Becoming a Better Teacher

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions.  I feel like each year I just try to be better than the year before.  I don't set any specific goals, because if I am being honest, most of the time by March or April I've given myself new things I want to work on, or just have completely forgotten.

I am constantly trying to become a better teacher though.  At the end of the each unit I make notes on what could go better, I don't think I have ever taught the same exact unit twice.  Each year I think to myself, "hey I'm a pretty good teacher, or this was pretty good", but then the next year I look back and think, "no, NOW I'm a good teacher, this is pretty good."

So instead of waiting for the new school year to think about ways I want to improve, I thought it would be good to combine new year resolutions with teaching resolutions.  I could feel myself starting to get into a slump this year, and I need to rediscover my joy in teaching (disclaimer: this doesn't mean things have been awful this year. This is actually probably one of my best teaching quality years, and I have some wonderful kids I have had great times with, but just seems to be some tougher classes and some slumps).

I wanted to keep the list short, because these are things that I think are truly important, and I don't want them to fall to the side because they were so detailed or so many.

Here are Ms. Applegate-Brummel's 2016 Teaching Goals:

1. Cell Phone

 In my earlier years of teaching I got in the really bad habit of having my phone out, and even having full on text or messaging conversations during class.  During the worst, I would even check my phone while I was actually teaching.  I haven't gotten much better about this, but I still keep my phone, on my desk, in plain sight, next to my computer.  When I get busy, or when I am actively teaching, I may go long periods of time without checking it, but it is still there.  Now, don't get me wrong, I think it is OK that I send a quick text, or check, during class.  I am an adult, and at any other job I would have use of my cell phone.  What I specifically want to work on is not having my cell phone out.  It is not fair that I take the students' away, even when they are just sitting out, yet mine is in plain sight on my desk.  Which, if my cell phone is my top drawer, I think that will also help with......


2. Staying in the moment

 I get too caught up in always planning for the next class period, the next day, the next week.  Personally I think I give great critical thinking assignments for students.  But I seem to have gotten in a bad habit, where I might be in front for a bit, I give them the assignment, then just let them work, while I work also on other things.  I know it is impossible to think I will never work while kids work, but it is the type of work I need to get better at.  I shouldn't be doing things that totally immerse me (grading longer papers, planning lessons), because then I'm not there with the kids.  Yes they have these great assignments, but if I'm not guiding them, or interacting with them, are they really all that great? I need to get up and walk around more, engage them in conversation while they are working.  I need to be in that specific moment, with that specific class.


3. Laugh

 My goal is laugh, at least multiple times a day, WITH students.  Kids are funny.  Instead of being so caught up in whatever else (see #2), I need to appreciate the humor and wit that my kids have.  Can they be annoying? Yes.  Can they make dumb comments? Yes. Still though, I believe kids will enjoy school a whole lot more if they see the teacher enjoying their job

4. Recommend Books

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I LOVE reading.  I can get so caught up in a book that I want to do nothing but read that book.  Of course as an English teacher I want my kids to also love reading.  I do everything I can in my lessons to not have kids hate reading.  Studies show much kids start having negative association with reading because of high school reading.  So not only do I need to be actively find ways for kids to enjoy reading, but one thing I really need to work on is recommending books to students.  I read for my own personal enjoyment.  For every book I read, I need to read a book that maybe wouldn't be my first pick, but would be for a student.  When I read a book, I need to think of students to recommend that book to.  I also need to be physically putting books in kids' hands.  So if that means I have to go outside of my comfort zone and try to do some fundraising to increase my classroom library, I need to.  If kids see not only passion for reading, but actually get a book put into their hands that I say they will love, maybe I can get a kid who "hated" reading, to actually enjoy it

5.  Better Feedback

I've really gotten into some standards based grading conversations and thoughts. That is something that could be a whole different blog topic.  With that though, I need to start being conscience about WHY I am assigning the work to the students, and then giving them feedback that is not just a score. I get busy, I want to check things fast, so I just fly through and give them a score.  What are they learning from that? If they didn't get 100%, they need to know WHY.  If they did do great, they need to know WHY.  So if that means I give less work, but the work they get is more meaningful, and they get more meaningful feedback, I think that is a good direction to be moving in

6. Relationships

I love my kids, I really do.  And yes, I call them "my" kids.  It does feel like that when you are with them every day, bad days, good days, and all in between. Again, I find myself getting busy though, and not investing in the relationships as much.  Everyday, at least once, I need to ask a student about something that is not school related.  I need to strive for the 1:3 positive reinforcement theory. (for every negative interaction have 3 positives, with the same student). Yes, that seems exhausting, especially in English 9 sometimes, but it is the positive interactions that build relationships.  I'm in this profession because I love the kids, so overall, even when I'm stressed, or feel busy, it needs to come back to the relationships and building those connections

Peace, Love

Ms. A :)