Also, I have decided to add a song to each of my posts which relates to my post. Enjoy!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Change of Plans
I made it through my second week with very few scratches. Monday was our final day of in service and Tuesday we began freshman orientation. It has become abundantly clear even after just one week that schedules are a flux situation. in the middle of the day on Thursday, all the teachers received an email saying that Monday, today, would be a half day. My CT was thrilled to get the extra hours of work time. That lasted about five minutes before he was told that all teachers would be required to spend those two hours helping the freshman learn how to use their iPads. This was not the end of it either. After preparing myself for 7:30 mornings everyday, I learned Friday that the music teachers were adding 7:00 All-State practice. The end of my days changed as well because my CT has both All-State and Show Choir rehearsals after school. He said he rarely goes home in between so I have begun packing both lunch and dinner so as not to starve before I leave the school at 9:00 pm. I realize now that my idea of this schedule being ideal and me leaving the school at the same time everyday was merely a college student's dream and that the reality is that a schedule is never that simple. I have also learned a lot about funding at my school and I find it very new and different than I expected. I will not say any numbers or names but I would not have guessed some of the strange things that happen with money especially because I am at a private school. On a lighter note, I was allowed to help audition the two girls choirs for what their voice part should be. It was nice to get to talk with some of the girls and try to begin learning some names. I do think it will be difficult to learn many names during my student teaching as I simply do not have enough individual contact with the students to effectively remember them by name but I have made it a goal to try and remember as many as I can. I the coming week, I will begin to lead warm ups for the freshman choirs. I cannot wait to see how the students interact with me as a teacher.
Also, I have decided to add a song to each of my posts which relates to my post. Enjoy!
Also, I have decided to add a song to each of my posts which relates to my post. Enjoy!
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I too have undergone the pipe-dream-to-reality transformation as I learn just how flexible teachers have to be. I believe that we all know to be flexible but the extent of our flexibility has come as a bit of a shock to me. Flexibility also extends beyond just the students' needs. It applies to our relations with other faculty and the administration as well. And then of course it affects our personal life. I am quickly learning that I need to bone up on my time management skills!
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. I've been experiencing trouble with my sleep schedule. I know that I have to get up early, but I haven't been getting to bed early enough. I woke up today feeling under the weather and immediately went to the store to stock up on Vitamin C. I feel better now, but I will need to take sleep more seriously and get more than I have needed in the past.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that my high school CT is really good at handling situations like this. It helps that they have a department with three teachers in two classrooms and offices right next to each other, but they are extremely flexible. The first week of school, we hadn't started lessons yet, so we took five days to sure up all the knuts and bolts of the band program, from instrument repairs to setting up chamber ensembles and choosing music for each small ensemble. Now that we are in the swing of things, it seems the only administrative work he is doing is paying bills and corresponding with parents and principals. Of course there are emergencies that come up, though, which is why it is nice to have other professionals nearby.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Colin. I never thought I would say no to hanging out with friends this much, but that first school day when I didn't get enough sleep was unbearable. Especially since it was during the lull before students were coming in for lessons every 20 minutes.