What a year...I usually start writing this blog post in my head the last few months of school. While I thought about the overall theme for the year, I didn't get much further than that, which I think is only appropriate for this theme.
It doesn't feel like another full school year has passed since I reflected on year 5.
We rushed into town mid-August and I set up my classroom at West McDowell.
The school year started and I wasn't sure what to do with all of my free time, not having any leadership roles.
I was slowly learning the culture of a new school, trying not to talk about all the ways Durham did things too much (no one likes a know it all).
I was learning (sometimes the hard way) how everyone knows everyone in a small town and you have to be careful what you say and who you say it to.
My students were so different from what I was used to.
I experienced a lack of expectations from administration which was a major contrast to the
I didn't think commuting 30 minutes would be a big deal, but as the year progressed, I felt more and more disconnected from our new community.
Then came November and an email from a principal in Morganton.
I immediately thought no way.
Stephen convinced me to at least consider it.
Then, after a few weeks of processing and praying through the idea of switching schools mid-year I accepted the job and began yet another transition to another new school.
I spent Christmas break setting up another new classroom and preparing for another new group of kids along with a new curriculum.
My classes suddenly went from 60 minutes to 140 minutes.
My students suddenly went from low-average academic achievement to the highest academic achievers I've ever taught.
As we slowly adjusted to each other and I figured out how to engage them for a full 100 minutes, we got into the groove of things.
I had great parental support, something that I didn't think would surprise me, but did. Like they really cared.
And, I liked 6th graders more than I thought I would.
The next thing I knew it was June and we were testing.
I've never seen a group of kids stress out so much over testing.
I really wasn't prepared for the amount of counseling and encouraging they would require and I maybe had to learn to tone down the sarcasm because they really did take it that seriously.
I only had 8 kids not pass the math EOG this year, a huge difference from only having 25 pass it last year.
Another learning curve: somehow it is possible to be upset about scoring a level 5, the highest you can get.
After testing, usually my most chaotic, stress filled days, my students colored and played with each other like normal people.
The next thing I knew my desks were cleared, my bookshelves were empty, and we were outside waving goodbye.
I kind of feel like I've just filled in for someone else this year. It doesn't feel like I've completed a year, which I guess is because I did half in one place and grade level and half in another. Overall it was an easy year...the only real responsibility I had was teaching. My kids were really well behaved and easy to manage. They did their work and were successful. I really couldn't have asked for much more from them. I don't really know how to feel about such an easy school year. It almost sounds too good to be true (minus all of the moving)...
I started off the summer by laying on the couch for 4 hours and hope to have a much more restful summer than last year. Then, we'll see what year 7 holds!
Past Reflections if you're interested:
Year One: A Year in Review
Year One: Lessons Learned
Year Two
Year Three: Contentment
Year Four: I Got This!
Year Five: Brokenness
Year Five: Celebrations and Recognitions
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