2nd year teaching
Last year was my first year teaching. Obviously, there were a lot of things I did wrong, some of which I have corrected this year, but there are also a lot of things I did right. The people who completed my algebra class last year are good at dealing with functions algebraically, better than people who completed Mike's (the math teacher I replaced) Algebra class the year before.
Also, I was really proud of how far I got in the text last year, how much of the curriculum I was able to get to. Including the summer session, I touched on every single point in the Algebra I curriculum standards, even ones that weren't included when I took Algebra I 14 years ago. Looking at the pace that I am setting this year, I had been disappointed that I didn't think I would be able to accomplish this feat this year.
I kept comparing where we were this year to where we were last year, day by day, and we were so far behind...
Then I realized that I had skipped chapter three initially last year, done the beginning of chapter 4, then gone back to chapter 3, and having to REDO chapter 4. Right now my class this year is where my class last year was in early March. It's December. I'm three months ahead. I won't need the summer session to get through the entire curriculum this year.
Yes, this means I failed my students last year, but it makes me feel good to know that I'm improving.
Also, I was really proud of how far I got in the text last year, how much of the curriculum I was able to get to. Including the summer session, I touched on every single point in the Algebra I curriculum standards, even ones that weren't included when I took Algebra I 14 years ago. Looking at the pace that I am setting this year, I had been disappointed that I didn't think I would be able to accomplish this feat this year.
I kept comparing where we were this year to where we were last year, day by day, and we were so far behind...
Then I realized that I had skipped chapter three initially last year, done the beginning of chapter 4, then gone back to chapter 3, and having to REDO chapter 4. Right now my class this year is where my class last year was in early March. It's December. I'm three months ahead. I won't need the summer session to get through the entire curriculum this year.
Yes, this means I failed my students last year, but it makes me feel good to know that I'm improving.