Friday, June 26, 2009

Last day

Look at where I've come: Fully dressed shirt and tie to washed up t-shirt, shorts, sandals and a gross haircut and prepubescent facial hair.


I remember I couldn't sleep the night before the first day of teaching. Last night I fell asleep on the couch, my friends came home late and they told me they woke me up several times but I don't remember. I got eight hours of sleep. It was wonderful. Looking back over the year I've learned so much about myself, about teaching and about students. Here are some of those things:
  • I love teaching. I LOVE IT. I love it, I love it, I love it.
  • I came into teaching wanting to eventually be an administrator. You can't pay me to be an administrator. No offense to principals or office workers, but the highlight of my day is when I'm with the students. Then it all goes downhill after classes when I have to plan and make phone calls and do this or that. I just can't sit at a desk.
  • They don't care how much I know until they know how much I care. Cliche, yes. True, very.
  • Pack a lunch, I'll be happier.
  • I suck at disseminating information quickly. Need to do better.
  • It's okay to fail at somethings. It's okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
  • I don't think they would come out and say it outright, but students need structure, and defined expectations. I'll interject dammit just because I can.
  • Small town schools don't function the same way a school does that's bigger than the small town.
Amen.

4 comments:

Pickett said...

can you say amen in a colloquial sense to something that you are saying?

english usage party foul, mr yamamoto

Thingsleftunsaid said...

It's not instructions we need, it's consistency. We hate it, but we need it in order for a constructive educational experience. On that note however... actually, nevermind, you know the teaching gig more than I do, and whatever I say is reaching only deaf ears. Carry on.

Unknown said...

it's not ok to fail.

Myrna said...

Way cool, Sam! I think you have had a great first year! Even though I am reading this WAY late, and already you have started the second year!