Of everything I did this week in my teaching, what would I do differently if I had the chance to do it again? And, why?

Today I had my first observation from Dr. Montrois and I must start by saying it was an amazing block with my students. While I was a little nervous at first, once that bell rang and class began, I was on target and taking care of business. While the overwhelming worry that I would draw a blank during the lesson instruction or had an unruly student loom over me the entire hour and a half, I was truly surprised at how well transitions moved between content areas.

I had spent a great deal of time working with my students going over their actions for group assembly and what was expected of them, but really no amount of preparation could have been done in some instances. Sometimes things just happen and this time was no different. Needless to say the entire class went by and everyone stayed on task as best they could. The bell rang and before I knew it, it was just me and the good Doctor alone in the room. This was the moment of truth, the hour of my doom… Then it happened. The unexpected happened.

Do you know what happened in that moment when he started giving me feedback?

Do you really want to know?

Well, I will be honest here and say that we both knew the areas of weakness I had in my classroom. While an overwhelming majority of the package I presented was exemplary, there was that moment that we connected. It was an honest moment when I said to him, “You know you are right. I know my kids could do better in presentation. I don’t push them hard enough.”

It was in that moment that I realized that the things that really got under my skin with some of my students (I.E. The few who I had to keep on reminding to stay on task) were a drop in the bucket; rather, a drop in the ocean to him. The areas of growth he saw were the ones I knew all along I had. It was just a matter of someone sitting me down and saying, “Hey, try this.” Once that happened I realized that the areas I needed help with were an area many teachers have problems with.

So upon reflection of the events that took place today and looking back this week already, if I had one thing to do again differently it would be to have already implemented what Dr. Montrois shared during our post-conference. The answer is simple as to why… I would want to do that so I could have another area that he would have suggested for me to improve upon. And another, and another, and another. I know I am just starting this journey, but the opportunity I have to help impact students lives, be a role model to them, and help support my fellow teachers makes it all worth it in the end.