This can't be the end....

I realize that I did a lot of focusing on how to make preparation for the CRCT more than just workbooks and review worksheets and I truly believe my students did better because of this. No one, including myself, wants to sit and do rote problems over and over again which is what many teachers tend to do. I see that we were really able to celebrate the amount of information we have learned and celebrate the success and hard work we have put into everything this year. I also was proud of myself for truly being a responsive teacher. I knew the types of activities my students enjoy doing and I combined them with review in order to make the most out of our time in class. I do wish that I had done a little more of this throughout the year but I am happy that I was able to make the review engaging and meaningful to them.

I feel as though this whole teaching thing is starting to make more sense to me. Looking back over the past month I was able to reflect on a month that was focused on reviewing and reflecting back over the entire year. I know things aren't perfect and that I still have a long way to go in order to be the “perfect” teacher, but at the same time I truly for the first time feel like connections are being made and light bulbs are not only coming on but staying on. I am excited to really take what I have learned over the past two years and put the pieces together in hopes of beginning with a more together, meaningful classroom next year. I am a little sad to think that some relationships are just now blooming but I have to remind myself that it is better late than never. Although this year has been full of struggles and challenges I am sad to know that it is almost over.   

Our Critical Pedagogy class has really helped me a lot this year. I have never been a huge fan of reflecting, although these past two years I have done more than ever before in my life, but that class has really challenged me to think about how I view things or approach situations and how my actions may be viewed by others. It has provided me an opportunity to take a step back, think about the world from my student’s point of view, and reflect on how they are viewing me and my intentions. I know that I have entered into this job with the best of intentions but do they truly know and believe that too? It is so easy to get bogged down with negative school cultures, endless to do lists, outside stress and behavior, and it is hard to step back and remind yourself of the big picture and what really matters. This last semester has really challenged me to do that, not only as a teacher emotionally but as a teacher in how I view academics. 

I have learned that there is no script or formula to being a perfect teacher but if you listen to your students and what they are telling you, or not telling you, you can usually find at the very least, a starting point. I can’t believe this year is almost over, and I can’t believe I will be a third year teacher next year, but what I can believe is that I have changed and grown immensely as a person, an educator, and a reflector over the past two years. Being a teacher is all about understanding and listening to your kids, they are the ones that matter, their voices should be heard and we as teachers have the ability to make that happen. 

I am definitely going to make sure I use the types of lessons I have used this past month throughout the entire year. I am also going to make sure that I celebrate my students and allow them to celebrate each other because that is extremely important in building a strong positive, classroom culture. I know that worksheets won’t work in my room because my students are too involved and deep in their learning and they deserve and need more than that. I want to prepare my students for the real-world, not just standardized tests.