Long Term Occasional Teacher – grade 7
What do you love about your job?
I love having the opportunity to develop relationships with students and see them have those ‘ah ha!’ moments. When I decided to become an educator, it was less for the love of one particular subject, and more for my passion to have the opportunity to play a role in the educational and personal growth of students, particularly at the intermediate level. I love the process of meeting a new class and taking the time to talk to each member of the community, get to know them and find ways to incorporate their personal passions, likes, and dislikes into their education. I love seeing students make connections between what they learn and what they know. I remember being in grade 7 and 8, and feeling like the world was out to get me, I love helping kids learn who they are as they move through this difficult journey.
I also love the cyclical nature of the job. Teaching is such a unique experience in the fact that we all have the opportunity to experience both sides. We grow up as students, have memories of the teachers who helped shape our experience and then get to use that memory to implement change in the opposite role. This year I have had the pleasure of teaching at my old elementary school alongside teachers who taught me as a student. It has been such an honour to work alongside and collaborate with a handful of inspiring teachers who had large impacts on me as a student and now again as an educator myself. It is a great reminder of our privilege to have such lasting influence. It has also just been amazing to have so much familiar support! I hope one day I have the same opportunity with some of my own students.
In this challenging year, what have you tried that is working?
Finding opportunities for the students to incorporate their own personal interests through inquiry and passion projects has been a success in my classroom and has helped the students to participate in the things they love within the school day. Even as adults we know we are most invested in something we have personal stakes or interest in, I have found this rings even more true in young people. One of my favourite projects this year was our ‘do something new challenge’ in which each student independently tasked themself to do 1 new thing for 30 days straight and journaled about their experience. The tasks ranged from exercise to water intake to chores, each chosen based on personal need and interest. It was amazing to see how many of the students felt they were successful because they had been able to make their own choice about the task.
The thing that has really saved me this year though has been collaborating with my peers. The teaching community is like no other in terms of support. I could not have made it through this year without the knowledge and wisdom of my teachers turned colleagues and the collaboration of my teaching team. In teachers college we are constantly told not to reinvent the wheel. The longer I am in this profession the more I ask myself, ‘why would I when I have the privilege of learning from so many amazing educators?’
What has been most challenging?
Teaching virtually and having to pivot a program back and forth between off and online definitely hasn’t been an easy feat. My favourite part of teaching is getting to build a community with my students through interaction and collaboration which is definitely made more challenging when learning online. I miss being in the classroom. I never expected to spend so much time in front of a screen when I began my career that’s for sure! However, it’s also been a great opportunity to learn. I’ve gained many new tech skills, communication techniques and have loved being able to see more expression on the students’ faces since we are able to see each other without masks! I am excited to get back to school but I am also excited to continue developing and exploring new ways to build the same strong community without the standard proximity.
What is one tiny victory you’d like to celebrate?
My students were right in the middle of their healthy eating unit when we went online in January. This provided a great opportunity to apply some of what they were learning! I began by cooking my lunch on video for them one day, and before I knew it they were organizing their own cooking parties during break! I even had a few students go as far as learning, and making, Gordon Ramsay’s famous scrambled eggs together (virtually, of course!). It was awesome to see the kids make the best of a challenging situation, learn new skills and collaborate together! It culminated in the creation of individual cooking tutorials and a class cookbook full of family recipes! Now the students have a positive reminder of all the skills they were able to gain during this online experience!
Words of encouragement for other staff?
Take care of yourself. Start each day off doing something you love. If there is anything that has brought me peace this year, it is my morning routine. Virtual or in-person, it doesn’t matter. I start my day with a coffee, fresh air and some form of physical exercise.
This year has been so tough on everyone. Sometimes we forget that in order to put our best foot forward, we need to be our happiest and healthiest selves. I’ve seen so many amazing educators put their own needs aside this year, but that just can’t be the way to succeed! The students need you to be your best self, but more so, you need you to be your best self! Find something you love, build a routine around it and take care of YOU because YOU deserve it.
Do you like, or dislike surprises? How come?
I absolutely love surprises! The problem is I can be pretty difficult to surprise… A few years back a couple of my friends even tried to throw me a surprise party. They did everything they could to steer me away, but as I often do, I had to take my birthday into my own hands and ended up planning a party for myself on the same day! It all worked out in the end but the surprise was ruined by my own interference!
