Advice for a New Teacher!

When I started teaching almost 20 years ago, I thought I was going to change the world! I arrogantly thought that my students had so much to learn and that I would impart this knowledge upon them with copious amounts of wisdom and creativity. The problem with education was some teachers just didn't care and they stopped teaching with enthusiasm. I was going to be different! I had a brand new degree on the wall that made me an expert, right? With my new school supplies, seating charts, books, bulletin boards, sharpened pencils (ooh how I love these), and lesson plans, I was ready to take on the challenge.

My first week, I quickly learned that I knew little to nothing! It was like a Tasmanian devil had gone off in my classroom and laid waste to all my hard work. Those 4th graders didn't care how long I prepared for them or that I spent all my money on those supplies. They didn't have any respect for that degree on the wall that cost me tens of thousands of dollars. They were definitely not sitting in their chairs with their hands in their laps ready to learn all the great and wonderful things I wanted to teach them. One student even looked at me and said, "Why should I listen to you?"

With all the indignation I could muster I said, "Because I am the TEACHER!" There that should put him in his place! He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "This is my 17th school since Kindergarten. I have had so many teachers I don't even remember any of them. My family will move again, like we always do, so I ain't even gonna waste my time getting to know you or listen to what you have to say."

I went home feeling like an utter failure, the wind taken out of my sails. My "change the world" attitude soon became "just let me survive"! I did get through my first year, barely. And I have continued to teach all different ages from preschool, to elementary, to middle school special education, and even adults in prison. But my arrogance quickly turned into humbleness. My imparting knowledge to my students instead became learning about them. My wisdom was not from my college degree but came from listening when the kids talked and more importantly trying to understand when they couldn't put their feelings into words. Instead of inspiring my students, they inspired me by overcoming obstacles that would have knocked most adults on their butt.

Other things I learned:

Don't assume you know anything about a child from just what you see on the outside. This will make you look foolish because many things can be covered up with cute clothes and a tidy haircut. Greatness and beauty can be hidden underneath dirt and a bad attitude.

Don't be quick to label. A label can follow a child around for a lifetime and place them in a box that defines them instead of being defined by who they are as a person and a unique human being.

Listen first. Kids have so many interesting things to say. Most of them don't have a voice outside of school. This could be his or her only opportunity to feel like someone is paying attention.

Watch closely. Kids don’t always have the vocabulary to explain what is going on inside. They are not mini adults. They are children who need help interpreting the world around them. Actions speak louder than words.

Don't stop believing that EVERY child is worthy! Every child deserves respect. Every child can learn even the ones who seem beyond hope! It's about progress not perfection. Look deeper for the each student's strengths.

Your words are powerful! Words can either build up or destroy. Be careful what you say about your students. Remember they are somebody's baby. Parents trust you with their most precious treasure for 6 hours a day. Don't take this lightly by being reckless with your words when talking about a child.

Don't point fingers at parents, the school, the administration, the educational system or whatever else you think is THE problem with education. Complaining and blaming don't work towards solutions. They drag everybody down. Be the change you want to see and make a difference in your classroom.

Finally, get ready for the ride of a lifetime! You will have many ups and downs but it's worth it all when you see some of your students 5, 10, 15 years later and know you had a small part in their journey!

I Was So Wrong....

My first year of teaching I had stars in my eyes, apples all over my shirt, and a lot of head knowledge that I had gained from my Master's Degree in education and teacher certification program. I walked in to my student teaching class in an inner city school and almost walked right out. I had 33 students staring at me (wasn’t the cap 28?), all different shapes, sizes, and ethnic backgrounds. It reminded me of a multicultural conference. I suddenly felt inadequate at best and could feel the fear of monumental failure in the near future. Everything this class threw at me I tried to shake through my narrow viewpoints and filters. I was astounded at the lack of parental involvement, lack of determination to succeed, apathy towards education, foul language, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by their parents, homework never turned in, no shows at conferences, no responsibility taken for their actions..the list goes on. I foolishly thought that these students just haven’t been given enough motivation and correct instruction. If I gave them the self-discipline to finish assignments or the structure to do their best or enough penalties or rewards they would turn things around. I definitely thought my way is the right way, my students just had to see it really work.

One day, one of my students, a Hispanic male from a very low income home, was falling asleep in class. He did not have his homework turned in again but was really trying to work his way up to the next math level. I knew this child was smart maybe he just needed discipline! “Where was his homework? Why is he falling asleep? Maybe he should go to bed earlier and take pride in himself....blah, blah...” He looked up at me with these big, brown eyes and said words that will forever be etched into my heart, “Mrs. Lee I am sorry I did not turn in my homework. I wanted to make you proud of me today but last night I had to stay up and guard my mom so my dad wouldn’t beat her.” At that moment I knew I had it wrong. So very wrong. These students didn't need my way of learning or thinking. They needed me to see where they were coming from, how they lived, the obstacles they had to overcome just to get to school. They did not have the benefits of growing up white, upper middle class, educated, everybody has a house, a car, and a white picket fence. They were not expected to all go to college, make something of themselves, pursue the American dream, land a job making over $35,000 dollars a year. Most of these families struggled to survive, on minimum wage, working in the jobs where nobody in my world would ever go.

Over the next few years, my students taught me more on the power of resilience and the ability to overcome issues bigger than their age group should ever have to handle. When I started becoming involved in their cultures, getting to know the families, becoming invested in them as individuals, only then did I truly become the teacher I needed to be to meet their needs. I gave myself permission to let go of what I thought the “ideal” teacher should look like. It was okay to learn the Macarena Dance and look foolish if it helped me to connect. It was okay to try to eat the very different foods their parents brought in because that was their only way to say thank you. It was definitely okay to let them do homework at school if they had no place else to get it done.

I stayed “true to myself” by never pretending I knew where they were coming from. I didn’t. I never again assumed they would think like me. They wouldn’t. I never again looked at just the surface of  what walked into my classroom. There was always a story behind every face. I also still set very high expectations for all my students regardless of where they came from but everybody had a different way to get there. And most of all when they failed or when I failed them, we never allowed ourselves to quit. Tomorrow was a new day. We started all over and painted the picture any way we wanted to even if it was only during school hours...so be it.