Introduction
June 7, 2019
My name is Carrie, and I'm a middle school teacher.
It almost sounds like the beginning of a story from a 12-step program. It isn't far-fetched. Teaching middle school makes some people think you are crazy; it makes other people give you blessings and thanks. Others wonder if you yourself have grown up; others think you must need a great deal of alcohol.
Me? I just finished year 17. Of those, 16 were in 6th grade (the last three years I had two 8th grade thrown in). This year, I was exclusively 7th and 8th evenly divided. Next year, I have five classes of 8th and one of 7th. My husband used to joke that our oldest son (with whom I began 6th grade) got out, but I didn't. "It's no wife left behind at hour house," he'd joke.
I've learned a lot in these 17 years. I've learned about kids, and I can and WILL attest to changes in those 17 years. Social media plays a part in it; I honestly think changing dynamics in households also is. They aren't necessarily bad, but they are changes.
I've learned about me. I've learned more about who I am and how I want to handle situations that arise in my classroom. I've learned I'm not someone to follow blindly along (I didn't know that so much when I began). I've learned how to stand up for my students, and I've learned how to stand up for me. I've learned civil discourse even when the other person isn't being civil.
I've learned how important self-care is. I've learned how to be there for students who are facing things worse than any adult should. I've learned how to process my feelings after hearing theirs. I've sat with a student in the nurse's office, holding her while she showed the arm she'd been cutting and the resulting infection. I listen to students toss "my dad's in jail again" around like "we had hamburgers for dinner". I also know what I experience is really no different than many other teachers, and I know what I experience isn't as bad as many other teachers.
I've cried in front of my students, and I've held them while they have cried. We've celebrated milestones (birthdays, passed assessments, parents out of rehab).
I'm still a few years from retirement, and I'm thankful for that in two ways. I still have time with these kids, but I also see a time when I hope to spend some great time with my family. I'm excited by both prospects. When I look at both of them, I see the connection. Both have to do with relationships.
Relationships have not always been a big focus in my classroom, but WOW are they now. I credit a former principal for introducing me to a school discipline program that emphasized them. We didn't use the program with fidelity, and people gradually changed from it, but that part struck me so deeply it changed me profoundly.
Come along for this ride with me. Share your thoughts back.
My name is Carrie, and I'm a middle school teacher.
It almost sounds like the beginning of a story from a 12-step program. It isn't far-fetched. Teaching middle school makes some people think you are crazy; it makes other people give you blessings and thanks. Others wonder if you yourself have grown up; others think you must need a great deal of alcohol.
Me? I just finished year 17. Of those, 16 were in 6th grade (the last three years I had two 8th grade thrown in). This year, I was exclusively 7th and 8th evenly divided. Next year, I have five classes of 8th and one of 7th. My husband used to joke that our oldest son (with whom I began 6th grade) got out, but I didn't. "It's no wife left behind at hour house," he'd joke.
I've learned a lot in these 17 years. I've learned about kids, and I can and WILL attest to changes in those 17 years. Social media plays a part in it; I honestly think changing dynamics in households also is. They aren't necessarily bad, but they are changes.
I've learned about me. I've learned more about who I am and how I want to handle situations that arise in my classroom. I've learned I'm not someone to follow blindly along (I didn't know that so much when I began). I've learned how to stand up for my students, and I've learned how to stand up for me. I've learned civil discourse even when the other person isn't being civil.
I've learned how important self-care is. I've learned how to be there for students who are facing things worse than any adult should. I've learned how to process my feelings after hearing theirs. I've sat with a student in the nurse's office, holding her while she showed the arm she'd been cutting and the resulting infection. I listen to students toss "my dad's in jail again" around like "we had hamburgers for dinner". I also know what I experience is really no different than many other teachers, and I know what I experience isn't as bad as many other teachers.
I've cried in front of my students, and I've held them while they have cried. We've celebrated milestones (birthdays, passed assessments, parents out of rehab).
I'm still a few years from retirement, and I'm thankful for that in two ways. I still have time with these kids, but I also see a time when I hope to spend some great time with my family. I'm excited by both prospects. When I look at both of them, I see the connection. Both have to do with relationships.
Relationships have not always been a big focus in my classroom, but WOW are they now. I credit a former principal for introducing me to a school discipline program that emphasized them. We didn't use the program with fidelity, and people gradually changed from it, but that part struck me so deeply it changed me profoundly.
Come along for this ride with me. Share your thoughts back.
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