Monday, April 6, 2009

Experience

When I began teaching, I was told on several occasions that after my third year of teaching, I'll feel equipped and fully prepared as a teacher. I must say that I feel that I am on my way to making that statement a reality. My first year teaching was a year spent finding my way a the lowest level imaginable. I was glad to assign work, manage a class, grade the work, and look like I knew what I was doing. Then, I began the NTI program. Now I have a clear idea of what is professional and required of a classroom teacher. I feel that my lessons after two years of experience, will be right on target with what I am trying to teach the students. Thanks to this program and my local system, I have learned a great deal of information to aid me in my classroom instruction.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Grummer. I am with you...NTI has better prepared me for the classroom. I wish that I had taken the class the first or second year, but this was my third year at my local high school. I can say, that this was the easiest year yet, probably because of the NTI training but also because, time has passed.After year 3....it should keep getting easier !

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  2. I certainly hope it gets easier after 3 years. I asked a colleague and she says 7-8 years before you really get into the groove. I can see that. Thanks to NTI, in a few years, I have options for those days when things look monotonous... I can just look in my bag of tricks and pull out a clever lesson. I think 3 years is good for finding that comfort zone, but much more to get into the groove. Just don't dig a rut!

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  3. What you say about the first year of teaching has a lot of merit. The first year, I felt like I was prepared and knew what I was doing. My second year, I was not quite sure of myself but felt like I did a pretty good job. Then came N.T.I. and I discovered I was not prepared at all. I have learned much from the instructors in the N.T.I. program. I wish I had taken the course during my first year of teaching. I could have used a lot of the N.T.I. information during my second year of teaching. In about three week we will have finished N.T.I. and be on our own. I have really enjoyed meeting all the teachers in our class and hope all the N.T.I. students have a great teaching career. One other thing I’ve learned from N.T.I. If I need help, I know who to call.

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