So it's officially the end of week 4, term 1. I have been teaching for 4 weeks...
19 school days (1 pupil free day).
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Aaaaaand I just sat and paused at my keyboard for a really long time just then because my brain feels like it's going to explode with things I want to write, things I have learned about myself, my class, teaching, learning etc. etc. etc.
Wow, ok let's just begin with the fact that my heart is full with a different kind of love. The unique kind of love a teacher has for a whole classroom full of students. 20 wonderful, amazing, talented, beautiful and curious kids.
That is not to say I haven't had days where I had to hyper ventilate and went home and sobbed a little already. There's been days full of doubt. Days full of thoughts where it was like "holy shit I run this room, just me, by myself, I call the shots" (with help from my little community of learners). So far already I've encountered situations where a girl was telling us a story about her relative in jail. Another where 2 children were discussing another students dead mum over lunch. Students who come to school with no breakfast and some with no lunch. And another where one of my kids was stealing food from other children's bags because they never get little treat snacks put in their lunch box. These situations are bloody tricky. And when I take a step back and realise:
"Wow some of these kids have actually been through more hardships than me. I am 21 and they are 6-7 years old".It hurts.
But,
I can go into that classroom everyday with a huge smile on my face knowing I get to spend the next 6 hours filling their days with laughs, learning, happiness and wonder. Already so many of them, actually all of them, have surprised me in one way or another. Whether it be their reading, spelling, maths or even their caring and inquisitive natures. It's a major lesson on the steep learning curve that is having your own class; assume nothing.
Overall I have just got to say I couldn't feel more at one with the choice I made, just over 4 years ago, to become an early childhood teacher. In my 4 short and blindingly fast weeks I have already hit the steep learning curve that is teaching. This is not easy. This is NOT the kind of job just anyone can do. I have the upmost respect for anyone who has been a teacher, is striving to become a teacher and is currently still teaching. I also have respect for myself for not just doing the job that I am doing but also loving what I do. It feels good and I feel like if I just keep going I will make a difference in maybe not all of their lives but at least some :)
Before I go lie down and give myself a break (well deserved a-thank you) I want to share with you a little classroom project that seems to be really working. We built a "community of learners" wall that has pictures of all the students in my class with their names underneath and something they are particularly good at and can help other class members with. So instead of always coming to me "Miss Osborne can you do this" they can check the wall and ask a class mate. This develops their sense of classroom community and team work skills :)
I began with this sheet to get them started:
After we completed these with each others help I collated them and we had a discussion about our answers. From this discussion we chose certain tasks and things that we were good at that would be our role to help other class members with!
And here we have the final product:
Yes I know, it's very tricky they all look so similar, I mix up names sometimes.
Ha. Sorry about that one.
Anyways, the kids use this "community of learners" wall WAY more than I first anticipated and it's lovely not only to give me a little bit more free time but seeing them help each other out is amazing. My little community of learners :)
I also buy them watermelon too because they're so awesome.
Thanks for reading and following my early career journey. Talk soon. Maybe. Probably not. I'm too busy loving my job. Love ya see ya bye!
Kirsten :)
