I officially start working in two days' time - the summer holidays seem to have both flown by and lasted forever. I read by the pool on my new Kobo e-reader (Pride and Prejudice, the Communist Manifesto, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Angel...), caught up with friends, and basically enjoyed my last taste of uni student freedom. (And avoided spending money - bring on that first paycheck!)
I did obviously spend some time thinking about my coming year, how I will cope, how I will approach my classes, what I'll be teaching etc - but not as much as I would have liked to. I'm going in with a strange feeling of excitement/trepidation/fear - but from the looks of things I'm in the best possible environment to start such a daunting career. I really like the school and staff, the collegial atmosphere, group planning - and then being a part of online communities that I can resort to for support when I need it. So honestly, I'm set up so well for this year, I just have to knuckle down and hold up my end of the bargain now.
Will keep you posted!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Week 8: Just Keep Swimming...
The end of the term is in sight and I can’t help this sense that I just have to keep plugging away, it’s almost over. I can’t believe my first whole term of teaching is already almost finished! I still have loads to learn but I do also feel that I’m starting to settle in. I know what meetings to be in and when, which kids are in which classes, where to find various files, and who to speak to about various issues, etc.
Finding my feet in the classroom is slightly different – there’s no doubt that I’m more confident in there than I was in the first week, and that I have more of a clue in general. But there’s still a LONG way to go. I am still grasping that essential “scaffolding” skill. I am still grasping just HOW MUCH scaffolding my students need to get tasks done, and how to provide that scaffolding in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m doing all the thinking for them. I have a number of students who are much lower than I thought they would be in year seven, and find myself lacking skills that I need to teach them. I’m struggling with how to differentiate work, and how to manage a classroom when students are working at different paces. I have faith that all these skills will come in time, because I’m constantly thinking about them and taking advice from people who know better. I just wish I knew it all now!!
Finding my feet in the classroom is slightly different – there’s no doubt that I’m more confident in there than I was in the first week, and that I have more of a clue in general. But there’s still a LONG way to go. I am still grasping that essential “scaffolding” skill. I am still grasping just HOW MUCH scaffolding my students need to get tasks done, and how to provide that scaffolding in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m doing all the thinking for them. I have a number of students who are much lower than I thought they would be in year seven, and find myself lacking skills that I need to teach them. I’m struggling with how to differentiate work, and how to manage a classroom when students are working at different paces. I have faith that all these skills will come in time, because I’m constantly thinking about them and taking advice from people who know better. I just wish I knew it all now!!
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