tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5957896812820341397.post4229626519826057680..comments2024-01-14T18:14:23.866-08:00Comments on Delta Scape: Is it okay to skip this workshop?delta_dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18024582157985654525noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5957896812820341397.post-51326782522485090712011-03-26T10:04:54.716-07:002011-03-26T10:04:54.716-07:00I received the following in an email from a former...I received the following in an email from a former GVSU preservice teacher and thought it was relevant:<br />***<br />Kate writes:<br />… I was reading your post about time management and prioritizing. You have hit it head on sir. I didn't so much at the time, but after teaching for the last 7 months I can truly appreciate the lessons I learned at GV...mostly of time management. (For the record, I also read your post on what it means to do mathematics -- very cool idea.)<br /><br />I am currently at a boarding school in Taiwan. I teach five classes a day to ESL students of an American curriculum and coach 5 days a week (and have been since August for different sports). I live at the school, which means there are children around all the time. They have mandatory study hall every night from 7-9, and more often than not I get requests to meet with them during this time so they can ask questions that they have about the material. I see children from the time I get up in the morning until I sneak into my room at 9 and lock the door.<br /><br />Please share with your classes this semester that the hardest lesson they are going to have to learn is how to say no. There are nights that I have no plans and definitely could meet with students, but I've learned to say no on some occasions because I need "me time". I need time to get my work done (and to veg out a little). I ran myself into the ground for a while trying to do everything and it's just not possible. Prioritizing is important -- and as selfish as it sounds, you need to come first. When I tell colleagues or the students that I didn't get something done the night before because I had other things I needed to do, they have all understood 100% of the time. Your colleagues and students are making the same decisions that you are -- what is most important, what needs to get done and what do I need to do for me. There are days that I don't do any work after school, but instead go for a run or just hang out and chat with students about things other than school. This is my escape, and everybody needs one on a regular basis.<br /><br />Saying "no" also teaches students to plan ahead. I have students that ask me last minute for help -- sometimes they get lucky and sometimes I just tell them that I can't, usually because it's time for me to escape somewhere for the night. I now have students ask me 3-5 days ahead of time if I can meet with them. Then I can say "yes" and plan my "me time" for another day. Saying "no" doesn't just give you a night to yourself, it's also teaching your students how to plan ahead (which then allows you to do the same).<br /><br />Planning is a skill. So is saying "no". Both are necessary to succeed as a teacher. Otherwise you will run yourself ragged.<br /><br />All of what I learned at GV is definitely coming into play this year. I look back on my ed. classes and laugh a little -- because you were all spot on. Most things that you said would happen have happened. Thanks for trying to teach us ahead of time!delta_dchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024582157985654525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5957896812820341397.post-21122823313622530262011-03-03T15:12:32.431-08:002011-03-03T15:12:32.431-08:00Good for you! I think it is so important that tea...Good for you! I think it is so important that teachers see themselves and are empowered to be "teachers as professional decision-makers". This was the theme for one of The Learning Network's (TLN)Summer Institutes--in fact, the very first one I attended. It's sad that at that time, being a professional decision-maker was a new concept for me, after teaching for 7 years!<br /><br />With all of the pressures coming from every direction, prioritizing is an essential skill for all teachers.Literacygurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06227642921722658269noreply@blogger.com