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.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Survival Mode or Student Centered Mode
Hey everyone!! After reading the blogs for this past week, I had to ask myself the following question: Am I in a survival mode or a student centered mode as Victoria blogged about? I truly enjoy my students, BUT I feel that I am just trying to survive my first year of teaching and make it through NTI. Realizing that made me a little depressed. I want to do so much with my students. Some of them are just hands on learners while others enjoy lecture. They are all so different and each of them have a lot to offer. (even my little knuckleheads !) Each day is a new day and it goes by so fast. We are coming to the end of the second six weeks. Where has the time gone? I would love to say that I'm 100% student centered, but for this season I'm trying to survive and make a positive impression on the students I teach.
Esther, Survival mode is not a mode I think you should be concerned about right now. I think you are doing great with NTI. You have no control over the first year passing by, so I would encourage you to concentrate on being in a Student Centered Mode. Things will get better, this is my third year and sometimes I felt like quiting but then I remembered that my teachers did not quit on me. You see, I team teach (not by choice). This is not my first time team teaching and I love it, but my present partner remind me of a teacher I had when I was about 14years, where he put work on the chalk board on Monday and erase it on Friday. He teaches from memory which is not correct sometimes. Giving no lab then when it is time for grading he gave the students a grade and think he is doing them a favor.Hang in there for the children and the first year will go by so quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou know I told myself that I would come into this with no expectations of the kids but I didn't expect the mojority of them to be as bad as they are. I struggled with the same thing until I refocused my efforts. I'm still teaching but at the same time I'm trying to help them become better citizens as well. I felt myself becoming more and more discouraged whent hey weren't responding to what I was teaching and I knew then if something didn't change I may not be doing this much longer. It was then that my heart kicked in and I found myself becoming more passionate for their better welfare and not just their education. This approach has worked for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are wrong in your thinking. We all want to be student centered all the time, unfortunately, things don't always go as planned. I am sure you are doing a great job. Next year, you will see a big difference in how you handle your students. NTI has been a big help for me. My second year students notice the difference in my techniques when I returned and I am sure your students will as well. Keep doing what your doing.
ReplyDeleteHi Esther,
ReplyDeleteI understand EXACTLY what you are saying! Many, many days I still feel like I am just flying by the seat of my pants. Just surviving. I want to one day feel very confident like the veteran teachers seem to be. But, you know, I have a feeling that some days they just fly by the seat of their pants too.
I think teaching is a continuous learning process for the teacher. There is no end. It is a continuous thing. I just hope I am not running around in circles! Ha! Ha!
You are a WONDERFUL teacher! Keep up the good work!
Connie
There's nothing wrong with being in survival mode your first year of teaching. However, my guess is that you are more student-centered than you are giving yourself credit for. I bet when you start putting your portfolio together that you'll be able to see how much you've done for you students that goes way above and beyond student-centered. You go Girl!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know someone else is going through this emotional roller coaster. What helps me is knowing that any new experience puts me outside of my comfort zone. When I am uncomfortable is when I am learning.
ReplyDeleteGaryb