Well, I survived my first week of teaching. By survived I mean I haven't quit my job yet. I don't plan to either but it's been mentally and physically challenging for sure. Seeing that I came into this gig with absolutely no idea how to run a successful teaching enterprise, no clue how to manage 25 teenagers in one room, no idea how they would view me when I'm up there...I think I've done pretty well so far.
From what I have surmised thus far, the hard part of teaching is not the actual teaching. It's the discipline, planning, and organization that makes it rough. I had very little time from the first workday until the first day of classes to actually do any of the latter two. I've basically just had to chip away at that mountain little by little each day. I plan for tomorrow today and if I'm lucky, the day after that.
The discipline issue is a beast of it's own. The problem at Glenn is that, at least in the Spanish Dept., the previous year's program was less than stellar. This is what I've heard from various faculty and students. This translates to many of the Spanish II kids being lost, not having learned what they needed to in Spanish I. They also think that the foreign language classroom is for talking and goofing off. Spanish I kids are much better because I have no expectations of them as far as the subject knowledge goes...so this is where us new Spanish teachers can properly prepare them for level II.
The days are long, I often stay an extra hour and a half. I haven't even begun to think about substitute lesson plans, progress reports, or the myriad of other minutia that we are expected to keep up with on the administrative side. At the end of the day, it's supposed to be just me, the kids, and the classroom. The reality of teaching involves so much more though. In fact, I'd venture to say it's one of the most complex occupations on the planet. So whoever says, "Those who can't do, teach."...I say to you, "Those who've never taught, shut up."
From what I have surmised thus far, the hard part of teaching is not the actual teaching. It's the discipline, planning, and organization that makes it rough. I had very little time from the first workday until the first day of classes to actually do any of the latter two. I've basically just had to chip away at that mountain little by little each day. I plan for tomorrow today and if I'm lucky, the day after that.
The discipline issue is a beast of it's own. The problem at Glenn is that, at least in the Spanish Dept., the previous year's program was less than stellar. This is what I've heard from various faculty and students. This translates to many of the Spanish II kids being lost, not having learned what they needed to in Spanish I. They also think that the foreign language classroom is for talking and goofing off. Spanish I kids are much better because I have no expectations of them as far as the subject knowledge goes...so this is where us new Spanish teachers can properly prepare them for level II.
The days are long, I often stay an extra hour and a half. I haven't even begun to think about substitute lesson plans, progress reports, or the myriad of other minutia that we are expected to keep up with on the administrative side. At the end of the day, it's supposed to be just me, the kids, and the classroom. The reality of teaching involves so much more though. In fact, I'd venture to say it's one of the most complex occupations on the planet. So whoever says, "Those who can't do, teach."...I say to you, "Those who've never taught, shut up."
Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville
11 comments:
cousin charles! its alex! i wish you the best of luck with youe new job, and i hope that you will have fun with it. muchos abrazos! (im taking spanish 2 this semester, also)
Keep them busy. If they're engaged in interesting and challenging activities they won't have any time to fool around!
Wanda D.
Chuck,
I was just searching and found my fellow lateral entry colleague's picture and read your blog. Ditto all the way around! You described my first week's experience at Glenn to a T (minus the departmental issues). Thanks for writing!
Melissa W. (English)
Nothing but the best of luck. It's a stressful transition, but with some time you will get familiar with not only what you expect of your kids, but what they expect of you. Keep this in mind: they are looking to YOU for leadership and knowledge. Flex some of that intellectual muscle and you will help them do more than just get an "A" in class - they might actually LEARN SOMETHING! Good Luck
Charles - if you need help, I've got a good friend over at Reagan High who teaches all levels of Spanish. WS/FCS is a great community of teachers; I spent a few years there and LOVED it. You will be excellent!
Charles,
I'm so glad you chose teaching.
Hang in there! Keep in touch.
(Your NCAE UniServ)
Hi Charles! I'm a first year teacher in Statesville this year. I'm teaching middle school math when I went to school for Elementary Ed, so I'd agree with your myriad of overwhelming duties and repsonsibilites. I am also just planning the day before as well. Staying after school an hour and a half every day is tough, and I find myself staying that long and longer. I didn't leave until almost 7:30 last night (school lets out at 3:30), so I really understand what you're going through! I feel like I stay and stay and can't get anything accomplished. I take work home with me, but by the time I get there, I can't even keep my eyes open long enough to do anything other than eat and shower, so I don't get things done at home either, except on the weekend. Just know you're not alone in your stuggles and it will come to all of us newbies with more time and practice. Good luck to you!
Dear Charles,
I enjoyed reading your comments. Keep up the good work. It will get better with time. I am so glad that you are teaching Spanish. This is my 32nd year teaching Spanish in high school in orth Carolina. I still enjoy teaching and the students enjoy the class as well. I am teaching the children of students that I taught in high school. Give the students diferent varieties of lessons from grammer to geography and history. Be creative by creating games with the vocabulary and coloring for learning the colors to singing and dancing and lets not talk about eating tacos and black beans. That is what is fun about teaching a foreign language and teaching in general. We can be so creative with our lessons.
Good luck and welcome to the profession.
Evangelina, Teacher/NCAE member 32 years
If you're into computers, what I've done is type my lesson plans for a week on Word and that way next week I just have to go in and edit before I print out the next week's plans. And if you have a sub, just type your letter to them telling them what to do throughout the day and then when you need to update them for another sub, you just change what activities you're doing.
As to having to stay longer at the end of the day...my 1st year I stayed out very late because I can't stand to leave things not finished. After that, I tried to get more things done during my planning time (if it wasn't taken up by something else) to run copies, etc. Just remember that it'll get easier and you won't be staying as late as the school year goes on.
Hi Charles, I feel ya brother. I am aslo new to this teaching thang. All we have to do is hang in there and with time we will learn the program. Be strong and don't give up. I'm not goint to wish you the best of luck, because it is not about luck. I will be praying for you and for all of us who has chosen TEACHING as a way of life.
WOW! You are ALREADY so wise! You understand what politicians, business leaders, and JQ Public often does not: teaching is a very complex process! NCAE keeps trying to get them to understand that. Would you mind if I used your quote to help them "get" it?
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