First of all, I should say that I am beginning my 10th year of teaching. So the title of this blog is not truely accurate. The reason I chose this title? I have often felt the odds were stacked against me. P. Singhal (2017) wrote an article in the Sydney Morning Herald called Why up to half of all Australian teachers are quitting within five years. I remember hearing something similar to this in 2009. In a country town of NSW, where my first temporary appointment as a PDHPE teacher was, I couldn't see the long-term. My mind was fixed on thoughts such as "do I have to face that again?" Possibly due to my competitive nature, I have reached a stage of my career where I enjoy teaching, and I have beat the odds. I enjoy the challenges set for me and by me each day. However, I look back at my first 5 years and can see how I could have walked away.
So how do I make this reality easier to digest for a first year teacher? What advice can I give to avoid the deflation and depression from this lack of achievement compared to expectation? We do this for the sense of accomplishment. To make a difference in our students' lives. I am still waiting for the principal to come in and tell me I have done it.
The last thing I want is a teacher to consider this and drop their expectations or standards.
We have to go through it. We have to have messy lessons. We have to be disappointed. My mind works as someone who loves to train to improve physical performance. I could not cut 1 second off my 100m sprint by avoiding the track. I could not skip the start because it is my weakness. I also could not do it alone. I have had to put in the reps. I have had to carry sandbags and jump off blocks. I have had to video my start and ask a mentor for advice. I needed consistency. Grit. Disappointment that lead to reflection. I also needed to value purposeful rest.
My advice for my new colleague:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/why-up-to-half-of-all-australian-teachers-are-quitting-within-five-years-20170605-gwks31.html>
Reflection
I am very reflective today. I anxiously look forward to my tenth year of teaching. I coincidently will be relieving as head teacher of the faculty. One opportunity that lays in front of me is the mentoring of a first-year teacher. Please note my maturity of framing this as an opportunity, not challenge or difficulty. Each time I consider this, I ask myself "what can I say and do to make his first day, week, term and year easier?"We have to go through it
The most common difficulty of teaching? The little things that wear out any teacher. It's not the confrontational parent. Not the student who swears about another test. Or even lesson observations. It is the unfulfilled aspiration of a perfect lesson. I remember how I spent my spare-time in 2009. Designing the material, PowerPoint and study booklet that was going to wow 9S. But it was Jimmy noticing the error on the first sheet. Lucy walking into the classroom while talking to her mum on the phone. Or the computers updating for over 15 minutes. Inevitably I had to realise it was going to be a long 55 minutes. I couldn't escape. I felt like I failed another lesson.So how do I make this reality easier to digest for a first year teacher? What advice can I give to avoid the deflation and depression from this lack of achievement compared to expectation? We do this for the sense of accomplishment. To make a difference in our students' lives. I am still waiting for the principal to come in and tell me I have done it.
The last thing I want is a teacher to consider this and drop their expectations or standards.
We have to go through it. We have to have messy lessons. We have to be disappointed. My mind works as someone who loves to train to improve physical performance. I could not cut 1 second off my 100m sprint by avoiding the track. I could not skip the start because it is my weakness. I also could not do it alone. I have had to put in the reps. I have had to carry sandbags and jump off blocks. I have had to video my start and ask a mentor for advice. I needed consistency. Grit. Disappointment that lead to reflection. I also needed to value purposeful rest.
My advice for my new colleague:
- Always plan for a perfect lesson. But take note of what was not perfect. Because if it was perfect you did not aim high enough.
- Connect before content, as Christina and Sean put it (Day-One-Physed). Plan how you will engage students in relationship building.
- Accept opportunities for hard work. Your teaching muscles will thank you in the long run. Consider your capability and accept a little more.
- Value rest-day. Muscles cannot get stronger without adequate sleep, quality nutrition and recreation. Like our brains.
- Honestly talk about your areas to improve. Search for a range of mentors. Staff rooms, professional courses and social media can be great places to find answers.
- Say yes. The greatest things that have happened in my career would not have if I said no to an opportunity.
- Regularly look back at your starting point and appreciate your growth. I wish I had recorded my first lesson. I also wish I could sprint against myself 2 years ago.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/why-up-to-half-of-all-australian-teachers-are-quitting-within-five-years-20170605-gwks31.html>
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