I'm just gonna lay it out there.
The truth.
The truth is that most days, I am a pretty stinking good teacher.....not to toot my horn, but I just really enjoy what I do. I think the Big Guy Upstairs picked my occupation for me as he was creating me. I was born to teach. I feel that Kindergarten is a wonderland. A room bursting with eagerness and ideas and energy and excitement and enjoyment and paint and dirt and booboos that need kissed and playfulness and giggles and messy hair and sticky faces and bright eyes and big smiles. My kindergarten classroom is the perfect combination of laughter and learning and it is filled with 18 unique little individuals who all need me in a different way.
The truth is that I take pride in a job well done. I take pride in the fact that my class is as prepared as possible for first grade.
But the truth is that today....
I sucked.
I know that I just said the major bad "S" word.
Sorry.
But it's true. I was major suckage today.
Nothing I tried to teach seemed to stick. I almost had a nervous breakdown trying to teach one of my reading groups today because they just weren't "getting it". The kids were beyond wild...probably because of the FREAKIN full moon. I was cranky. The kids were snippy with each other. I was snippy with the kids. I had NO fun ideas today. We did NO art. We played NO games. I barely danced with them during music time. I completed the required lessons, but totally lacked any sort of pizazz. Did I even smile today? Probably not.
Why? Because today.....
I was a loser.
I was a loser.
I stunk it up.
I reeked.
I sucked.
The good news is that I don't think I did any permanent emotional damage to any of my students. They are a pretty forgiving bunch. One student even said,
"Mrs. Heptinstall, you are one of the bestest teachers I have had in my whole life."
I was relieved that she still loved me despite my numerous shortcomings today.
But then, I remembered.....
I am the only teacher she has ever had in her whole life.
I am the only teacher she has ever had in her whole life.
2 comments:
Teaching is like any job - parenting included - there are some good days and some bad days. As long as the good outnumber the bad, you're o.k. The fact that you know it was bad and that you didn't like it tells me that you are a great teacher and I hope my "baby" gets a kindergarten teacher like you next year!! :-)
Ah, yes, as teacher on the opposite end of the spectrum, I TOTALLY get this post. In fact, today was a less-than-stellar day in the classroom for me, too.
Thankfully, just like Lisa said, the job that we're doing isn't just based on one day alone. :) I am sure that you are a WONDERFUL teacher.
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