Ever since November, when I got the shock and wake up call of my life when I started my first teaching job. I have found out that being an assistant is not the same as being a teacher. If I didn’t know it before then, I know it now. It was a very rude awakening.
When I was an assistant, I had virtually no responsibilities. When the bell rang for the day, I left. When school was over at 2:30, I was gone. Looking for me at 2:31 was useless because you weren’t going to find me.
Now, when school is out @ 2:30, you can still find me; sometimes until 4:30.
Yeah, a big difference I know, but that’s what being a teacher is all about. Putting in the time necessary to achieve mastery and be the best that you can so the students can benefit.
That’s where I am now. I am ready I have moved on to the third stage of teaching, which is mastery. The survival stage didn’t work for me. That is not a good place to be. I cannot imagine staying like that. I would leave the profession before I would stay there.
So, here’s to moving on to mastery!
Here, here!
Filed under: teaching
I honestly don’t believe anyone graduates through multiple stages in one year. The first year is ALL about survival, unless you’re a prodigy like Erin Gruwell. My second year (which just ended) was still mostly survival, though I did start to get a feel for my individuality as a teacher.
In any case, congratulations. =)
Sorry to disappoint you jasonwrites, but I did. There are exceptions to every rule and I happen to be that exception. I honestly believe that it had to do with my 6.5 years as an assistant.
Refer to a previous post of mine that explains it: <a href=”http://specialedandme.wordpress.com/
I like that attitude! “I’m moving on to mastery NOW, no matter what you think! It sucks here in survival mode!”
Thank you so much Adrienne. That is exactly what I am doing because the survival stage does indeed suck!