CTE New Teacher Institute Forum: Rewards and Challenges

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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?

Friday, January 31, 2014

Rewards and Challenges

If I were to put on the shoes of a guidance counselor and walk a mile in them I would most likely feel the most rewarded by seeing a student make their graduation walk. Knowing I had a hand in the development and direction of this young adult at a level not many others did would be extremely gratifying. If the student overcame extra challenges then the enjoyment would likely be multiplied. As for the challenges I would see with those same “guidance counselor” shoes on I feel pretty strongly that containing my emotions would be my greatest struggle. I know kids today encounter many trials and tests as they navigate their high school years. I experienced many of those myself. However, there are also many challenges existing for students today that I never had to deal with and can’t really imagine trying to. Bearing witness to all of these challenges in a student’s life and keeping my emotions contained would be very trying. I would imagine many counselors feel similarly.

2 comments:

Unknown said...: Terry.
I agree. Seeing the students take that much anticipated walk across the stage would be most pleasing. As a teacher, I understand the pains we take with students trying to get them to excel in our class (for some students it is a challenge just to get them interested enough to pass!) I can't imagine being the school counselor who is faced with the challenge of getting 400-600 students to have the ability to walk across that stage and into a new phase of their life. I also agree with your greatest challenge. I am a very strong minded individual with a value system that most students have not had the home life that supports my values. Keeping my emotions and opinions in tact when dealing with such students would be a huge feat. I have to bear in mind that today's students live in an entirely different value system than the one I grew up in. If, as a counselor, I could instill hard work and reaping what you sow in addition to their high school education, I would say that equates GREAT success.; February 1, 2014 at 8:27:00 AM EST
Mark said...: Terry,
I definitely agree with you about the graduation walk. in my three years of teaching, last years graduation was the most fulfilling because I felt like I had the most impact of that group of students. Although I didn't have the title of a counselor, I helped students along the way in terms of trying to get their lives together to prepare themselves for graduation and college. I know that counselors deal with more of the nuts and bolts of a student's direction to achieve walking across the stage to get their diploma, I know that they feel a scene of validation as well as fulfillment. In addition to teachers, I know that counselors have that feeling of accomplishment and joy just as much as teachers do when they see their hard work pay off.; February 1, 2014 at 10:16:00 AM EST