A Five Year Career: Has it Been that Long Already?

Published on November 30, 2005 By InBloom In Misc

Recently at our school’s Professional Development Training, some teachers were recognized for their years of service to our school district. Some received 30 year and 25 year pins, or 5, 10, and 15 year certificates. I was honored with completing Five years of Teaching (as of May of this year).

Five years already...wow...I am no longer a rookie, but a bona fide, experienced teacher. Doesn’t seem that long since I graduated from the university. This gets me to think back on many things: my decision to go into the teaching field (simply being that I felt I connected well with kids and could serve as a passionate teacher and positive influence...I was formerly an English major, actually), the breakdown in my 3rd year and my determination to get back up and finish school, the fellow students I met and bonded with , and the exhilarating feeling of finally walking across the stage to be rewarded with what I had worked so hard for. I will never forget that.

I remember my first class...a group of super bright,inquisitive but VERY talkative kids. This is what I basically remember from that year: a few spit wad fights, a few incidents where I had to literally chase down my most challenging student (my gosh, even other teacher remember this), kids asking me “curious” questions like “what’s abortion?” and “what religion are you?” (of course, I dodged answering them), and a handful of kids trying to get me a husband when they found out I wasn’t married (it was soooo hilarious...didn’t take them up on their offer, though.) I learned from mistakes, learned from accomplishments, and finally experienced what it meant to be in one of the most rewarding professions out there. I cannot believe these kids are already freshmen in high school...I have a few who still visit me, and it’s unbelievable how much they have matured...my, how time flies.

They always say your first year is the hardest, well my 2nd year was! I had a group of kids who didn’t mesh well together, causing constant bickering and fighting among many of the students. It didn’t help that I had about five of the biggest discipline problems in my class. It was a tough year...mentally and physically. Sometimes I felt like giving up...but I didn’t. I just tried to make the best of the situation and only hoped that the following year would go better.

My third year was pretty good..kids were more interested in learning and were a bit calmer. In my fourth year, I moved up a grade and was assigned some of the same kids I had in my third year. This allowed me to do some great bonding with some of these students. One of my most favorite students is from these third/fourth year classes... an intelligent, respectful, motivated girl who is growing into a wonderful young woman (I saw her in a restaurant not too long ago...she hugged me and called over her family to say hi as well...her parents have done such a great job raising her...I am very proud and honored to have have been her teacher).

My fifth year went well also...very well behaved class, and some of the most intellectually gifted kids I have ever had the pleasure of working with... I am not exaggerating when I say some of these 5th graders were already thinking at a high school level. I used to give them debate topics every week or so, and you’d be impressed at the opinions they would express and the passionate discussions they would get into... I enjoyed this group very much.

As for this year,well, it is a bit different from other years since we are departmentalized. Instead of having one class all day, I have four different classes and serve as the Math teacher. It has been a bit of a challenge because it is so fast paced, but it has been quite an experience to become acquainted with over 100 different personalities.

I feel more confident in my teaching abilities now, and feel like I have come into my own. It makes me happy to know that other teachers who are more experienced than I am have come to respect my talents and now look to me as a source of help and support. I very much look forward to continuing my career in this field...a field I did not consider being in at the beginning, but now feel blessed to have entered.

Who knows, maybe I will be writing about my 10 year certificate one day as well.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 30, 2005

Following your class up a grade is done frequently areound here. They call it looping. (after moving up, you move back down for another 2 year class).

Congratulations on the 5 years!

InBloom

on Nov 30, 2005

I wish I had more opportunities to do the looping...you get to know the students on such a different level by the end of a few years.

~~Congratulations on the 5 years!~~
Trying to share my 5th year pic...

Dr Guy

on Nov 30, 2005

Trying to share my 5th year pic

It came through fine!

Locamama

on Nov 30, 2005

Life will pass you by won't it. The next thing you know you'll be retiring and wondering how that happened so quickly. Scary, isn't it. It sounds like you are a great teacher and enjoy your job. Keep up the good work. What you are doing is very important.

Tova7

on Nov 30, 2005

You look great!

And Congrats on the 5 years!! Good for you. It is wonderful to hear your heart for the kids. They are lucky to have you...and I think it is hilarious they tried to find you a husband...

Keep it up because I am sure just like wine, you get even better with time!

InBloom

on Nov 30, 2005

~Congratulations on the 5 years!~~

sorry, Dr.G...meant to say Thank you up there.

LM~~ Life will pass you by won't it. The next thing you know you'll be retiring and wondering how that happened so quickly.~~

Yep...I had a fellow coworker who retired last year....she couldn't believe she had been teaching over 25 years...
I best enjoy it while I can!

Texas Wahine

on Nov 30, 2005

Congrats, InBloom.

You're such a sweet, earnest, and intelligent woman, and I can imagine that those wonderful traits serve you well in the classroom.

Nice pic, btw. You're gorgeous! UDigIt is a lucky guy!

uDigItTheMost

on Nov 30, 2005

(This is Rose...just noticing and that I have posted under the wrong personl..yikes..sorry Dig)

Tova~~It is wonderful to hear your heart for the kids. They are lucky to have you...and I think it is hilarious they tried to find you a husband... Keep it up because I am sure just like wine, you get even better with time!~~

Thanks, Tova; I like that last line!

And yep, it was pretty hilarious that they tried to "hook me up."

Tex~~You're such a sweet, earnest, and intelligent woman, and I can imagine that those wonderful traits serve you well in the classroom.Nice pic, btw~~

Thank you, Tex..that was very sweet of you to say... I appreciate it very much.

And well, dig better think he's lucky... (dunno if he will now, since I just absent mindedly posted under his nic...)

MarcieMoo

on Nov 30, 2005

Congrats on your five years, Rose. You're absolutely gorgeous.

I wish I could come watch your class for a day and learn some things.

InBloom

on Dec 01, 2005

~~I wish I could come watch your class for a day and learn some things. ~~

Wouldn't that be awesome...to be able to share some teacher tips in person? I actually have a high amount of respect for teachers who work with the younger set...it is quite a challenge. Kudos to you as well.

uDigItTheMost

on Dec 01, 2005

--You're such a sweet, earnest, and intelligent woman, and I can imagine that those wonderful traits serve you well in the classroom.

Nice pic, btw. You're gorgeous! UDigIt is a lucky guy!--

Tex, I AM a lucky guy. Why just today I found a dollar bill in the store parking lot.

Believe me I really do know how lucky I am, she's all you said and more.

BTW .. you're right! She is gorgeous, too.

InBloom

on Dec 02, 2005

Dig~~I AM a lucky guy. Why just today I found a dollar bill in the store parking lot.~~

Wow, that is lucky!

And thanks for the sweet comments....you are one in a million, even if you don't believe me.

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