As another year comes to an end, there's a lot 2016 has taught me about becoming Ms. Woods. 30 thirteen year olds exciting the classroom in a blackout to the tune of "We're all going to die!" Struggling to keep my dream of teaching alive, even when I'm not getting the support I need, planning and executing a science festival for over 1200 people, spending three months working summer camp and planning lessons that had nothing to do with testing. Moving schools and starting all over again and every single time I've called a student by the wrong name are just a few of the memories that have made this year such a growing experience for me. There have been so many lessons as well. Though I can't recap all of the lessons I've learned this year about teaching, here are the Top 5 Lessons life has taught me this year.
1. Be in a school that supports you. Before this year, I used to think that I could become a great teacher simply by being the person I am. Though that's partly true, I have also learned that I am only as great as the people I have around me.
2. Make an effort to get to know every student. This may seem cliche, but it's so important! A few months ago, I was congratulating myself for finally knowing all my kids names, but as I went through the day, I realized that there were a few kids in each class that had slipped through the cracks! When I told my former supervisor about my frustration, he gave me this piece of advice: "You have to be proactive, if you allow kids to come to you, you'll only learn the names of the troublemakers and over achievers. But if you go to each child, you can truly make a difference.
3. Just because you're strict doesn't mean you have to be mean. One of the biggest things that's changed this year is that I'm consistent with my rules. I know what I want and I don't let kids cross the boundaries I've set up. But I've learned that this doesn't mean I have to yell all the time, or even be that teacher that no one wants to talk to. Setting boundaries actually ensures I have more time to spend with my students instead of less.
4. Having fun shouldn't be my first priority. For most of my teaching experience, I've been obsessed that students have fun. This semester however, I've learned that it's more important that kids learn something, and sometimes, learning is boring. It's important that my kids know that I have their best interests at heart, even if the work is a bit arduous.
5. I can do anything I put my mind to. At the beginning of this year, I was so adamant about using other people's resources that I forgot that I'm capable of creating my own teaching tools. It's important to be confident and own your curriculum, even if it takes more time to do so.
As I prepare for student teaching next week (yikes!) I'm so excited but also really nervous! What if I don't get it right? What if I can't handle being with kids five times a week? But as I look back on the last 365 days, I'm reminded of all the challenges I was able to overcome. Just because something is difficult doesn't make it impossible. I'm sure 2017 will be filled with many more lessons as I continue this journey of becoming Ms. Woods.
