 things I've learned from the 2017-2018 school year:
- There's a creativity in the classroom I love. After dedicating my education and career to second language acquisition, I know what I know about how to help students grow in their learning a language, but I also am open to learning more. There's an acceptable balance of expertise and growth that's expected in my field, and I love that.
- Just because you have a vision of how something can be does not mean others share that vision. One major thing I learned this year was that there were different visions for what the program should look like, and unfortunately, those did not always mesh together. There was the vision of how things had always been done, which led into the way things were being done currently, plus a vision of what could happen for the future in the program. It's important to make sure everyone is on the same page, and I wasn't able to bring everyone to the table all at the same time. Sometimes in making sure there's a common vision means making a compromise of time in order to make sure things are in place.
- We must always do what's best for students. Our decisions for the school should always reflect the students' best interests and what would be the best way for them to excel academically. Down to the way we support them in different clubs or performances or even invited guests--it all must be in a way that best supports our students' learning and not just for show.
As I'm back in the classroom this year, but at a different school, I've described my experience this way: It's like putting on a new pair of running shoes, but just the newer model of the same make I had before.
School is school. Kids are kids. And I love teaching.