I can now say that I’ve taught 7th grade General Education English.
It’s funny how it takes a village to teach a class. Yes, I was up in front most everyday (Okay, I admit I was at conferences a bit too often this year, but they were so worth it!). I made the final decisions on what to say, how to present the information, when assignments were due, whether students could go to the bathroom or work in the hall or any of the other three million split-second decisions teachers make in the course of a year.
It’s all true. And yet, I relied on so many others to make this year the success that I feel it was. For starters, there’s the assistance that I received on so many levels from Jack Johnson, Jackie Dorcy, and Pat Farhat. Whether it was a handout on a topic so that I didn’t have to re-invent the wheel or a helpful ear so that I could sort out what was the best way to handle a situation, these English teachers helped me figure out where my 7th graders were (skill levels, emotional levels, maturity levels, etc.) so that my lessons made sense (at least most of the time).
Then, we have people like my MSU intern, Sean Strasberger, and Stacie Criswell. We met weekly to discuss curricular decisions and how they affected students with special needs in the classrooms. Their ideas and input were invaluable. There’s no way to see a lesson from every possible perspective, but with a few more sets of eyes, we were able to get a bit closer. Their perspective helped me immensely.
I also want to thank Diane Yarbrough (our media specialist), the administration, and the secretaries. I felt very supported this year. Any teacher knows that without that support, your fate is up in the air. Whether it was having enough computers or knowing I could call someone with a question or feeling trusted to do my job, these folks are a solid base in our building. Even in this time of transition, I never felt out there on my own. Teaching is really a team sport.
Part of this “village” that helped me succeed this year was the confidence and experience I have gained from all my previous teaching experiences. Yes, we learn from teaching. In that same way that students learn best by teaching something, we learn everyday. I have learned patience from most of the 6th hour classes I have taught. Students who know the appropriate time to smile so that I’ll keep a positive attitude have taught me to use humor more in class. Every time a student gives me a weird look after I present a lesson, I make a mental note; I better teach that skill a bit differently next time.
I just hope that I’ve learned enough to do a better job next year. It’s about improvement. Yes, many things went well this year. Even more will go better next year.
