NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
I thought at the end of the year I would feel differently about my "progress" as a teacher. But, I really am not satisfied with my first year teaching. I COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. I know that. I'm not expressing my deepest feelings in search for encouragement or sympathy. I just want a space to share my frustrations. Please hear me out.
Can I measure my success in the classroom this past year? Hardly. None of my IB Chemistry students were prepared for their May exams. Only 30% of my Chemistry Regents Prep students passed in January. My science elective students do not value the class. And, my attendance in AVID is at an all time low. I struggle with classroom management. I am not strict enough. I am not consistent enough. I am not [insert necessary universal teacher quality] enough. These statistics do not speak highly of me as a teacher.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that a teacher's first year is a gauntlet that all educators must survive in order to improve their craft. But I cannot help but feel like I have, to some extent, failed my students. I honestly do not feel that I have effectively provided my students with a valid science/chemistry education. And, in case you're wondering, I don't think I'm overexaggerating.
Final grade: D for defeated
1 comment:
I'm proud of you, Kristine. I wish more of my teachers/professors in my educational career took the time to self-analyze and identify the aspects of their methods that need to be improved. Not strict enough, huh? Well, you could always do what Shirokawa did - threaten them: "I'll bite your kneecaps off. I can reach 'em!"
surbhi patel
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