It has definitely been a while since I've posted. Yes, I'm still alive. Still teaching. Still winning arm wrestling matches. Ha! Not really. I will forever be known as the champ! Nonetheless, I'm still being Ms. Watson. I have began to find my groove in teaching. I no longer stay after school extremely late or come abnormally early to get work done. I have began to utilize the time that I have during the day, which actually isn't much. However, because I try not to take work home, I am constantly busy at school. But... I had a rough patch. A very rough patch. Rougher than a brillo pad in the middle of the desert.
I had an extremely hard time at the beginning of the 3rd 9 weeks. No, I didn't tell anyone about this time, but I muddled through it. It was hard! The students seemed like they didn't know the expectations of them. Also, I had changed. I wasn't teaching the same way. I was (dare to say it) boring. I had lost my drive. My passion. My excitement. My fun. Then, my grandfather was in the hospital for approximately a month. This took a greater toll on me than I realized. He died at the end of the 3rd 9 weeks. Because of various, ill-timed meetings and the funeral, I was out of the classroom for 6 consecutive days. Six days. SIX DAYS! Then, I came back for 3 days, and went on another professional learning venture. Let me tell you about it.
I, along with another teacher at PMS (remember, Panem Middle School) were chosen to go on a trip with our school district to visit.... wait for it.... keep waiting.... build the excitement... THE RON CLARK ACADEMY!!! I was beyond excited! He spoke to our school district at the beginning of the school year. When I got the email about the trip, I responded as fast as my fingers could type. Because I knew other teachers would be interested, I didn't get my hopes up too high. I got a call from my assistant principal and principal about a week and a half before the trip saying I had been chosen to go. Y'all, I'm not sure what type of noise I emitted, but it definitely did not contain any words. It was the first time in a while that I was genuinely happy and excited about something. Words can't even describe how much I was looking forward to this trip. Want to know what I was really excited about? You know, other than the chance to see great teachers and interact with the children. This EPIC slide!!
My first stop was in Ron Clark's math class (I believe they were 6th graders). It was marvelous!! Every single student was engaged. He was standing on tops of tables, moving around, dancing, and excited. It was great! One thing that was great was.... wait. Pause. Have you heard the song "The Fox"? It's quite annoying. Here ya go. Well, when he introduced a particular topic, he said "What does Mr. Clark say..." and he would say the topic (that day was order of operations) in a sing-songy voice that went along with the song. It was GREAT!!! There was a drum in the class that 1 student used. When it was time for applause congratulating a student for getting the correct answer, the drum would play as well as other students' applauses. I mean, how awesome is that?! Aaaaaand, to get the class's attention, he said "Y'all ready?" The class would all respond "We ready!"
The thing I loved the most was when students worked problems on the board. The students were literally the teacher. They had to make it fun and interesting and engage the students like Mr. Clark. Then, when the student was finished, the class would score the student and give feedback. It was amazing! While there, one boy did this and I thought he did a fantastic job! Yes, I saw how it could have been better (handwriting was a bit messy), but overall it was great! Guess what?! The class gave him a D. Y'all, a D. I wonder what I would have gotten! However, Ron Clark said that it was not about actually teaching or wanting to become a teacher. He is trying to teach his students how to command a room and to grasp the audience's attention. This is BALLIN'! I love it! I left his classroom alone with so much more enthusiasm about teaching!
A lot of people ask "Now, after going to that school, do you really think all schools will be able to do that." My initial response is "YES!" But this isn't really what they want to hear. So here's my response. "I do believe so, but all teachers at the school aren't like Ron Clark. They bring their full personality into their classroom. The theater teacher is cool and laid back. The science teacher is a regular guy. The English teacher loves her job and likes to bring English to life. That's what his school is all about. The students actually know their teachers because they are not putting up a front, trying to be someone they're not." I absolutely loved this experience and am highly grateful for the opportunity.
Immediately after this trip was Spring break. So yes, I was out of my classroom for 6 days straight, came back for 3, was out for another 2 and then it was Spring Break. I'm sure some of my students thought I was going to quit. Some were probably happy about this. Some may have been hoping it was true. Nonetheless, the majority of them were happy I was back.
After Spring Break, I was ready to start back teaching! I was excited! Happy! Elated! I was thinking of ways to engage all students so they wanted to be in class. I love to hear "Ah man. Ms. Watson, this class went by fast." It's like music to my ears.
Well guys, my rough patch is over and I enjoy teaching. Yea, I have my off days, but we all make it through those. I am looking forward to the end of this school year, summer and the beginning of my 2nd of year of teaching.
Until next time,
Ms. C. Watson
