Teaching is a rewarding journey. We teach for the outcome because a price can’t be applied to making a difference in our students’ lives. Continuous learning and diversity are significant elements for classroom success and critical to the outcomes we’d like to see, but both require the ability to be flexible and self-reflect. Educators can’t control the limited resources and external influences that contribute to the mayhem in our public schools, but we can control the classroom experience.
In 2010, I entered the profession as a business educator during the second grading period in the first semester. The students were rowdy and difficult to control upon arrival and the assigned administrator kindly warned that I would be observed. I had no formal training, no beginning teacher training, and now I would be observed! The students’ behavior was hard to understand. I was raised to never disrespect adults and to follow instructions the first time given— and I’d better not misbehave in school.
I had to learn valuable classroom management lessons through trial and error at the expense of instructional time. My assigned mentor educated me on teaching standards and best practices for establishing classroom procedures. She encouraged me and informed me of my growth and I was excited about the progress she noted. However, my contract was not renewed at year’s end. It was very disappointing. So, I jumped on a cruise ship to the Bahamas. When I returned, the first message I received when I got back in the United States was from a principal offering me a position.
I was on a mission to avoid a year like my first year. Waiting on someone to educate me on the school system was not an option. So I decided to commit to continuous learning. I did the following:
- Enrolled in multiple workshops, seminars, and classes
- Joined the North Carolina Association of Educators
- Studied the curriculum and related content
- Joined Professional Learning Communities
- Studied data at the new school
- Studied policies and procedures
- Served as School Improvement Team Chair and on the local association executive board
- Studied my students by learning more about each child to enhance cultural awareness
- Studied the music my students listened to, as music often reflects the mindset of a generation
Fast forward to the end of the first semester at the county-wide professional development day, and the director is announcing the names of teachers that met proficiency. My name was called not once, but twice. During this school year, I understood the importance of cultural awareness and continuous learning. All students do not share my values and that’s perfectly okay. Children’s behavior is a reflection of their hearts. Everything including discipline must be done with dignity and not the spirit of embarrassment. Being fair means giving each student what they need, not the same thing. I realized that teaching is about helping our students recognize and unlock the world that is inside of them. Educators most powerful method to help students unlock their world is to show them we care about them beyond the gradebook. They need to know their existence is important. One last thing, ask your students to raise their hands if anyone ever told them they were great. Think about the results.
