Year Four: I Got This!

Year One: Post 1 and Post 2
Year Two
Year Three

I'm enjoying these yearly reflections...if you're interested, I've linked my year 1, 2, & 3 reflections above.

I am officially a "Career Status" teacher now that I have completed my fourth year of teaching. Years 1-3 you are considered "Probationary." Year four you're sort of in lingo and then year 5 you hit career status. You used to be able to earn tenure at year 5, but who knows what's going on with that.

This past year was long and exhausting. Working full time last summer was not the best decision I've ever made. School led straight into camp, which led straight into school. I've been going non-stop since the beginning of my third year of teaching. I know...I know...normal people work 12 months, but when you're working non-stop with kids, there's a different kind of tired you experience with a whole lot of extra work that you bring home at night.

I also took a few extra leadership roles this past year. I was excited to have the opportunity to serve in these roles despite the fact they added a lot to my plate. I was team leader, PLC leader, NJHS co-advisor, Odyssey of the Mind coach, athletic gate worker, CATCH mentor teacher, and ISS support teacher. Whew! Makes me tired just listing them out...

Overall it was a good year. We had a good group of students (minus a few of the meanest middle schoolers I think I've ever met). Our team worked well together. And, we only had one crazy parent to deal with!

It's hard to believe that I have been teaching for four years. Honestly, in my mind, I'm still in my first year, straight of college...that is until I see first year teachers straight out of college. There's just so much to learn your first year or two of teaching (not that I'm done learning by any means) that they just can't teach you in college. It's nice to be past that initial learning curve.

I've got the day to day routine figured out; I know the curriculum pretty well; I am confident in my lesson planning and daily time management. My classroom management is much better. I've got the day to day supplies all new teachers need and struggle to buy and then maintain in those first years of teaching.

It was this past year that I finally felt a sense of "I know what I'm doing."

It was this past year that colleagues and leaders in the school started coming to me to ask for advice or ask to take on various leadership roles.

It was this past year that I finally felt confident enough to make a decision and not question myself or someone else for a better idea.

It was this past year I didn't feel the pressure to do things like someone else had done them before.

It was this past year that I was the third most experienced teacher on the 7th grade team. (This just shows you how much turn over there is in teaching now) With that experience came some initially unexpected (by me) expected responsibility and leadership (from others). People were looking at me to lead the way on things when before I had just been following other leaders.

Does this mean I've got it all figured out and am the greatest teacher ever? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

But there's a level of confidence built that wasn't there before that could only come from experience. I didn't know when I would feel like I knew what I was doing and wasn't a college student or intern or student teacher anymore. But, I think I finally know what I'm doing.

As for now, I'm enjoying my summer, beginning to reflect on a new year, and looking forward to all of the lessons year 5 has to teach me!