"The secret of success is constancy to purpose" - Benjamin DisraeliAs a student teacher, Carl was thrilled with all of the fun and innovative things he had the opportunity to introduce to his students. Unbeknown to him, his supervising teachers were taking care of the plethora of other duties, leaving him with a false perception of freedom as a teacher. Before he realized it, he had given in to the routine and lost touch of his sense of purpose.
As a new teacher, it isn't long before innovation is traded for familiarity. Many college graduates enter their first classroom, finding there is far more awaiting them than they could have ever imagined. They discover themselves under an avalanche of paperwork from students, the principal, and the district. Creativity and enthusiasm can easily be squelched by the overwhelming and unseen demands of the classroom.
Eventually Carl realized his dedication was waning. He knew that assigning and grading work wasn't teaching, so he refocused his attention and developed healthy boundaries for himself, his students, and the pressing daily requirements. As a result, the flashes of brilliance and creativity once again entered his classroom. His students flourished, and teaching became his rediscovered passion.
More than anything else, students need you to be a leader who is able to reinforce the fact that they are worth more than all the homework you could ever assign.
Remember the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
Prompt: What sparks your passion? What do you need to do to keep that passion alive and bring the flame to the forefront of your day?
I totally agree with this post! It is extremely important to get an accurate idea of what you are going to be doing in your profession before you are seemlessly thrown in there!
ReplyDeleteHow well were you prepared Nikki?
ReplyDelete