Lessons for the Teacher
Early this school year, one of my amazing co-workers, Paul, said something so striking as we delved into a discussion about writing. He said he tells students to think of writing "as a verb rather than a noun." It's English-teacher-obvious that writing can technically be both a noun and a verb, but Paul, an art teacher, was onto something so much deeper. He inspired me; he shifted my thinking!
It is now that time of year in teacher-land (No, not the time where we're counting down the days until summer, a time to catch our breaths and plan for the next sprint around the track...well, at least not entirely that): it's End-of-Year Evaluation Time. I spent some time early this week completing the required documents, ensuring I wouldn't miss the submission deadline (and would have plenty of time to review, revise, doubt myself, review again, revise some more..it's not a healthy habit, I know). As I worked through the various documents, I kept coming back to this deep-seated truth, what Paul inspired earlier this year, and what COVID-19 and virtual learning reinforced these past few months (I've had a few really big ah-ha moments!!).
I didn't want to forget a single bit of what I thought or how I felt, so I leaned into a tool that has always served me well...I wrote.
I wrote about what I learned, what I feel, what matters to and inspires me as an educator. I reevaluated my focus and redefined my purpose, and I am so, so ready to make the most of the last few weeks of the 2019-2020 school year.
It is now that time of year in teacher-land (No, not the time where we're counting down the days until summer, a time to catch our breaths and plan for the next sprint around the track...well, at least not entirely that): it's End-of-Year Evaluation Time. I spent some time early this week completing the required documents, ensuring I wouldn't miss the submission deadline (and would have plenty of time to review, revise, doubt myself, review again, revise some more..it's not a healthy habit, I know). As I worked through the various documents, I kept coming back to this deep-seated truth, what Paul inspired earlier this year, and what COVID-19 and virtual learning reinforced these past few months (I've had a few really big ah-ha moments!!).
I didn't want to forget a single bit of what I thought or how I felt, so I leaned into a tool that has always served me well...I wrote.
I wrote about what I learned, what I feel, what matters to and inspires me as an educator. I reevaluated my focus and redefined my purpose, and I am so, so ready to make the most of the last few weeks of the 2019-2020 school year.
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| Musings as I wrap up Year 13 |
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