Finishing the First Year and Starting Another

With only a few weeks remaining before students come back to school, it's probably time to write about finishing my first year. I wish I could say that it ended with triumphant glory and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

That isn't how it happened though. The last month and a half of school was totally and completely draining. Outside of school, I tried to balance social activities to prevent me from burning out with keeping up with school work and moving into my new house. I also realized (with all the subtlety of being punched in the face) that I needed to amp up my classroom management game before working with pre-summer break students again. All in all, it was just rough. But, I was supported by staff and administration and learned a lot that I'll carry with me into next year. So, with about as much enthusiasm of a zombie sloth, I dragged myself through the last few weeks.

Summer started with a whirlwind of amazing experiences and a two week long trip to visit my sister in Guatemala. Thanks to the time off, I feel like me again, and that's the most refreshing sensation I know.

Upon returning from Guatemala, I learned that my physics coworker won't be returning to the school in September. It was hard news since he was instrumental in my progress (and survival) last year. I relied heavily on his advice, resources, and support. Between reassuring me that the students might not always be right about things, to making copies, to inviting me to question processes and routines, he made me a far better teacher. 

One day, he came into the Physical World classroom behind me and asked, "So, how did the lesson go?"

I turned around to face him taking a deep breath, "Not...great." Perhaps it was not the most informative response, but I didn't cry as I said it, so I was totally counting that sentence as a success.

He said, "Well, I noticed you're standing alone in the room with the lights off," (a detail which had somehow eluded me until being pointed out). He then let me vent, listened, and, when I reached the resolution part of the venting (or maybe it was just the first time I stopped talking long enough for him to say something?), he weighed in. Perfect. Exactly what I needed.

When I was hired, I was taking the place of my favorite chemistry and physics teacher.
The shoes were big.
As Nick leaves this year, I'll be taking on AP Physics.
Big big shoes.

There isn't enough tissue paper in the world to stuff into my predecessors shoes convincingly.

Here's why I'm not paralyzed with fear though. What I lack in classroom management, experience, and prior knowledge, I believe I can make up for with my passion for the content and for the students. Below is an illustration a student drew on the back of her 1st semester final. If this is how I am seen by a student, then I feel pretty accomplished. In addition to outlining important topics (and the dog illustration is a bit of an inside joke), she drew me clearly enjoying my job and teaching students to "BE AWESOME". 

Maybe it doesn't mean that much to everyone, but thanks to John and Hank Green's influence in my life, to me, being awesome encompasses living life as a kind, outspoken, intelligent, open minded, critical thinker. I won't turn every student into a physicist. Not every student will like me. But, if I can help these students grow in a positive way while sharing my passion of physics with them, I'm not failing.

So, it's time to buck up and stop procrastinating. After all, there's only one paper I left hanging on my office's corkboard from last year, and it's hanging to remind me that "It is not the critic who counts." ( Reference Background Here ) Thanks Mr. C :)