My First Quarter Teaching
Four or five months ago, my life underwent a surprisingly drastic change. I knew I was about to become a father, but I didn’t know I’d be moving to South Carolina and teaching at a middle school. Rewind to a year ago, and I didn’t even know I wanted to be a teacher. In fact, had you told me I’d be where I am now, I would have laughed.
Yet here I am. Against all odds, I live in a place I’ve never heard of, have a job I never thought I would, and am heading a direction both exciting and daunting.
As I write this, there’s just one day left in my first quarter of teaching. In other words, I’ve just finished up my 9th week and I’m about to get a whole new set of classes. As an electives teacher, that’s part of my job. Every nine weeks, all of my classes change. I lose the students I had, both good and bad, and get a whole new set.
As a first-time teacher, I can’t help but feel fortunate. It would be nice to keep my current students since I already know how to work with them, but I think a quarterly exchange is more beneficial for someone in my position. Nine weeks ago, I had no real clue what I was doing, or what to expect. Today I still don’t know quite what I’m doing, but I do have some idea as to what’s coming my way.
That’s empowering. It’s exciting. Looking forward, I already have a new plan for how to manage these students as they come in. I had to feel it out over the last nine months, but now I can work it out.
Even little things can make a big difference. For instance, now I know how to set and keep expectations with more certainty. I know the tools, procedures, and aids I can use to help me do my job.
I’ll be honest, much of my first quarter was spent flopping around like a fish on a muddy bank. I’d splash into a dirty puddle now and then, but it took me a long while to find the water. I felt alone and unsupported much of the time. Sometimes I even felt like my administration didn’t want me around.
But I’m starting to figure this out—I think. Hopefully these next 9 weeks will prove that. I don’t know for sure if it’ll all pan out the way I want it to, but I’m at least ready to clip my badge on, make some plans, and give it another eager try.
