Teacher Lessons I've learned

Teacher Lessons I've learned.... (My version of "Lessons We Can All Learn - by Andy Rooney")

I've learned.... That the best classroom should be the one I'm teaching at the moment.
I've learned.... That when you're teaching what you love, it shows.
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'I get it!' makes me get it.
I've learned.... That having students taking a test is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.... That being a kind teacher is more important than being a right teacher.
I've learned.... That I shouldn't refuse a hug from a student nor miss the opportunity to hug a student who needs it.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for my students when I don't know how to help any other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how seriously hard your subject is, you still need to make the curriculum amusing.
I've learned.... That sometimes all a student needs is to have their hand held by their teacher with the heart to understand that need
I've learned.... That simple time outs do wonders for me and my students.
I've learned.... That the semester is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned... .That teachers should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned.... That there's never enough money to teach but you do the best you can.
I've learned.... That it's those small student successes that make teaching so spectacular.
I've learned.... That under a student's hard shell is something bigger than my subject matter.
I've learned.... That to ignore the failing students does not change the failing students.
I've learned.... That every day is a new day to a new beginning.
I've learned.... That patience, not tests, is what makes our students learn.
I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a teacher is to surround myself with great teachers.
I've learned.... That you can learn a lot about your students as you greet them in the beginning of class.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect, especially not the teacher.
I've learned.... That teaching your subject matter is tough, but teaching life is tougher.
I've learned.... That students seldom see opportunities unless the teacher first plant the seeds that grow into those opportunities.
I've learned.... That students can be very forgiving if you are honest and upfront with them.
I've learned.... That I wish I could see the people all my students will grow up to become.
I've learned.... That a teacher should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow one of his students may not be there
I've learned.... That smiling is a great indicator of how well your lesson is going.
I've learned.... That when your students bake you cookies, you're hooked for life.
I've learned.... That the more I learn as a teacher, the more I realize how wrong I was about how easy teaching is as a profession.
I've learned ... That the more time I find freed-up from lesson planning, the more time I want to spend improving my lesson plans.

Call me Teach

When a door closes, a window opens....My one and only interview after applying to any and all (which wasn't much) chem teacher job ads was with Poway Unified School District for an opening at Del Norte High School.  I didn't get the job and as school district after school district started the 2011-2012 school year I knew that I probably wasn't going to find a teaching position.  I rationalized that I could use the break which was SO true but I was becoming depressed at the thought of being jobless for another year.  The window opens...a message on my cell phone tells me about a part-time position at Poway HS.  Someone at Del Norte liked me so much that they forwarded my name to Poway HS for a part-time chemistry position.  Before the offer was made the principle was worried I would leave the part-time position to take a full time position.  Well, Poway Unified is one of the last schools to hire--the chances of that happening were slim.  The only other job I would take would be for a position at the Escondido Union High School District so that my kids and I would be on the same school schedule.  That wasn't going to happen because the district already started school.  One week before school started, I was hired as Mrs. Weinhouse, Science Teacher, Poway High School. 

Another journey begins.....becoming Mrs. Weinhouse, Chemistry Teacher...

Learning by Modeling...

An excruciatingly painful thing happened today to me as a mother.  I watched my son deal with rejection after he didn't make the junior varsity volleyball team.  Hey, I understand that pain.  As a brain in school, I didn't have much in the way of athletic ability.  I remember one year going out for 3 different sports--only to make none of them.  That year was a real bummer for me but whoever gets comfort from their parents telling you they never made a sports team--we're all just old, washed up grown-ups--what can we possibly know?

I tried all the many motherly things to make it all seem like everything will be okay but I know that he has to find a way to deal with the rejection on his own terms.  But what struck me as hopeful was how he said he was going to try and see if he could get on the tennis team. Apparently the tennis team doesn't cut anyone.  Hopefully it will work out but there is a chance the coach will say "no" to him as the season has already started and he'll be trying to join as a late comer.  I pray that the coach will need him.  Of course, as a worrywart, I automatically started thinking the worst thing that can happen.  Since studies have shown kids that don't have extracurricular activities are prone to experimenting with drugs, I start thinking that my son will begin turning to the dark side out of boredom.

So, back to being hopeful...I began thinking that maybe the reason that he was already thinking about a "Plan B" was because I had modeled that same behavior.  When I was lowest, I came back with my "Plan B."  When others a year out from being laid off have said I wished I had done this or that right when I got laid off I wouldn't have missed an opportunity, I am comforted that I am weeks from finishing up my teaching credential.  Could that be another silver lining in being laid off?  Modeling for my son what to do in the face of adversity? Modeling is one of those things I'm learning as a teacher.  Students learn better if the behavior is modeled for them.  Makes sense, I just hope I don't have to model what to do when being told you're laid off...unless its to show that having a good, hysterical cry really does make you feel better.

One Semester Down and One More to Go

I must say that there were many times throughout the program that I had questioned why I was doing this?  I could get my comfortable job back making six figures (or almost, you know the economy), hour long lunch breaks, creative thinking, time off for doctor appointments and calming moments.   Why did I want non-stop questions, blank stares, lost souls, multi-tasking and a hectic-ness that only stopped during long school breaks?  Well, the reason is that I connected with the kids.  They have an energy, an innocence and a yearning to learn more that really resonates within me.  Up until that time, I questioned was it worth it.  Those outside of education think that this is a cush job but I've been on both sides of the fence and well, its not all that cushy.  Yes, I found I was less stressed.  I could make some mistakes and it was okay even expected as long as I really cared about the kids.  Because I care, I'll make less and because I care I will improve.  I get that!  It wasn't as stressful but it was way more hectic with multitasking as well as coursework that needed to be completed.  Oh yes, and there were the state tests for teachers.  I'll save my criticism of that system for another day....  Basically, many, many, many, many hoops for me to jump through to say I have the potential of becoming a good teacher.  I've always liked helping--company picnics, company charities, the community, my kids' school.  I've really found a home for that desire in teaching.

So, yesterday was my first day of my second semester.  I'm excited and very scared of all the work that needs to be done.  But I must say that it doesn't scare me as much as my Research Update for the Chemistry Department at Pfizer.  I don't have a Ph. D. but I liken a Research Update to a dissertation.  Except that you had to do it every year AND if the VP didn't like the direction of your research as presented in your talk, you were criticized in front of your peers.  My audience is more forgiving and my performance correlates to the hard work I put in upfront.  I'm sure I'll get through it just fine but then again I am my mother's daughter and love to worry about it all.