In this post he talks about all the changes he encountered in that school year such as, it being the first year that he taught at the same school two years in a row and the first year being a computer applications teacher. It was also his first time being a cross country coach. He said that with so many changes, it was easy to learn and reflect, and in turn share this reflection with us.
The first thing he discusses is “Know Who Your Boss Is”. This year he learned that it is easy to get wrapped up with trying to please everyone. He said, he started to just be himself and not worry so much about the perception that others have of him. While he was being “consumed,” he realizes that he was neglecting his students’ needs for his full attention. He needed to remember the main reason we got in this profession in the first place and that was for the kids.
A word of advice he gives is “Don’t Expect Others to be as Excited About Change as You Are”. We cannot allow others to stifle our excitement and joy that we experience in teaching or in life. Teachers that had the fire and excitement for the teaching profession seem to somewhere lose the excitement along the way. He then tells us about how much of an optimist he is, even when it comes to things other teachers tend to not be interested in such as professional development sessions.
He also says “Don’t Be Afraid to be an Outsider”. He learned that not falling in line with the rest of the crowd and being an outsider is not a bad thing. He did not eat his lunches with the other teachers in the lounge, because he ate with his students. By doing this, he made a better connection with his students.
The final word of advice Mr. McClung gives us is “Don’t Get Comfortable.” says that comfort and security does not motivate individuals. . He makes a good point that while teaching is a stable job and it’s easy to become comfortable. Teachers need to step out of there comfort zone to reach out and help students. The teaching profession needs individuals that are passionate and willing to exceed the demands of the regular teaching schedule.
Mr. Joe McClung's first year as a teacher was spent in Noel, Missouri. His first year was spent trying to impress his superiors that he did not focus on the students like he should. He was controlling things way to much. He would beat himself up for lessons that did not go the way he planned. Over the year, he learned several different ways on how to improve his classroom and to help other teachers. He also learned that he should be flexible because what he plans on teaching and most important decision he made during the year was to stay positive. He also learned to get rid of his high expectations for the students. Teachers need to be reasonable with their students and not make to high of expectations for them.
"Teachers need to be reasonable with their students and not make to high of expectations for them." too high not to high. How do you reconcile this with Randy Pausch's comments about setting the bar high?
ReplyDeleteI hope you will make annual reflections like Mr. McClung.
I thought that Mr. McClung's reflections are a great idea. I hope to be able to do this once I start teaching and hopefully you will too.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to not become comfortable as a teacher. How do you plan on changing things up so you don't become stagnant as a teacher? I hope to come up with new activities for my students. If we as teachers become bored with the material, how do we expect our students to be interested?
I really loved that Mr. McClung was not afraid to be an outsider. We can't be ashamed of who we are or what we believe. We need to stand up even when things get tough or people are putting us down.
Great post. Keep up the good work!