End of the year reflections

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This is sadly too true. With 11 days left of classes, everyone is getting squirrely. Just a few more days!!!!

But lots of things have happened this year and a couple of them just recently so I thought it was time for a recap.

First, I really think my meditation practice has helped in my teaching. I don't get angry at the students like I used to. I still get frustrated, but I can see that for what it is and don't take it out on them. I'm a lot more patient with them, a lot! But it has also brought up some things that do frustrate me that are entirely my fault. So I need to work on changing those over the summer. I believe that my meditation has also made me more confident in my teaching. For the first time in 10 years, I feel like I know what I'm doing. I'm confident in my decisions, I can stand up to any teacher and compare methods/lesson plans/etc. This doesn't mean I think I'm perfect, far from it. I am constantly learning and growing as a teacher, at least I hope I am, but I'm confident in my abilities now.

Which leads to the second thing, I am going to be the new science department chair. I love that and for the first time in 10 years, I feel that I'm ready for it. I'm excited to take on new responsibilities and challenges. I had been taking on some already rather surreptitiously, but now it will be out in the open. I just found out about this on Thursday and I'm really very excited about it. I have some ideas that I want to implement for the department. Having been a science teacher for 10 years, I have some definite ideas about how a department should and should not be run, especially science, so I'm excited to finally get my chance to put my ideas into action.

Third, I'm working with 2 other science teachers, from 2 other campuses, on aligning what we do to the new science standards. Again, this is exciting and something I feel that I'm finally ready for. We met on Friday and discussed where to start and what needs to be done. On Monday I need to talk with Kyle to see how we want to move forward. We have 3 years to get them fully implemented, but that will go quickly so we need to start working on that now. This is really exciting too. To actually be involved in shaping the science program at a school is really exciting for me.

So these things close out the end of the year on a high note and make me excited for next year. I've always said, if you're not part of the solution you are part of the problem, well it's now my turn to be part of the solution.

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