Friday, December 5, 2008
What happened in the first year...
Things I remember most: being excited, believing I could make a difference in students, having the luxury of time (now I understand that was because at the time I wasn't as steeped in my content knowledge), doing restroom duty in the restroom, wearing my "badge" which I called my "Piccadilley name tag", grading papers, the mimeogragh machine with the big drum (and the solvent...which for some reason, teachers were very happy to do their own mimeographing :)), buying my own supplies, and finally getting Christmas and end of year gifts from the students.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I prepared nearly all summer for my first year of teaching in a 4th grade classroom. We started school the Wednesday before Labor Day. Those first 3 days were great, I was AWESOME! The the 3 day Labor Day weekend came, and I sat on the couch at home and thought, I worked like a dog to get ready for 3 days, what the heck do I do for the rest of the year!!
s.smith said...
Decades ago, post-electricity but pre-computer
I remember learning to ride a bike. I remember losing my first tooth. I remember my first year of teaching! As an English teacher, I had two off periods. Not knowing the staff or how to use an off period, I found myself with too much time on my hands and no place to go when someone else was using my classroom. I would walk home the two blocks to my apartment to waste time and then go back for the next class. Now, thirty plus years later, I can't fathom having extra time. The more you know about teaching, the more you see that needs doing.
Soooo very true...no extra time! How did we become so connected so as to "feel" responsible for it all???
Little did we know how "freeing" ignorance, or lack of experience really was.
I just recalled another "powerful" memory of my first year that I definitely want to chronicle for the newbies out there.
I remember a "huge" raise by the state my first year in education. We earned $9000!!! In one year!!! I recall thinking, and probably saying, how could my teachers have worked for so little? Of course, now I'm thinking in 2008 how could a first year teacher make $41,500??? It doesn't seem right because it took me almost 20 years to get there, ha!
I also remember the "veteran" teachers (Ms. Wooten, Ms. Dusebout, Ms. Cryar and some others) being "angry" with the first year teachers because they were making so much more!!! Now there's some deja vu!
I remember my first year teaching Physical Science and Anatomy. I did work like a dog to prepare all those lessons, but I truly loved it! I guess I was lucky because most of my family members were teachers and I was able to use their wisdom. I don't know what I would have done without the veteran teachers in my life.
Post a Comment