Making it As A Public School Educator: I Think I'm Ready to Share What I Know
Dear Readers,
I'm a pretty rocking public school teacher.
Being that I put my application in as an Instructional Coach for next year, I don't know how much time I have left in the classroom.
SO, I share this post to tell all my readers what I know matters most in the classroom: Relationships.
Being a "good public school teacher" in my mind was always related to academic data- meeting Districtwide Reading and Math benchmarks.
Over time, if that's all you program yourself to work towards, you lose the perspective that you literally are stewarding and impacting real lives: both children and their families.
I DO meet all Districtwide Reading and Math benchmarks each year, but I also have really rich, authentic relationships with students and their families.
If this ends up being my last year in the classroom, I want educators to know the importance and impact you have in being part of your student's education and family for the period of a school year.
I know I have a unique, biased perspective on things being that I am an educator and parent of young kids, but I see the importance of it at home and at school. If you approach any student or parent with the heart of trying to get to know him/her and support them, things naturally change.
You start to feel more on the same page and that makes all the difference in terms of closing gaps and meeting needs for all your students.
When you put relationships first, you do things completely different.
Everybody feels like they each have a part in the learning experience.
Over time, if that's all you program yourself to work towards, you lose the perspective that you literally are stewarding and impacting real lives: both children and their families.
I DO meet all Districtwide Reading and Math benchmarks each year, but I also have really rich, authentic relationships with students and their families.
If this ends up being my last year in the classroom, I want educators to know the importance and impact you have in being part of your student's education and family for the period of a school year.
I know I have a unique, biased perspective on things being that I am an educator and parent of young kids, but I see the importance of it at home and at school. If you approach any student or parent with the heart of trying to get to know him/her and support them, things naturally change.
You start to feel more on the same page and that makes all the difference in terms of closing gaps and meeting needs for all your students.
When you put relationships first, you do things completely different.
Everybody feels like they each have a part in the learning experience.
The picture above marks my Class Winter Party for this year. We had 21 students (1 student out of town and one student sick) and 14 adults. We had one kid game, one ice cream treat, and one adult game.
This was my first time including an adult game, but it happened by accident. I didn't buy enough balloons for all the kids. So, I had to recruit the adults to be part of the fun. To my surprise, it was an easy sell! I had 10 adults play musical chairs and each round the loser had to sit on a balloon and pop it.
It was a ton of fun and lots of laughs, but I was so grateful and in awe on how strong my relationships with parents have grown to be. I have tons of pictures and videos of everyone so happy (thanks to my TA, Cayla, for taking them). I am on a first name basis with pretty much everyone who came to join us that day. In general, it was just really cool to watch us- teachers, students, and family members- coming together to laugh and celebrate for the children. This picture is a memory I'll cherish for years.
This community is something I'm enjoying and really won't take for granted. ever.
With Love. Always,
Crystal
This was my first time including an adult game, but it happened by accident. I didn't buy enough balloons for all the kids. So, I had to recruit the adults to be part of the fun. To my surprise, it was an easy sell! I had 10 adults play musical chairs and each round the loser had to sit on a balloon and pop it.
It was a ton of fun and lots of laughs, but I was so grateful and in awe on how strong my relationships with parents have grown to be. I have tons of pictures and videos of everyone so happy (thanks to my TA, Cayla, for taking them). I am on a first name basis with pretty much everyone who came to join us that day. In general, it was just really cool to watch us- teachers, students, and family members- coming together to laugh and celebrate for the children. This picture is a memory I'll cherish for years.
This community is something I'm enjoying and really won't take for granted. ever.
With Love. Always,
Crystal
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