Wow. Way to drop a bomb on them. I really enjoyed the transcript. We probably don’t think of the student perspective enough as a reflection on ourselves. The day we stop is the day that application to film school should be mailed.

Well done.

Very well said Dan.

Yes. Amen.

Well spoken, as always.

Hah, another reason not to shave my chin, besides the problem about too much curvature! Thanks Dan.

1.) I grew a goatee in my first year, that would be my advice for first year teachers if they have that option.

2.) Thanks for this. It was the serendipitous inspiration I need as I get ready to go write for the day on my national board portfolio.

Wow! This is inspiring.

It’s all about asking questions about ourselves. That what I felt when reviewing my first year teaching after three year spent on just-making-money-and-friends in hightech.

Anyway, this is so nicely said, that it is going to be hung on our teachers’ wall.
Thanks.

Dan, thanks for these words. Great to hear, even as I wrap up my 10th year in the classroom. I’ve learned so much about myself and wrestled with so many great questions (many of which I’ve yet to answer). I’m looking forward to another 10 years of learning and wrestling. :)

Cheers!

I guess what I struggle the most as I student teach is that why am I teaching math. I love math and I love teaching math but my students don’t.

Sometimes I can convince them better but other times I lose miserably. I don’t know why one of my students who would probably become an amazing writer need this class just because it is required by the state. I can’t argue against why they can’t use their technology and waste their time figuring out simplifying fractions and etc.

Your lessons and your posts have been inspirational and I tried to implement in my classroom too. My honors kids love them but my regular kids don’t care and my lower-level kids are lost. I hope this doesn’t discourage me enough to stop teaching after all, I’m only beginning. Thanks for the post!

You glossed over a very serious part of this profession that will kick good intentioned and good people to the curb. I’ve being working with kids for the past 27 years and have watched the looming destruction of public education and the teaching profession.

The mirror analogy is good. What you were remiss in telling these budding teachers is that their administrators have been instructed to tear them down and teach them that they will never truly be “highly effective.” My administration has told us this as if this were a way to inspire us to continue working toward that unattainable goal. The evaluation practices handed down from higher-ups and state legislators will see to that. Beginning teachers will need that mirror to justify their existence in a profession that is being deemed by politicians and “education reformers” not a profession, but a two or three year step to some other career. They will need to document every positive action and interaction with their students to counter the overwhelming negatives the administration must find in their teaching, planning, and assessment strategies. I have been watching this happen more and more. Forces behind the political parties are working to tap the state and federal educational funding to feed their for-profit education companies.

I am working on the assumption that you are no longer teaching in a public system. Failure to inform prospective teachers of this is like directing a novice skiier to a double black diamond course without advising them that their path will be filled with many nasty surpirses.

I realize that I am coming off in a very negative light, but going into teaching has more negative consequences than positives now. I love working with kids, but hate having to fight those who would destroy the good we can do and that the system is broken.

I would argue that, although the first three years of teaching are the most intense “discovery,” I find that EVERY year, even in year 21, I discover more about myself. Every year, students reveal things that I never knew existed within myself, both bad AND good – and I then re-evaluate what I’m putting out there and hopefully present a better person than I was the day before.

As for the tougher parts of education, that’s when we need to look to our teaching community, both in our school and via the blogs. The first three years CAN be especially isolating because we are dealing with the tearing down and re-building of who we are, but even the veterans deal with circumstances with admin, district personnel, and students that can make us feel as if we’re “fighting the good fight” on our own. Connect with your fellow teachers in any way you can. When you feel ineffective, stymied, or beaten by the education world, unload to another teacher, even anonymously, and you will find not only a sympathetic ear, but incredible support…the biggest strength to being a teacher is the fact that there is a community of like-minded individuals out there ready and willing to travel with you.

Beautifully written! As an untrained teacher somewhere in South East Asia, your words reminded me of why I went into teaching as oppose to staying on in the field of finance.

Admittedly, I still harbour thoughts of doing something else other than teaching. That is something that I need to come to terms with and your “developing humanity, one class at a time” quote will certainly come into play.

In the first 2 years you don’t have any idea how to teach either without a good mentor and an interest in improving your planning and craft. I like the metaphor with the knick on your chin shaving, and know that that is not all of you. Great message to new teachers.