Classes have been great, I wasted a little bit of the first classes time talking, i need to stop doing that. This is going to be an amazing year and I really hope the students feel that way to. I believe they do. I am getting a lot of changes ready for 7th grade in the afternoon, I think it will go better the rest of the year. I need to change my attitude toward the end and have the same vigor I have during the morning... MORE COFFEE AT LUNCH???? Not a real solution, I just need to refocus over lunch and get amped for great stuff.
Today the Superintendent stopped by my room to say hi. For the first time a professional, an administrator gave me a challenge to be better openly and directly. I don't think anyone has ever said to me "Go do ______. Ill be back to check on how you're doing, it will make you a better teacher." Early in my career, Bill, a teacher who used to be next door to me served that role. He is now a principal in a nearby school.
The challenge was to look at the pygmalion effect, self fulfilling prophecies. I don't know that he meant me entirely. I mean, at first i thought, i expect success... now ive realized i need my expectation concretely posted for my students. CHECK! Also I am going to try to get them to have expectations.... class now comments later
Students responded very well to the challenge that college needs to be their goal. Also i showed them this blog and encouraged them to be critical and help this to be the best year of academic and personal growth they have ever had. This idea of creating positive, self-fulfilling prophecies is going to make me a better teacher! <-see im doing it already ;-)
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