I will not have students until August 26, but today I begin my transition back to being a classroom teacher. I will spend from 8:30-3:30 in an AP Summer Institute presented by two experienced AP US Govt and Politics teachers in Anne Arundel County. Strictly speaking, I did not have to attend this, as I am an experienced AP teacher and have served as a Reader (grader) of the Free Response Questions on the AP Exam. But I am new to the school system, which unlike where I taught before, has a common syllabus for the course in all schools, and some common assessments as well. The system is also using a brand new textbook, and the classes are double period A/B day schedule. So I will be interested in seeing what advice the presenters have for doing 90 minute classes.
I have been told by the Social Studies supervisor that they do not dictate individual lessons to teachers who are being successful. I am losing some flexibility in how I approach the course, but that would be true anyhow, as I have only 3 of the four sections of the course in my new school, and at mid-year a number of students will be changing sections between us, so we have to have covered roughly the same material.
I will also have my first opportunity to network with other social studies teachers in other schools.
And I approach all this with a mixture of anticipation and a certain amount of insecurity.
Let me explain.
After more than 17 years as a classroom teacher, in general I do not doubt that I am a good and effective teacher, even on my "bad" days. Sometimes I am damn good.
But this is a new situation. It is not like having sophomore students coming in to the classroom of a "legendary" teacher, about whom they were hearing from friends, neighbors and even siblings in some cases before they even got to high school.
Nor is it a situation where fellow teachers in other departments with whom I was sharing these students knew that they might come out of my class still talking about what just happened. There are only two teachers in the building with whom I have previously taught.
So while I view the situation as one that will stretch me, which I know I need, I also realize that I am not operating from a position where there are a lot of things I can simply take for granted.
After today, I will have no commitments until August 12, when I will have 4 days of new teacher training - for me this is more a question of getting oriented towards the policies of the school system. And yes, it is an opportunity to get paid for a few extra days, which with the medical expenses we have occurred in the past six months will certainly be helpful.
The following week I report to my school for teacher preparation week. My "official" hire date for anniversary purposes, insurance, and the like is that day, August 19. This year I will have the additional task of transporting from home the accumulation of things I need in my classroom: in the past I was able to store most of that at school. I will have to borrow my wife's car on at least one day, as my car has very little space in which to transport things.
I have been thinking a lot recently of how I would like to approach teaching this year. So much of what enables me to be successful is to get to know the students. That is always easier in a setting which I know, because it makes it easier to interpret what I ascertain about them. I will need to ensure that my natural shyness does not combine with the newness to create barriers to connecting with the students.
I am NOT worried about the content of my AP Government classes.
I am more than a little challenged by the content of my three STEM courses.
I am also already adjusting to the new schedule by which I will have to live. I got up at 5 this morning, as I transition towards having to be up by 4:30 on school days. I am required to be at school by 6:45, whereas in my last school my reporting time was 8 AM. I have more than 40 miles to drive, but if I do not hit traffic problems should be able to make it in about 45 minutes - to the Dunkin Donuts less than a mile from school.
I suspect that my morning blogging on work days will not be a regular part of my routine - there simply will not be time. I have to address cat issues - food and litter boxes - as well as feed myself, shower and dress, and see if there are any emails that require my attention. OF course, as a teacher - and not just of government - I will want to check for anything breaking or in the news that might be relevant to address in the classroom.
There is no guarantee that I am going to avoid struggling in this new setting. I know that.
I have to ensure that I give myself time to reflect - during the school day if at all possible, and certainly after the teaching for the day is complete.
Those responsible for what I do, from my department chair, STEM Coordinator, Principal, up through Assistant Superintendent, know I am an out of the box teacher, and will give me some slack as I try to find my footing.
It is not that I worry about disappointing them. I can explain myself to adults, and I take responsibility for my actions.
I worry most about how I reach the kids, to build trust with them.
They will want to know why i am driving from Virginia to teach them.
They will want a sense that I am committed to them and to their school.
They will not care about my awards, or what I have done with previous students.
They will care that I trust them, most of all with myself.
Today I start the process of transitioning and preparing for this new responsibility.
Today I begin to establish new routines, including driving around 90 mies round trip.
Today I begin new professional relationships.
Today I am returning to what most defines me -
Today I am again becoming a teacher.
Wish me well.