A New Year: Speak Life and Time for Reflection

Teachers, Romans, Countrymen...

Wait wait, that's not right. 

Teachers, (Administrators), Parents, and Students,

We are 8 days away from a new school year in many North Carolina districts. 8. Days. The next week will be spent in meetings about how to handle: old policies, new policies, money, student behaviors, cell phones, and really anything you can imagine. We will be attempting to drink from a fire hose of new information. 

As I think about my new journey at a different school, I start to think about what I would tell first-year teacher Faith. What would I tell her to do differently? The same? And so I came up with a list...

1) Do NOT be an island. I remember thinking that I needed to have original lessons with hooks every day. All of the notes needed to be written by me. All of the assignments, quizzes, and tests needed to be thoughtfully created by only me. "ExamView is for the weak!" I thought as I stayed up til 2 a.m. trying to edit math in Microsoft Word. I remember graciously accepting other teacher's class materials and then thinking, "I can't use this! They spent their time making it and I didn't. This is cheating!" 

Seriously, take what you can get. There is no shame in using other people's materials. Someday, you will be the one who is giving materials. Until then, use what others have created and tweak it to be your own. Not every teacher was made to teach by PowerPoint or guided notes. You have to find your own groove. 

2) Find your mamas! That's right - it's not just for kids anymore. Find all the school mamas you can and hold on to them tight! It took me three days to find my first school mother - she was the Spanish teacher across the hall. Mama Ponti got me through many a bad day. She was my emotional mama. The days that I wanted to pull my hair out, I could go to her and cry. The days she needed to sit on my floor and talk, I was there for her. It was a supportive relationship on both sides. I still consider Mrs. Ponti to be one of my very dear friends. She made a lifelong impact on teachers and students alike. 

You also need the mamas that make you grow up. Mama Hart did that for me. Every time I was on the verge of a breakdown, Mama Hart was there saying, "Pull it together!" She was like Edna from The Incredibles. She was there to make me grow into a confident teacher who could handle any scenario. I need to find another Mama Hart.  

Mama Moss was my "everything else" person. When I just needed to hide out and close the door, I could go to her. The days where my bucket was empty and people just kept asking, I could go to Mama Moss. The times I needed to hear, "It's okay to say no" to doing yet another task, there she was. 

Find your school mamas and love them fiercely. They have your back 1,000,000% and you will one day repay the favor. I'm looking forward to when I don't look like a student and can be there for a baby teacher. 

3) GET OVER IT. Get over it. g e t  o v e r  i t. This is something I have to remind myself of constantly. It's something I'm working on still (and probably for the rest of my days). When you make a mistake and the principal calls you out, own up to it and fix it. I spent my entire planning crying over being fussed at for a mistake one time. I saw the principal 15 minutes after being fussed at and was approached with, "Oh hey! How are you today?" He was over it, why wasn't I? 

I also remember multiple occasions where I didn't get the observation ratings I wanted. My first year, I was so defensive. I always thought, "I'm a special snowflake, why don't they see it?!" By year two with the same administrator (who was a Godsend, to be honest), I was actually taking the criticism and implementing it. And guess what? I became a better teacher. I realized that the only reason she was telling me to do these things is because she wanted me to improve. 

You will also get criticism that is fluff. People who are looking for the worst will always see it. And guess what? Get over it! It's okay if you can't implement all 419 things asked of teachers at the distinguished level. This is something I must remind myself of constantly. All of the positive and negative critique will create a better teacher. 

4) LOVE YOUR KIDS. LOVE THEM. I know we are all hearing right now, "You're their teacher, not their friend." And that's true. But you have to love those kids. Once you love them and show them you are there, the rest falls into place. Laugh with them, listen when they tell you the same story for the 902nd time, be there for them during hard times, and always encourage them. You can be their biggest supporter. I know it is cliche, but not all of them have someone at home. 

5) LOVE YOUR CO-WORKERS. LOVE THEM. Even the Debbie Downers. Even the teacher who always has their crap in one sock with perfect hair and perfect teeth and perfect children and perf-- 

Whoops. Off the soap box. We are in such an ugly climate for teachers. No, we don't make money. But who the heck went to college for teaching for the money?! No, we do not understand why the state of North Carolina is handing us more ridiculous requirements. But neither do the administrators. 

It will be a much smoother year if we all get along and support each other. Even if it is just a simple, "Hey! I saw what you did in class today. Cool lesson!" Or, "I went to Taco Tuesday last night, you should totally use the bathroom before me." Please! Love your co-workers. They need your support too. Can you imagine a climate where everyone could respect each other? Imagine the model it would set for our students!

Also, you need to let your coworkers how much you love them before they leave. Whether to retirement or to county office or to another school district, they need to know that you appreciated them. The administrator who spent time making me the teacher I am moved to county office. I wish I had taken the time to tell her how awesome she was! It only takes a few moments to appreciate someone - but they will remember those moments for years. 

6) It's okay to say NO. Oh, first year Faith, please learn to say no. Try it with me...."No." When your bucket is empty, what are you to do? If all you do is give, give, give, you will lose your mind. Or at least that's what everyone tells me. Third year Faith still hasn't mastered this one. I feel like thirty year Faith still won't have it down.

But people just keep saying to say no. So I will pass their wisdom on to you. 

As we head into this year, I hope you are rejuvenated and ready. We are about to have 90 little blessings walk into the room. We are going to impact them from the moment they sit down until the day they graduate (hopefully longer). 

Teachers, I pray that you are able to connect with every student and find something to love about them. I pray that you build up your coworkers and speak life to each of them. I pray that you find moments of joy even among the worst days. I pray that you find your mamas or become a mama. I pray that you support your administration even when you feel like grumbling. I pray that your bucket gets filled just as much as you fill the buckets of others. I pray for strength, wisdom, and a year full of wonder.

Students, I pray that you are able to connect with every teacher and find something to love about them. I pray that you build up your classmates and take time to enjoy the lessons your teachers spent hours preparing. I pray that you hop off your cell phone long enough to see what is happening around you. I pray that you find meaningful relationships with your peers and grow from them. 

Parents, I pray that you are able to send your students off knowing that they will be safe and with someone who cares about them. I pray that you build up teachers in the community and praise their efforts. I pray that you support your child and love them fiercely. 

Speak Life,
Faith