On becoming Mrs. Hernandez...English teacher. And more bitching about how tired I am.
I just got home from work because we had a meeting/orientation for all the teachers. We talked about policies, expectations, and were introduced to one another since most of us are new to teaching at this school. It was really exciting to start talking about the school year. I'm so motivated to start the year and begin shaping the new middle school program. The new principals are doing so much with the middle school. We're getting electives, more classes, and more programs. I'm really glad I get to be a part of building this new middle school and I can't wait to start teaching.
But...
I'm also very nervous, which I think is to be expected. Not only is this my first year teaching ever, but I have also not had the same training as most first-year teachers. I haven't done the credential program so I don't have any training in strategies or ideas. I have a wonderful support system of colleagues and friends who have lots of experience teaching and are more than willing to help me out, but I still feel a little nervous the closer it gets to September. I'm also a tad wary about meeting the parents for the first time. Because of my age, I fully expect them to interrogate me on my education and qualifications for this position, especially since I'm teaching the older grades. For the most part I feel confident in my abilities and I need to let that be known so I don't get trampled on. But I also have this nagging feeling that I don't know as much as I ought to, and that I'm not completely prepared for this.
All I can do is my best; and I want to because this is something I am passionate about and I don't want to be lazy about it. I am going to take this more seriously than past endeavors because this is my career now, a fact that is strange and exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There is to be no more calling in sick to go to the beach and assuaging the doubts with the knowledge that it's "not my career" or, "only a part-time job". This is just one of many big steps in my life recently. Mainly I'm thrilled about all of them, but it's a restricting feeling to be moving away from the freedoms of adolescence or the college lifestyle.
I am so bloody tired, I can't believe I am writing this instead of going to bed. But I can't sleep lately. I feel like I'm wasting my time when I do. Not that I'm accomplishing anything by writing this, but I like to be thinking and planning and evaluating.
Then again, I may just pass out from the exhaustion, so I may go to bed anyway. Hoping to have some fun this weekend in addition to going through my teacher's manuals and planning for my various classes.
We'll see.
But...
I'm also very nervous, which I think is to be expected. Not only is this my first year teaching ever, but I have also not had the same training as most first-year teachers. I haven't done the credential program so I don't have any training in strategies or ideas. I have a wonderful support system of colleagues and friends who have lots of experience teaching and are more than willing to help me out, but I still feel a little nervous the closer it gets to September. I'm also a tad wary about meeting the parents for the first time. Because of my age, I fully expect them to interrogate me on my education and qualifications for this position, especially since I'm teaching the older grades. For the most part I feel confident in my abilities and I need to let that be known so I don't get trampled on. But I also have this nagging feeling that I don't know as much as I ought to, and that I'm not completely prepared for this.
All I can do is my best; and I want to because this is something I am passionate about and I don't want to be lazy about it. I am going to take this more seriously than past endeavors because this is my career now, a fact that is strange and exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There is to be no more calling in sick to go to the beach and assuaging the doubts with the knowledge that it's "not my career" or, "only a part-time job". This is just one of many big steps in my life recently. Mainly I'm thrilled about all of them, but it's a restricting feeling to be moving away from the freedoms of adolescence or the college lifestyle.
I am so bloody tired, I can't believe I am writing this instead of going to bed. But I can't sleep lately. I feel like I'm wasting my time when I do. Not that I'm accomplishing anything by writing this, but I like to be thinking and planning and evaluating.
Then again, I may just pass out from the exhaustion, so I may go to bed anyway. Hoping to have some fun this weekend in addition to going through my teacher's manuals and planning for my various classes.
We'll see.