Stress, relief, preparation

Well, I have to admit, I woke up stressed and nervous... Missing Thursday meant I had not been to the school in four days.  I had been made aware things didn't go swimmingly on thursday in my absence and new we needed to gain ground and get the course righted.  I was relieved to find that by and large reports of the lack of work on Thursday were largely exaggerated and students seemed quite prepared.  I am pumped for the test next tuesday, I think we will do swimmingly.  Geography went okay 10th period, I was much better 11th.  In both classes we got results but formatively, I think they were better eleventh.

I was reading some other teacher and administrator blogs today and started to think about myself as an educator and what I really bring to the table along with what has got me to where I am today.  As I reflected I began to think about what is different today from 2 years ago, the year i would consider my worst as a professional. At the end of that year I reflected and thought that my biggest failure was a lack in my ability to motivate those juniors to fulfill their potential in any way shape or form.  Since then I have set my teaching personality, my pedagogy and my class design to keep that going.  Today I feel that passion and motivation have become my biggest strengths; I hope students agree.  I want to know what weaknesses I possess and address them as long as they do not take away from my strengths. My challenge to students and peers is the same, be critical of yourself; locate your flaws and address them as best you can.  You are a human being and, as such, can change everything about yourself on a whim.