Week One... A Reflection on Advice.

Prior to the school year beginning, I referenced my Twitter PLN with one simple statement, "What is the best advice for a first year teacher?"  I received a ton of great responses, but a few stuck out...

• Find a balance between your professional life and your personal life
• Surround yourself with positive people
• Have fun
• Remember why you went into teaching in the first place

When I pulled in the parking lot on the first day with students, I was so nervous.  The funny thing was, by 3:00, I realized that I hadn't had a moment throughout the entire day when I had enough down-time to even consider being nervous!  If there is one thing that a teacher needs more than anything, it's time.  I honestly couldn't tell you what those first days consisted of other than non-stop going. 

As I reflect back on the past week, I have learned so many things!  So, to answer my original Twitter post, here is my advice for a first year teacher...

• Get a Mentor.  I have been blessed to have the most amazing mentor known to mankind!!  I honestly couldn't have gotten through my first week without her.  It could be something so simple as a smile, but knowing that you have someone you can trust whole-heartily, makes the entire experience so much better!
• Make sure your family understands this is not an 8:00 am - 4:00 pm career.  I could have spent hours in my classroom each evening, but I wanted to find a balance and have time to talk to my own children about their first week.  That resulted in me bringing home hours and hours of work.  I was able to incorporate planning into our evening schedule.  It works great because I can bounce ideas off my school-age kids, engage in family time, and get work done in one shot!  Multitasking... it's a trait that every teacher needs to excel in.
• Ask for help.  If you have a problem, there is a good chance that someone in the building has run into it before.  Don't reinvent the wheel.
• Listen.  You don't have all the answers and no one expects you think that you do.

On a Special Education end, the best thing that I discovered this week came to me on Friday night, after I was already home.  It was my "Ah-Ha" moment.  It took me from feeling defeated to 100% recharged.  I hope it can provide someone else the same boost that it gave me...

• Sometimes, you need to focus less on what motivates a child and more on what that child doesn't like.  It sounds brash, I know, but hear me out.  When dealing with students with specific disabilities, you need to understand what they don't like in order to ensure that their consequence is not, in fact, a reward.  Here is the scenario... a student who uses physical means to express their dislike is given a consequence of taking a time out to cool down.  The student doesn't like doing work or anything physical.  The student loves to have time to their self to do nothing.  You have just rewarded that student for displaying physical aggression towards an adult.  Unfortunately, I learned this after receiving nine bruises, three cuts and countless scratches.  I know next week will have a much different outcome!

I think that I have learned a lot, but more importantly, I have grown a lot.  And this is just the first week!

The Countdown

The countdown has begun.  In 20 days I will walk through the doors of my first classroom and will greet my first class.  If you would have told me five years ago that I would be teaching Special Education, heck, teaching anything, I would have told you that you were nuts.  And now, I wish I could fast forward the next 20 days so I could dive right into my first year.

Five years ago I was a successful business owner.  I aspired to be named in the regal "40 Under 40."  I wore the title of "President" of an "S-Corp."  I cared about payrolls, workers compensation insurance, marketing... the list could go on and on.  Then one day, it all ended.  I went somewhere dark and resurfaced in my daughter's Kindergarten class, as a parent volunteer.  I went from thinking that I wanted it all, to realizing that there is a whole lot to be thankful for... right under my nose.  It was my "Ah-ha!" moment.  Forget being a business leader, forget being listed in "Who's Who in America", forget all the schmoozing... there was something much more important.  That is when I made a commitment to start all over.  I downsized my life, expelled extravagance and took the bull by the horns.  I became the woman that I am proud to be today.  I decided that life would be worthwhile if I could make a difference.  Not a difference in a merger, stock option or business plan, but a difference in a life.  I could make a child understand that they deserve to succeed, they deserve the best, they deserve to have someone behind them, supporting their journey.  I decided to become that person.

Fast Forward a few years and I am at that pivotal point where I hoped I would one day arrive. 

I want to document this first year because I want to recognize my mistakes, I want to cheer for my successes, I want to develop my network, I want to look for advice, I want to become the best teacher that I can possibly be, and I want to be able to look back and ensure that I have met my goal.

Hop on and enjoy the ride.