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| Open House in October |
I have had the itch to write for some time now and with the
on sight of several unwanted snow days, I have finally been awarded with the
time to do so. I am wishing that this urge last for a while, as I’ve missed sharing
my adventures on my blog.
The biggest thing that teaching has taught me in the last
two years is that being flexible is the best quality that a teacher can have.
You know the roll with the punches kind of thing and someday I am going to master
it to the right consistency of perfection.
With learning to be flexible comes the curveballs and when I
say curveballs, I mean gigantic, astronomic fireballs that just keep coming! It
is with great dismay, that I am finally ready to acknowledge that next year; I will
no longer be a Kindergarten teacher at Maupin. My school will be closing and
reopening as The Milburn T. Maupin Catalpa School of Innovation which will focus
on the Waldorf teaching method. I haven’t quite wrapped my head around it but I
am for sure with absolute certainty that I do not fit in the equation of being
a Waldorf educator. Bummer! This means that I and almost all of my coworkers
are overstaffed because we do not want to stay. Unfortunately for me, this new
school will be my 3rd workplace within 2.5 years. Which in short
means, another set of interviews, another staff to get to know, another
administration to become familiar with, and another school environment to
become accustomed to. Since I am doing the roll with the punches thing, I am
coming to terms with my situation. All I know is that teaching has meant the
world to me for the past 7 years and that’s all I want to do.
I have been asked several times, why I am leaving and why
not stay. My answer will so eloquently follow. In order to stay, I will have to
take a training for 2 weeks on Waldorf style teaching for the next four
summers, get accustomed to not using technology, and loop with my students to
name a few. The term looping in short means that I will follow my students and
teach them at each grade level until they exit the elementary program in the
fifth grade. I would also have to apply for a position and complete an
interview which is not a guarantee to get hired. Although I love the artistic
components of this program, I just do not believe that this is a good fit for
me and my creative genius. In a nut shell, I am not a fan of this teaching
style and I can say with clarity that staying is not an option.
I would say I have a dilemma on my hands but since I am
rolling with the punches, I will say that I have an untapped opportunity in my
mist. I will be honest and say that my last year and half of teaching has not been
sunny skies and rainbows and trust me, it has been far from it. I am teaching
at a rough school, its stressful, it’s a heavy burden at times, and it’s full
of pressure. Once you make one breakthrough, another obstacle or three presents
themselves. I am seeing this opportunity
as a way to start fresh and fall deeper in love with the field of education. I
am so certain that my next school will allow me the opportunity to grow and
help shape the lives of many students. I am ready for the experience; I am
equipped with what I need to start fresh! After all, I am perfecting my ability
to be flexible and rolling with the so called punches! I am a teacher, hear me
roar! Too much?! I think so but I want you to roll with it:)
Until the next time that life has checked me.
-Tia
