Throughout the summer, I saw a few variations of the tweet, “This coming September, we are all first-year teachers.” I love the sentiment behind this. We are all entering education faced with challenges not one of us has managed before.
Yet, when school year started, and I was back in the classroom, I couldn’t shake the pressure I felt. I have been constantly asking myself questions like:
“Am I prioritizing the right curriculum?”
“Are my remote learners feeling connected? Am I giving them enough attention?”
“Will my students be ready for high school?”
etc etc etc
Last week, I saw this tweet, and it captured how I have been feeling perfectly.
A lot of ppl have said this is like being a 1st yr teacher again — yes, &, I’d add it’s actually harder at least at 22 I was completely clueless and knew zero things. THIS experience is feeling like that while also knowing how to do SO MUCH BETTER than I’m able.
— Meredith White (@PRHSspanish) October 8, 2020
Teaching is strenuous when we are always feeling, “If I could only ______”. As experienced educators, we no longer have that early teaching blissful ignorance.
My students and I are finding a groove that works for us, and I have to trust that it’s enough. I have to have faith in the fact that I’m not a novice teacher, and that I can use my experience to make the right choices for my students with the circumstances I am given.
Jenn