A Teacher's Ruminations

Source:  http://www.kindredmedia.org/2013/07/the-yearly-back-to-school-push-to-vaccinate/ I t is no surprise that everyone has a hard time going back to work after a long vacation, and teachers are no different. Vacation means we get to spend uninterrupted quality time with our families and friends doing what we like to do. I n addition to enjoying a lot of unstructured time during the summer, I often participate in professional online book clubs and other self-selected professional learning activities. I know many teachers who do the same. (See  this post  for a glimpse of what I did this summer.) N evertheless, I often find myself having mixed feelings when summer break is finally over. Although I love summer because I'm on my own time and I can do with it as I wish, I love going back to school because I get to start fresh every year. I can reinvent myself and support my students as they reinvent themselves, too. Source:  https://www.pintere...

In my new role as ESL teacher I am learning self-discipline and patience, even before the school year begins.  Although I can be self-disciplined when I need to be, I am not a very patient person.  I am thrown off course when confronted with ambiguous situations and unresolved issues, such as not knowing exactly what I'll be doing or how many students I will be responsible for, or even if I'll have many students to work with.  I want to get started on my classroom, study the curriculum, plan for the first week with students, but I can't.  Instead I'm forced to wait and let things take shape. It's a good exercise for me.  When I'm feeling calm I think that everything will work itself out. But, when I'm feeling unsure of myself (much of the time) I start doubting myself.  I revert to ineffective habits:  if I'm focused on negative outcomes then when they happen I won't be blind sided.  Because that's something else I don't like: surprises.  S...