A difficult decision, sweetened with noble intentions. What else was left in the world for a poor wayfaring pilgrim in need of some recalibration. Life as I knew it was about to change in more ways than I wanted and I was looking for a nice quiet tree branch to attach my cocoon to. Fuck 2016, amirite?
Becoming a certified teacher in Texas wasn’t really a very difficult process. You pass a couple basic knowledge tests, observe some experienced teacher friends for a few days and promise to eventually finish a bunch of online modules over your first year. I was hired after my 2nd interview. Little did I know, they pretty much just throw your ass to the wolves…I mean students…after that.
Teachers go back to school 1 week earlier than students…for first year teachers it’s 2 weeks. These 2 weeks are supposed to get you up to date on the infrastructure of being a teacher. How to find the district lesson plans, how to re-write the district lesson plans and assign TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge/Skills) for each section, how to translate the TEKS, how and where to re-write the lesson plan in your classroom everyday…get the gist?
Not a whole lot about how to get 22 little kids to line up for a bathroom break without running and complaining about cutting line. Nothing about how to get those 22 untrained, undisciplined babies to LEARN from your lesson plan. So much for an easy transition to day people life.
Setting up your own classroom is another soapbox, another blog, another day. Let’s just say this. You gotta do it yourself, you gotta pay for it yourself and you gotta get the shit done before the first day of school. Shout out to my friends and family at the Welman Project, you the real MVP’s.
Text Conversation, July 2016
Teachers are OVERWHELMED with redundant tasks which don’t often serve the students. Not one administrator ever gave me a rational answer as to why. Maybe it’s because without those tasks to enforce, many administrators would have less importance to the educational system. The tasks keep teachers accountable…instead of leaders.
“OK, READY?!
NO!!!!!
Well, here they come, they’re yours now, we’ll be back later to tell you their scores are low and give you more paperwork to do.”
In my first year as a teacher, I flunked outta 4th grade, but found my calling in Kindergarten by Thanksgiving. Kids are the most forgiving humans on the planet. My 4th graders cried when I went down the hall but would later become awesome reading partners for my kindergarteners and in the years to come I would teach their actual little brothers and sisters as families tend to make their way through a school.
I got lucky. Switching to Kindergarten gave me the opportunity to learn to teach with way less pressure. School districts place unreasonable amounts of pressure on teachers in “testing grades” and 4th grade is a big one. I wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility in my first year and nobody really is. In 4th grade, I was really on my own to figure it out, but the Kindergarten team carried my ass for the full rest of the year.
They showed me how teachers do it. They get each other’s backs. They make real relationships with their students. And maybe drank a little during the holidays.
By the time the first year was over I was:
1) Relieved
2) Exhausted
3) Confident I could handle this going forward
Learning to become a good teacher is a process full of self doubt, insecurity and everyday failure but the payoff happens when you realize it’s all about creating and allowing authentic relationships with your students. Kindergarten is an especially anxious time for little humans. For many of them it’s the first time they’re in a room all day with 20 other little creatures and 1 grown up! It’s like puppy school! Someone is bound to poop on the carpet. But all they really want is your love and attention. I give that in loads. My favorite teachers do too.
“ Learning to teach, taught me to learn again.”
In my first year as a teacher, I leaned into being a student. Another chance to soak up the experience of being a beginner at something. Everyday was a new opportunity to improve my patience, empathy, humility and accountability. Learning to teach, taught me to learn again.
It was a year full of observations and conversations that led to perspective shifts and a clearer view of our interconnectedness during this era of hyper-communication and instant gratification. I learned how to manage and encourage a group of wildly creative, uninhibited, curious and fearless individuals.
Most importantly, I learned that if you want someone else to learn, you have to start with the relationship. Treat them with respect. Everyone knows something you don’t. Even if they’re only this many ✋🏽.
“Dedicated to all of the selfless, thoughtful, caring and creative teachers who made me into Mista V. I am your advocate and assistant for life.”
Keep Learning!
NickytheFlip