So, I'll be honest... this Monday, I kind of ran out of awesomeness toward the end of the day. Not really sure what it was; "a case of the Mondays," not being acclimated to the late start schedule, but I felt like I was dragging by the end of the day. This isn't a common feeling for me in the classroom. I usually go full tilt all day and then melt into my chair at about 3:!5. During this malaise, I noticed something that I wasn't really happy with.
My attitude toward my students' learning and behavior was affected by my own spirits. While this seems like a no brainer, it made me think I was stuck in a "chicken vs. egg" scenario. Was I feeling a bit worn down because my students were testing boundaries and not too focused, or was this merely my perception of them given my own temperament? I honestly think it was the latter. Ultimately this got me to remember something I heard this summer. "We find in others those things we're looking for." I'm paraphrasing a bit, but how true! Teaching (parenting, coaching, working with others, communicating with others) can be a self-fulfilling prophecy where we only see in our students our own preconceived notions of broad generalizations. Teachers can all too easily let students' reputations proceed them. Teachers notions about "kids today" can taint how we deal with real, individual students.
I started my teaching career in earnest in 2005. I graduated from UNI not even thoroughly convinced I wanted to be a teacher in 2001. I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! It transformed me... and I think the way th did that was by giving me the ability to always see the good in all of my students. So, I vow to you all, I'll never run low on awesomeness again.
Today was much better! I had a few more cups of coffee and a bunch of candy at lunch!
My attitude toward my students' learning and behavior was affected by my own spirits. While this seems like a no brainer, it made me think I was stuck in a "chicken vs. egg" scenario. Was I feeling a bit worn down because my students were testing boundaries and not too focused, or was this merely my perception of them given my own temperament? I honestly think it was the latter. Ultimately this got me to remember something I heard this summer. "We find in others those things we're looking for." I'm paraphrasing a bit, but how true! Teaching (parenting, coaching, working with others, communicating with others) can be a self-fulfilling prophecy where we only see in our students our own preconceived notions of broad generalizations. Teachers can all too easily let students' reputations proceed them. Teachers notions about "kids today" can taint how we deal with real, individual students.
I started my teaching career in earnest in 2005. I graduated from UNI not even thoroughly convinced I wanted to be a teacher in 2001. I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! It transformed me... and I think the way th did that was by giving me the ability to always see the good in all of my students. So, I vow to you all, I'll never run low on awesomeness again.
Today was much better! I had a few more cups of coffee and a bunch of candy at lunch!
Love this video. "I want to be on the one that leads to awesome!" And he references Journey... c'mon!!!