Reflection Time

Well, this year has been a different one to say the least. I have said to myself on several occasions how much more tolerant I have become this year. I am not as quick to anger or become frustrated in the "system" nor the students. It appears that I have a different outlook and perspective on my profession. Coming from Law Enforcement and working with hardened criminals I developed tough outer shell. One that would allow me to do my job and not get "cased up" by crooks. Coming into the school system, I began to associate some of the students to some of the offenders I supervised, arrested, transported, etc. I trusted no one and became extremely territorial with "my" classroom, "my" students, "my" stuff, and "my" opinion of others. This mindset made my job difficult and I could not understand why I was constantly butting heads with my destiny. Today and even more so last week, I realized the amount of patience I have developed since the summer as well as how much I listen now than ever. In the past I would listen to student sidebars and interject my opinion. Monday it came to me "as clear as the hair on my head" (one of my Nana's sayings;). If you would only listen and act as if you are not paying attention, you would learn more and understand your students a lot better. Not only that, I also learned one very important thing..if they want your opinion and care about what you think they will ask your for it. Soooooooooooooo all last week I listened inattentively and without saying a word students were coming up to me asking "Chief did you hear that?" "456 what do you think about this", "Mrs. Jackson, we are trying to settle something, can you help us out?" People you all do not know how good I felt inside. Aside from laughing at some of the things I heard ( I have dog/inmate hearing if you didn't know..I can hear "a rat pee on cotton"(another one of my granny's saying). I defeated one of my biggest obstacles- The art of listening attentively w/o talking, and for the rest of the day I had this victorious smile on my face. Before now I had not told a soul. Thank you Good Dr.s for this question..It turned out to be very therapeutic.