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Sometimes...

Sometimes,
when I'm teaching,
I look out at the sea of faces
that are my students,
and wonder if
I am
talking too much.
Or, if I am repeating myself ad nauseam?

Are my students learning?

Was the look of attention and interest on their faces
because they were captivated by the lesson?
Or was it because they were trying really hard
to understand what I was teaching,
but weren't being successful at all?

These thoughts have been lingering at the back of my mind for most of today.
I hope that by writing about them, however tentatively, I can lay them to rest.

Affirmation #1: I am an effective teacher not because I'm perfect, but because I strive to come up with better ways to engage and involve my students in their learning. I don't ever relax into thinking that my job is finished. In fact, my job is never done because even when most of my students are learning there will be some who need additional support.

Affirmation #2: I love what I do! The challenges that I face as a teacher on a day-to-day basis, make my job exciting and challenging. There is never a dull moment. I love sitting down one-on-one with a student to talk about their work or to help them understand a difficult problem. When I see that look of understanding on their faces, I feel joyful as if I'm the one making an important discovery.

Affirmation #3: I am in the "zone" even during those times when doubt creeps in. It is the twin feelings of joy and satisfaction that I will hold onto every day I enter my classroom. It is the memories of the moments when learning clicks that makes me do a little celebration dance in my head.

It is a child's breakthrough in learning,
an example of progress, or
the smiles
that light up my students' faces
that keep me coming back for more
every
single
day.

Cross posted to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Tuesday

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