Cassi Stephens: "What I Wish I Knew My First Year of Teaching"

09/20/20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIs1h6C0fc

I had always heard about the relationships that are essential to have with your custodians! One story I have heard from, I think my old principal at Chilton High School, was:

"I had a test in one of my classes and the teacher had said that the last question on the exam after week one should be a 'piece of cake'. I was not too concerned about the exam and felt confident until I finally reached that last question. 'What is our custodian's name?' I had no idea. I didn't think this was fair. But then after the exam my teacher announced to the rest of the class how vital it can be to just learn a name."

I, of course, did not do this story justice but I think the lesson is something I choose to live my life by.

One thing I am worried about personally is being the school 'art supply store'. I tend to be too nice especially in a setting I do not feel comfortable in yet. I want to be seen as a strong individual teacher that is willing to help out when I have time, energy, and supplies. My goal when I become a first year teacher is to really contemplate whether or not I am taking on too much. I tend to do that now and it is something I can continuously working on.

I am currently working on my classroom management workload and I am really hoping to find my niche and test out my new knowledge while student teaching.

One of my favorite thing is talking art education with my peers, especially after going to professional development! The state and national conferences are really so much fun and vital to my 'recharging' as an educator. I feel that as an educator many of us have bars that need to be refilled much like in a video game. After unsuccessful lessons I tend to feel that 'imposter syndrome' or maybe my 'confidence bar' going down. I can refill by taking time to do a known successful lesson plan or talking through what went wrong with another educator.