Where are you now?
Where are you going?
These are questions I return to again and again. With two years remaining as a public school classroom teacher, I am thinking a lot about the focus for the years ahead. I want to transition out of teaching with a positive attitude and helpful contribution. What does that mean?
Positive Attitude
Overall I have had a successful teaching/learning career as a classroom teacher. There have been high points and low points during the 34 years that I've taught elementary school, but mainly it has been a steady routine of striving to teach and serve students, families, and colleagues well each day. I have also worked to improve my craft throughout my tenure and found positive inspiration and energy from that professional learning and development. Positivity comes from identifying your primary focus and doing that job well. For me, the primary focus is working well with the grade-level team to teach students and serve families well--good work in that arena spells positivity.
Contribution
As a seasoned veteran teacher, I can clean up my online/real time files and teaching tools to pass on to he teacher who takes my place. I will leave only the best resources. When I started teaching thirty-four years ago, I inherited a classroom full of stuff. Within a couple of years, I had thrown out almost all those materials. With that in mind, I'll spend time in the next couple of years organizing the best work in ways that are easy for another person to use if they are interested.
Next Steps
I've thought a lot about what I want to do after I retire from the grueling 24-7 schedule of classroom teaching. What I would like to do is work with children-in-need a few days a week. That might find me at a social service agency, hospital, or other service/educational organization. I would like to support young children who need a trusting mentor, teacher, or guide in some ways. We'll see where that takes me. I would also like to spend a few days a week focused on my family and community.
Health and Happiness
To teach well and support my students and family members, it is important that I'm happy and healthy. Health as you get older takes on a bit more of a challenge and demands more time, so that has to be a priority. I will miss the school community, but I won't miss the grueling schedule and demands. There comes a time when you are ready to move into another sphere, and in two years I'll be there.
In the meantime, I'll stay the course with the priorities named. Onward.
Where are you going?
These are questions I return to again and again. With two years remaining as a public school classroom teacher, I am thinking a lot about the focus for the years ahead. I want to transition out of teaching with a positive attitude and helpful contribution. What does that mean?
Positive Attitude
Overall I have had a successful teaching/learning career as a classroom teacher. There have been high points and low points during the 34 years that I've taught elementary school, but mainly it has been a steady routine of striving to teach and serve students, families, and colleagues well each day. I have also worked to improve my craft throughout my tenure and found positive inspiration and energy from that professional learning and development. Positivity comes from identifying your primary focus and doing that job well. For me, the primary focus is working well with the grade-level team to teach students and serve families well--good work in that arena spells positivity.
Contribution
As a seasoned veteran teacher, I can clean up my online/real time files and teaching tools to pass on to he teacher who takes my place. I will leave only the best resources. When I started teaching thirty-four years ago, I inherited a classroom full of stuff. Within a couple of years, I had thrown out almost all those materials. With that in mind, I'll spend time in the next couple of years organizing the best work in ways that are easy for another person to use if they are interested.
Next Steps
I've thought a lot about what I want to do after I retire from the grueling 24-7 schedule of classroom teaching. What I would like to do is work with children-in-need a few days a week. That might find me at a social service agency, hospital, or other service/educational organization. I would like to support young children who need a trusting mentor, teacher, or guide in some ways. We'll see where that takes me. I would also like to spend a few days a week focused on my family and community.
Health and Happiness
To teach well and support my students and family members, it is important that I'm happy and healthy. Health as you get older takes on a bit more of a challenge and demands more time, so that has to be a priority. I will miss the school community, but I won't miss the grueling schedule and demands. There comes a time when you are ready to move into another sphere, and in two years I'll be there.
In the meantime, I'll stay the course with the priorities named. Onward.