Lessons from the first week
Today was the second day of my second week, and to celebrate FINALLY getting internet in my apartment, I want to reflect on last week and some very interesting lessons I learned...
1. Be ready for anything
I was so sure that I would be in my classroom all day the first day. I had set up everything exactly the way I wanted, I had my PowerPoint, and I even tested to make sure my Smart Board worked. Then none of that mattered for the first two time blocks. But to be fair, I should always have a back up plan and flexible enough to roll with the punches. Emergencies, misunderstandings, whatever. The kids should never see me sweat or annoyed with other adults in the building (they should know when I'm annoyed with them, though).
2. You have to have more than one reason why...
Yeah, so i have all these rules I want the kids to follow and procedures that I'm positive will make our learning environment better. And I tell them that. But they need more than one reason why, especially when they don't trust you. Trying to get certain classes to fill out the Pink Slips for not turning in their homework has been like pulling teeth. Because they don't get any credit for the pink slips they don't want to bother. I don't want them to fill it out just for my records, but to show them responsibility for doing what they need to do and not having any excuses. They want to be adults, then they need to start working like adults. But I didn't tell them that when I first introduced the pink slips, and now I have kids not turning in homework OR the pink slips recognizing they haven't done it.
3. Talk about your class with other (veteran) teachers
Instead of putting up a front that I had everything together or that my class was coming together the way I wanted, I actually have been honest about how I was feeling to a couple of veteran teachers and staff members, who have given me the BEST advice. Even one coach asked to see my list of students, highlight the ring leaders, then told me who played what sport, who I should tell if they are acting the fool, and what really scares them. While, yes, I have to be consistent in my management plan, I also need individual plans for students who messing with the new teacher is the new hobby. And a couple of teachers have stood up for me and talked some of the rougher students down from giving me blatant disrespect. This has helped my class run a bit smoother. Not perfect, but better than where I started.
4. Don't think things personally - It happened yesterday, today is another free chance
I made one of my students ABSOLUTELY furious and threatened her with a lunch detention. She left cursing me under her breath and absolutely seemed like she was going to murder me. The next day during my lunch period right before her time block, another teacher brought her in to my class to ask a question about the homework she was doing (which she didn't understand). I helped her and explained one of the problems for her, she turned it in, got a B on the assignment, and has been working pretty hard in the class since. Because I didn't hold a grudge against her from the previous day and helped her like nothing had happened, she was less hesitant around me. The teacher dragged her to my room not knowing why the student didn't want to ask me for help, but she wasn't sure about that particular problem and absolutely refused to let her not bother me at lunch. It was a solid lesson that if I don't hold a grudge, then sometimes, neither will my students. I may be strict and evil and mean and restrictive as a teacher, but the couple of students who reached out for help or a favor (I even went to McDonalds for a couple of my students during lunch), it helps my stock with them and they see that I'm not just mean to be mean, but I'm trying to establish the way we work in class, even when they don't want to.
5. Remain positive - You never know who's listening
Sure, my class size for two of my periods was ridiculous. but when I asked about my class size, I simply asked how I could get more desks for my kids since I didn't have enough. I didn't rage and complain about those particularly two huge classes and how difficult it was for me. I mean, I was honest that I was struggling a little bit, but my Principal, VP, and a couple of coaches came through last week during those periods to see what I meant, and they decided to do something about my class size by THIS WEEK. My rosters for both classes is down to about 28 each, and it has helped SO MUCH. But because I tried my best in a situation that wasn't the best, I was able to build a much better repertoire with my Principal and other administrators at my school. It's true, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and even down to the Library/Media Specialist, they have done some amazing favors for me because I have remained positive, proactive, and treated them as the important parts of my classroom that they are.
This week has started out well and I'm still learning a lot. I can finally print at school (WHOOP) and I get my first paycheck this week. But what's better than all that, is I won the "Mighty Bison" award in our Staff Meeting this week for how I held on last week. I can't wait to pass it on next week, because my school team is amazing. The other teachers have done so much and still take out time to help me. Again, I can't express how blessed I am to have been placed at my school.