Sunday, September 7, 2014

The Juggling Act

It is hard to believe that I am beginning week 4 of my teaching career tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking into the halls of EV for the first time and now I've (almost) got down the names of all 120 kids in my classes. It has been quite the first three weeks with many late nights at the school and early morning back at the school. I have been joking with my principal that we are going to have a contest to see who is at the school for the longest amount of hours total this year. Needless to say it has been quite the start.

As I look back on these first three weeks of teaching one key thing really sticks out. How in the world can someone juggle so many things in their life and still have time to fit everything they want to do? I am an assistant football coach for the district as well as the head boys basketball coach so I know that I'm already juggling a lot of roles here at EV. Add on top of that being the adviser for Model UN and attempting to start up a Running Club again here at the school and it equals very very little time to just relax and contemplate. I absolutely love what I am doing and wouldn't trade it for anything but I sometimes wonder what life would be like if we had more hours in the day. It would be so nice to have about 12 extra hours in a day just so that I can get all of the grading, lesson planning, scouting, game planning, and so on done. I find my mind thinking about school 24/7. Many people have told me to "make sure to find some time for yourself" but honestly what do I need time to myself for? I've got everything I could need right now in front of me. I've got my dream job at 23 . I've got a great staff and administration to work with that allows me to be a risk taker in the classroom. I've got great students that are willing to be pushed to new levels that they have not been before in the classroom. I've got a great supporting cast in Kristie and my family. 

I guess to close my question to anyone is: Is there ever a point when you say "this is too much?" Are there moments where you wish you could turn around and go back down another path? Have I had struggles these past few weeks...absolutely. Have I grown as an educator...absolutely. It's been a great three weeks and I can't wait to begin week 4 in a few short hours.

GO BEARS!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

First Day Jitters

Whew! I survived my first day of teaching! It was quite an experience knowing that I did not have that person beside me to walk me through things but it was also exciting to know that I was fully in control of my own classroom. It was great meeting the students and getting to know them a little bit. It was quite the hectic day with basically 2 assemblies, installing/communicating a new LMS (Learning Management System) to the students, and so on. We are using a LMS called Canvas by Instructure which is fairly new to the LMS world. It is new this year to all staff, students, etc... and will be fun to do some trial and error with that. If you are looking for more information on Canvas just click the word and it should take you to a website. 

As I was going through each class I wanted to focus on communicating to the students one thing: I am here to help them succeed. I wanted them to know that failing is not something to be afraid of and that it will be a sign of growth and learning in my classroom. I created an acronym for FAIL and it stands for First Attempts In Learning. I want my students to be risk-takers and be willing to fall down a bit before reaching their full potential. 

We went through the syllabus stuff and talked about Canvas and I actually lost my voice halfway through 4th period (woops!). The greatest part about today was knowing that I have the opportunity to help these 120 kids of mine grow over the next semester/year. It really is going to be a fantastic year and I can't wait to get started.

Below I have included a video from one of my favorite individuals on YouTube, Kid President. This "peptalk" goes out to teachers and students. I hope you all enjoy and have a fantastic year! 

-Derek


Sunday, August 10, 2014

Who Do You Want to Be?

The signature I created for my school email is the main basic stuff you would see on any teachers' email. It comprises of my name, title, sports I coach, and so on. I have also included a well known quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I look to as kind of my shining beacon of hope. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." This quote speaks to me in a way that most others do not.(Which is really saying something considering my infatuation of quote finding/usage!)

Who are you really? What is your purpose in life? Where are you heading? Do you have a goal, a vision? Who do you want to be?


Every minute of every day people are making the impossible happen. Dreams are becoming reality and records are being broken. Individuals who never thought they could have suddenly realized their wishes are coming true. Technological advances have made it easier to drive a car, study for classes, converse with others, and so on. We have become engulfed in the 21st century society and what it has to offer. Who do you want to be?

Every minute of every day people are struggling to get by. Dreams are becoming nightmares and lives are shattering like glass. Children are starving, wars are raging, people are dying, and civilization as we know it is crumbling in many parts of the world. Disease is ravaging parts of Africa and other 3rd World countries are struggling to provide for their citizens. Who do you want to be?

We all have a goal for our lives even if we do not think we do. Some may set a goal to become a doctor while others may just set a goal to make it safely through another night alive. While some dream of going to college and making names for themselves others dream of having enough food to eat on a day to day basis and having a safe comfortable place to lay their head down at night. We all want to be something. Who do you want to be?

Who do you want to be? I have thought a lot about that question. As I begin my first year as an educator I want to be a champion for my students. I want my students to feel safe, secure, and welcomed in my classroom. I want them to feel comfortable enough to be risk takers and establish risk-taking as the norm instead of the exception. I want to be a leader and an innovator in the way we relate to our students and establish relationships that foster growth and success. I want to be an individual that students can come to for hope and encouragement not just for help with an assignment. I want to be my students biggest fan and a role model for future generations. What I lack in experience I believe I make up for with passion, enthusiasm, compassion, and energy. I want to be the positive light in every students' lives and make sure that all of them succeed not only in the classroom but outside of it as well. 

We all want to be something. I choose to be a molder of young minds. I choose to empower individuals to choose excellence in everything they do. I choose to foster creativity, "outside the box" thinking, and risk-taking. I choose to be a champion for every child I come in contact with. I choose to be an educator.

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Who do you want to be?