Going Through the Motions...

Fall Semester 2016 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?"

When I first began teaching last October, I really felt as if I was going through the motions.  I had no clue what I was doing, what I was supposed to be doing, or how I was supposed to be doing it.  There was zero orientation from the county.  It only consisted of how to sign up for benefits etc and report to work tomorrow.  So I sat there like a bump on a log for the entire first semester, essentially deferring to my co-teacher and para-educator (thank God that I have them) because I did not know what the school or the county wanted me to do.  My teacher support specialist was of no help.  So every day, I would sit there and write down questions that I had and take notes during our professional learning meetings.  I asked a senior teacher on staff and slowly but surely, she helped me figure things out.  

So, this year, I started off knowing what was going on and what I am to do.  It's made my life much easier and it's been much more helpful for the students to actually learn what they should.