As present-day and future educators, we are rapidly approaching the end of the first marking period of the 2020-2021 academic school year. I'm sure that we are doing all that we can to stabilize things and provide structure for ourselves and our students during this educational process.
However, as I have previously stated in class, the only certainty of this school year (thus far) is uncertainty!!!! This, of course, makes things tougher to manage on all accounts. With that said, I pose the following questions:
1. What are you doing to keep yourself motivated professionally and personally?
2. How are you managing to balance the ever-changing climate of our current state of life..............both student teachers and under contract, full-time teachers?
Post by Ray Robinson
ReplyDeleteAs I sat and pondered what kind of question I wanted to pose to the class for this week I remember a very distinct, familiar feeling of absolute exhaustion starting to set in at the thought of even thinking about a question to ask the class.
The visual that I would give to describe the feeling is one of a car that has HORRIBLE gas mileage that just got filled up with a full tank and then you put it on the highway at 60mph and watch the gas tank go from F to the E in a matter of seconds! Depressing, I know but I don't stay in that place. I can't afford to.
What I have found is that I have to have clarity in my thoughts if I am going to be effective and efficient as a husband, father, professional and student. I have found that clarity in taking a minute or two to just be quiet (realistically, I try to take at least 30 minutes if I can; sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less).
I am a spiritual person so my quiet time usually consists of either reading, praying or journaling (or any combination of the three). It really does make a difference when I am able to take this time for myself and I can absolutely feel the difference when I do not make it a point to have this time. This time allows affords me the opportunity to really just map out what needs to happen for my wife, my kids, my job and my classes. It can be very daunting with all that is happening in our lives (especially with the way that the pandemic has affected everything) and as a PE teacher we preach daily of the importance of being healthy (in body) and well (sound in mind). Coming up with my own routine to promote that has helped me tremendously and I would recommend doing the same to anyone that hasn't already done so.
Honestly, these practices give me the proper perspective on things and allows me to be a little more patient and a little more gracious instead of being "up-in-arms" when the target continues to move. In addition, I try to remember that at some point, I am going to need that same measure of patience and grace as well (perspective). My two cents.
I am finding that with everything going on in the world it is rather hard for me to stay motivated. I am not getting the same educational experience I normally would and am mostly couped up in my house all day completing homework and attending virtual classes. I often find that when I go to my observations I am excited to be there because it is an escape from my daily routine. The only way I am staying motivated right now is by telling myself that by next year I will be done with all of this and will finally be able to do what I love and am doing all of this stuff for. I constantly think about just dropping out of school and just working where I am now or permanently subbing because I just get so tired and exhausted. But then I tell myself that I am doing all of this so that one day I will be able to have a job I love. And I won't have to go back to college because I will already have my master's. However, I also think that part of the reason I am so frustrated this semester is because of the fact that everything is online. I am just so tired of being stuck at a desk in my bedroom and being glued to my computer. In terms of balancing life as it continues to change I try to remember that sometimes it is okay to take a step back from the computer and relax. Sometimes I find that I am getting so overwhelmed by everything that I shut my computer, push my chair back from my desk and just take a few breaths. It is hard to manage everything life is throwing at me right now. But I know that one day it will all be worth it.
ReplyDeleteAs I move along as a student teacher my overall mentality is to always remain positive. My way of thinking is that if I still love teaching, even in this hybrid model, I am in the right profession. I'm getting used to being in front of the students both online and in-person, this is building my own confidence. Although some days are really difficult and I am unsure of my abilities, I believe that these circumstances will only make me more adaptable as a teacher.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think my life has been a little bit more difficult this semester. As I have mentioned in class once, I play lacrosse at Caldwell University. However, due to Covid-19 I have not been able to practice nor have a fall ball season and right now it looks like we aren't going to get a spring either. I've made some of my best friends on that team and I miss that aspect of school. It kept me well organized and gave me an opportunity to release daily stress. I feel sad that I have lost out on a senior season and that connection with all my teammates. Nevertheless, I am trying to put my best foot forward! I am really excited for student teaching and so far my experience has been great. I am trying to focus all my energy on that!
I am finding it hard to stay motivated and to keep my students motivated as well. Now that we will be virtual until AT LEAST January 25th some things I have been doing is changing up the way I implement virtual learning DAILY for both me and the students. I think that switching up the online tools we are using keep them engaged and the days do not seem so repetitive. Something I have been doing for myself is not putting so much pressure on myself to get everything done in a day, if it takes longer then expected I am not so hard on myself. I have also put a limit on the amount I put into my grading and planing each day to give myself a break to not lead to a burn out. I have decided to take everything day by day instead of planning weeks in advance which was what I used to do last year.
ReplyDeleteCori Lardieri