I have had my venti iced coffee (the first time I have ever ordered a venti - thanks, grad school), so now I'm caffeinated enough to sit down and do this. I think.
I am happy to say that I am questioning myself a whole lot less than I did the first week. Those "can I really do this?" thoughts are still there, but as I gain more information about teaching and more insight into myself, I am feeling better and better about my choice to become a teacher. I do have the capabilities required of teachers, and Lewis & Clark is providing me will all the tools I need. I find it incredible to think about all the stuff we have learned in a mere three weeks of school - just think about all we'll know after our 7+ classes in the fall! I just feel like I've glimpsed what it is like to be a teacher, and that I can teach and teach well. I'm not there yet, but I will be. Does that make sense? It's such a good feeling of relief.
Also, I think I answered my own question about needing a rock that will be a constant reminder of how rewarding the teaching profession is -- my rock is you, cohort 1.
I wanted to direct your attention to the Rethinking Schools website (www.rethinkingschools.org) and the Portland Rethinking Schools group (www.portlandrethinkingschools.org). Those of us reading The New Teacher Book for Sara's class (a Rethinking Schools publication) are really enjoying it, and I think all of you should buy and read it before your first year of teaching. The websites are nice, too, and they both have email subscriptions that are kind of nice for keeping you in the loop of education happenings around the US. They have a quarterly magazine that looks fabulous, too. Anyway, just a random recommendation!
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love this, Jessica! i hear you on the venti!
ReplyDeleteI'm posting a "comment" on Jessica's because I still can't figure out how to become an author. I obviously love her statement about the venti coffee. I relate. I can't believe I made it through undergrad without coffee at all. It seems my move out west made me finally give in the the embellishments of caffeine. Portland has changed me, but grad school is changing me more. Venti and fourth week of grad school, here I come!
ReplyDeleteThings finally clicked for me earlier this week. I stayed up late the other night reading "Dear Paulo" for my ED 568 lit circle. I literally fel, I was just beat), but I woke up the next morning feeling like a teacher. I could finally clearly envision myself in the role. Up until then, it had been more of this foggy, blurry other version of myself. Whether it was "Dear Paulo" that changed things for me or I had some fantastical dream (which happens to me sometimes), there was definitely a transformation.
I know I still have a lot to learn to be a great teacher, but at least I can SEE myself being the educator now. I'm COMPLETELY excited.
Caffeine!
ReplyDeleteI started eating chocolate covered espresso beans after lunch to help me get through the afternoon classes! Before graduate school I made it through life on a small class of tea every morning...what is happening to me! Pretty soon I fear I may be drinking three cups of coffee a day.