A Week full of Lessons :)

‎"To succeed you must first improve, to improve you must first practice, to practice you must first learn, and to learn you must first fail."

This week- I have learned so much in such a short period of time. As my classroom has past the "honeymoon period" we are now entering the stretch where classroom management becomes vital for the remainder of the year. I was lucky to have the opportunity to meet with a woman named Karen who is from the district school board. Her job is to help me create a plan for myself on how, over the course of the year, I can become the best teacher I can be. While I first thought that she would come in and tell me how terrible of a job I was doing, meeting her ended up being like a breath of fresh air! 

After she observed my classroom we had a meeting where she started off by asking me, "what are some things that you think you do well as a teacher?".....I sat for a minuite and listed off a few things.....patient, genuine, prepare, honest, relatable etc....and she said "what else?" ....after a few seconds........I responded with..."to be honest, I dont find myself sitting down thinking about myself or how i'm doing, i'm busy worrying about the kids and what they need." She replied with "I can tell you a lot of things you are great at...." She started listing things..."i've never seen anyone on their toes like you....you are so well prepared.....you care about these kids so much and its so obvious how much you care and want them to do well"........hearing her say that really made me emotional. I usually have a hard time explaining things that i'm passionate about and hearing her acknowledge that I care so much and am giving this job my 100% really made me have a loss for words. With tears in my eyes I explained to her how hard it can be sometimes and how much it helps to have someone acknowledge my strengths. 

All too often I beat myself up for things not going well, or students not working to their full potential. She reassured me that my heart is int he right place and that i'm so close to having the students exactly where I want them. For the most part, they care about me, and with a few changes in my daily instruction (having a symbol for being quiet, a non-verbal system for controlling behaviour) I will be able to create a safe and positive environment for everyone.

I find myself so fortunate to have the opportunity to create a growth plan and have the support that I do. At the end of the day, Karen came into my classroom and said- "I'm not worried about you for a second- you have some challenges to overcome but by the end of this year- this is going to make you an unstoppable teacher......you have such a challenging class, but you won't let them win- its not in your nature." I found it amazing that after meeting me for one day, and watching me teach for 20 minutes, she was able to observe all of that. She knows how much I love my job, and my students and is going to give me the tools to create an amazing classroom! 

I am so excited. Despite the emotions, tears, and changes that are coming ahead. I am so excited! I have no doubt that this is going to be an amazing year- I love those kids with everything in me and these 2 months have already changed me as a person and educator!!

 

Long anticipated updates :)

You can make more friends in two months by becoming genuinely interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

- Dale Carnegie

I came across this quote today and decided to open my blog with it because I've been a little "down in the dumps lately" (for lack of a better word).  To no surprise- I've been finding it rather challenging to meet friends here on the North Island. Its difficult to come into a new town, have a new job, and try to establish myself with a social network. I know that I have only been here for 2 months and that making friends takes time, but I keep constantly finding myself asking "In a town of 5000 people, what does everyone do with their spare time?"

 I Think one of the reasons that I am having such a hard time finding friends is because back at home I have been blessed with a very strong social network. I am such a talkative person that I've never had a hard time meeting people. I'm the girl that can go into a room of 100 people knowing absolutely no one, but will come out knowing not only everyones name, but something interesting about them. I guess I have taken this skill for granted over the past 20 years because I am finding it challenging just to put myself out there and spark up a conversation. Challenge number 1 is finding someone my own age to talk to, and challenge number two is to have the confidence to say something too them. (this sounds silly when written down and not in my head, but I guess that's the joy of reflecting)

I guess the reality is that ever since I've moved out from home (6 years ago) I've always been put into a situation that was prime for making friends. A university town where everyone has shared experiences. In many ways I've never been the only "new kid" on the block. People in Port Hardy have their lives established, they have their social networks and they have their routines- I'm the one who needs to put myself out there and take an interest in how things are done. 

Despite the fact that I feel like I'm writing in a diary (and posting it online for the world to see) I have accomplished something for myself today. I have realized that sitting in my apartment and feeling lonely is not going to help my cause for meeting people and getting involved. My plan for this week is to challenge myself to make a friend by stepping outside of my comfort zone. 

So if you're from Port Hardy, and happen to be reading this (doubtful) save me the awkwardness and be my friend :) HA.  I'm pretty fun to hang around.....ha ha ha

"If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere."

- Zig Ziglar

(im pretty sure my mom is one of the only people that read this and I want to assure you that I am LOVING MY LIFE out here, it is amazing! I couldn't ask for anything better. I love my job, love my apartment and love my car- life is good) I would just like to have more people to hang out with in my spare time- theres no need to worry about me! xoxo)