It has been a while since my last blog entry and so much has happened. I'm actually a bit hesitant to write because I'm afraid it may just spill on to the keyboard and not make much sense to the reader. Of course I could take a bit of time and plan exactly what I'm going to write, but I think I'm going to go with more of a stream of consciousness thing.
This is an interesting time to be a new teacher in Seattle. We are closing schools and there are talks of reductions in force (RIFs). This talk has me a bit uneasy because as a new teacher and low on the seniority tree, I would probably be one of the first to be let go if they were to cut into the current teacher pool. My Principal has done a good job of attempting to assuage my concerns by reminding me that typically the district hires several hundred staff a year, so cuts may just affect those who would have been hired. Besides all of the fabulous intrinsic rewards of teaching, one of the reasons I chose to be a teacher was the relative stability of the profession. It is difficult to feel at risk of losing my job right after investing tens of thousands in an education, and changing my career. I'd be lying if I didn't question my decision to move away from the technology profession. Though, whatever happens, I need to focus on being the best teacher I can be for the sake of my students and my own personal state of well being.
As a new teacher we are formally observed twice a year as part of our professional growth. I'm a new teacher and I'd be the first one to tell you I have a tremendous amount of things to work on to become a better teacher. In fact, I would like to be saying that as long as I am a teacher. I think lifelong learning and goal setting are paramount to the success of all individuals. My Principal gave me a list of things that I should work on, including engagement strategies and moderating the pacing of my lessons to make sure that all students are "getting it". It was difficult for me to hear the amount of constructive criticism the Principal was sharing with me at first because I was hoping to hear a bit more about some of the good things I was doing. Upon reflection I realized that the Principal's stated goal is to ensure excellence in the staff and students and that her focus is in helping me identify areas where I need support. Having said that and cognizant of how it made me feel, I'm going to try and make sure I continue to praise the behaviors I want to see in our learners as well as support their individual needs and challenges. As an adult learner, I realize how fragile my own ego is, and I can only imagine how impressionable our young ones are. As an adult, I also have the strength of character and confidence to realize (perhaps after the fact) that the Principal shouldn't have to preface any constructive criticism she may have with praise just to protect my feelings.
If I haven't told you all already, I really do like the job I have. I get to work with grades K-5 integrating technology and curriculum. I also have the pleasure of teaching a math class to a great group of 4th graders. In the computer lab one of the things I have been thinking about is the worthiness of teaching keyboarding to students in this age bracket. I recall taking my first keyboarding class when I was in high school. I feel like the time I have the students in the lab could be better used teaching them how to use the computers vs. having them work on home key positions. Though I do think there is some value in them having some familiarity with the QWERTY keyboard layout if not just to save them time when they are working on word processing. It's not that I'm apposed to keyboarding for this age, it's just that there is so much I want to do already, and what seems like so little time to do it in. A colleague also brought up the point that given the relative hand size of the students and the full size keyboards we are working on that by teaching the students keyboarding we may be unintentionally re-enforcing poor keyboard habits.
In the mean time, I have had the younger grades K-2 working with software to help them become better readers at the same time exposing them to the computer interface devices and software conventions. Recently the third graders have been learning about computer networks and have been working to use individual student log-ins. The fourth and fifth graders have also been re-learning about networks and are learning to create and access files saved to their individual folder (network resource). My goal is to have this understanding and ability easily performed by the students by the end of January. Fourth grade has been working on learning about data, bits, bytes, and file size. We've been working with image resolution and how that relates to file size. The fifth graders are learning how to use the internet as a research tool for writing. Most recently we have been working on how to cite sources, which I believe is a critical skill for the future generations of digital natives.
Our last week of school before the holidays was interrupted by a snowstorm up here in Seattle, and we ended up only making it to two days. The last three days of the week were called due to snowfall and will have to be made up at the end of the year. The good news is, we are having a beautiful snow white holiday season! Thanks for reading the blog, and as always your comments are more than welcome. Happy holidays!
Congrats!
Wow! It sounds like your students are learning a lot with you --more than many of us teachers know. That's wonderful. I think all of us face the too-much-to-teach-and-too-little-time problem. It's really a balancing act, between what the kids like, and what you, your administrators and colleagues consider as priorities. More often than not, I go with the higher-level thinking skills over motor skills as a support teacher.
In regards to your first review, I just wanted to let you know that most administrators are going to focus on what you need as a new teacher to be a better educator. Try not to take it to personally, and use the information to make yourself the best teacher you can be.
While June still looms heavy, you've made it to your first resting period. Charge yourself up with friends and family, good food, and holiday cheer. Good luck.