This inaugural school year for me has really been busy. I have been working to establish the components associated with HOSA. The students have made great contributions to the leadership activities required for a successful HOSA start up. The students have taken a career personality test to help them identify their leadership strengths and weaknesses. As you can imagine, I also took this test as I have many times before. Once again, I was classified as an ENFJ(Extrovert, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging). As I read through the characteristics that so well define me, I began to think about recent events in my personal and professional life. I have thought about the freedoms that existed in my prior career. If I needed to take time off I put in a single page request. I scheduled patients around my schedule to make sure that all items were done to my requirement.
During the past week, I suffered the loss of a dear childhood family member. We grew up like sisters and shared many of the challenges and successes of our lives together. I was capable of visiting her during her short period of illness and made closure during that visit. I anticipated a call at any time reporting her passage from this life. When I received that call I did not cry. I realized at that time that I was too overwhelmed with life and work to figure out how to get off from work and make the 8 hour trip to her parent’s home and spend this time with our loved ones. Just as my personality profile indicates, I have boxed this component away to deal with at a later time. All of my family missed me and I have received numerous inquiries on how I am doing. All I have been able to think about is, "If I had not started this new job, I could easily get off from work, make the trip and take my time recovering from the emotional and physical rigor of the trip". I know that loss is inevitable, but I don't ever want to go through this again. It is not the loss that has depleted me but the fact that I don't know how to deal with it and remain functional in my new position.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
2 comments:
Suzette, I am so very sorry for your loss. I know this must be a difficult time for you right now. I will keep you in my prayers!
Suzette, my condolences go out to you and your family. It is amazing how when we enter into the world of education, things occur at the most inopportune time. It's as if you would like to say to your family.."if something happens, please schedule it during summer or winter break when I have time to deal with it". During my first year and first semester of teaching (November), I lost my baby sister abruptly and found myself at school a day after her death trying to put something together for my kids. The following year, I lost a close aunt near the end of Christmas break. Mourning with my family became difficult because of my need to get back to work. Well this month, my husband lost his brother and we were unable to go home with family because of the distance and because of ..my work. It seems like it never ends but what I can say is, the children have a way of helping you deal and cope with the loss of a loved one. I can't tell you how many text messages I received from my kids during my absences. I can honestly say that although I felt the need to be there for them..they equally felt the need to be there for me. You may have allowed yourself to put this situation in a box on a shelf but please do not allow it to sit for so long. Use it as an opportunity to grieve openly by discussing some things about your cousin in class. You'd be surprise at how many children have gone thru or are going thru somethings similar. As you can see, we teachers never really get a break until we create a break in education and build upon our life experiences thus building upon the lives of those we teach.
Luv u gal...and my prayers are with you and your family
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