Hey there fellow teachers! Today I'm linking up with Diana and Jayme from My Day in K and Teach Talk Inspire for Tell All Tuesday. Head on over to their blogs to link up!
This week's topic is Top 10 Things Teaching has Taught Me. I've learned so much, but these things came to me first.
10. At the end of every year, I like to think about what I would like to differently the following year. I think about how I can make things better. This reflection is imperative for a great classroom. If we keep doing the same things over and over each year, we'll never get better. Note: it's actually good to do this more often than at the end of the year.
9. Good classroom management is the key to a successful year. You may be the best at teaching math, but if you're classroom management stinks, the lesson will be a flop.
8. I've worked in schools with kids from different backgrounds, different socioeconomic levels, etc. . . They just want love. They just want to be accepted for who they are. No matter where they come from.
7. Learning about verbs CAN be fun. It just takes some creativity.
6. All teachers must keep learning. I want my doctor to be informed on new research. I want my hairstylist to know what's fashionable. Teachers should behave in the same way. We need to keep learning.
5. Always have paper bags and Ziploc bags available. They come in handy.
4. I love to try new things in my room. Sometimes they work out. Sometimes they don't. It's not a big deal.
3. As teachers we see some sad things. But we also have the power to make things better. Most people don't see what we see. It's our job to help people understand that not every child has a parent read to them or help them with their homework. I have to say, though, we are so lucky to be able to be the light in a child's life.
2. I need to be told by administrators that I'm doing a good job and so do our students.
1. Have lunch with small groups of kids. Hang out with kids during recess. Have some stay after school with you. Get to know your students.
As I reread this, I got a little emotional. We are so lucky to touch the lives of kids everyday.
Thank you for stopping by!
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Stacy your top ten list is spot on! We all need a little affirmation now and again especially our students. I also listed classroom management in my top ten. It is so important! Good classroom management can show a child they are loved, accepted, safe and protected:) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJill
I'm glad I'm not the only one that got a little emotional at the end of the list! Your #2 is great. It makes a world of difference for an administrator or other teacher to affirm something they've seen my class, and it is well worth the effort for me to share the love when I see other teachers doing things well.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! Reflection is SO important to me. One of the many reasons I started blogging actually! All of your points are spot on!
ReplyDeleteHi Stacy! I loved reading your post so heartfelt and truthful. There are so many points you made that I completely agree with! I love to eat lunch with my students as a type of reward. They think it's so much fun and I love the free no stress time I get to learn more about them. Thanks so much for linking up with us!
ReplyDeleteJayme
Teach Talk Inspire
Great list Stacy! Love your analogy in #6 - would be funny if a hairstylist said "I only know what's in style from 10 years ago, I haven't kept current" haha!
ReplyDeleteI just started last year having lunch with small groups of students during their lunch break. We put on classical music and pretend our classroom in a restaurant. They love it! It's amazing how much I can learn about them over a sandwich.
I love the classical music idea! I'm going to have to make the classroom more restaurant-like.
DeleteStacy
Your blog is adorable!! Great list Stacy! ...Seeing more of the real world than the general public is definitely true! It can be a lot sometimes! Great post!
ReplyDeleteMoore to Learn
Great list Stacy. All of it is so true! You're right, we are lucky to touch kids lives the way that we do. Hope you're having a good summer.
ReplyDelete