Why it Matters?

 

Why write a blog on education post-ish COVID? Easy - I am Nicole, and I pick the most opportune times to do anything. Why not write a blog idealizing the vocation of education after: zoom teaching, mask-teaching, lock-down drills, standardized tests, lock-down drills, mental-health crises, teachers fleeing the profession...

Does that not sound like an ideal time to you? - Truth is, some parts of this have been on my mind for years. But the fire, the ultimate timing of now? Because, the most beautiful vocation is in trouble. I think it is in large part because we need to rethink what it means to be in education. That is the conversation I would like to begin here. Yes, I want to share resources, and best practices, funny stories, and classroom management ideas. 

I want to talk about it all. Literally nothing off-limits.

You will not see me on Instagram creating some super cute classroom content. I did that once. 

You will not see me idealize the profession. I did that once.

You will not see me produce "the" answers. I tried that once.

You will see me post questions. Challenge current ideas, standards, and focuses in education. I am well aware I have a certain perspective. I can only write from that point. This is why I am asking for a conversation. How can our profession drive the conversation? I want to drive the shifts needed, help focus those in power to see what we see, and care about what we care about.

I have a Master's Degree in the Science of Education. I have a Bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in ethics. I am a teacher. I am a coach. But here is a bit of what I consider my "job description" over the past 11 years I have held those respective titles at the three schools I have been a part of. 

Science Teacher - Plan, prepare, instruct, and assess the relevant content for the course being taught. For me this includes: freshman physics (yikes - poor kids), diverse classroom chemistry, diverse classroom biology, anatomy and physiology, integrated science, honors chemistry, honors biology, and AP biology. 

Coach - Plan, prepare, and execute practice plans that prepare athletes for competition.

Teacher = Researcher, professional development on your own timer. Design and implement curriculum changes based on latest resource and evidence. Try new things. Rethink everything. Collect data. Rethink again. 

Teacher = Meeting Goerererer - Attend any and all meetings related and required by the school. Most of which probably could have been an email.

Speaking of emails...

Email Answerer = Fire-putter-outer - Make sure that the athlete who is having a crisis has time to see you before practice. Make sure you respond to the parent of Bobby within 24 hours. Email Bobby. Respond to the meeting invitation about the double booking next Monday. Make sure you respond to the athletic director about the bus issue so you are not walking to the game. Do not forget to let the "I just got hit by a barge" kid to know they are excused from the quiz.

Teacher = Constant Checker-Inner - Check on students who are not present... not handing in work... not performing at their best... not looking like themselves. 

Teacher = Pretend Professor - office hours - hours in the week when you pretend you have no other work to do and can see anyone who has questions. AKA often reteach the content because someone was not in class. 

Letter of Recommendation Writer = Personal Marketing Officer - Because we all LOVE teaching juniors. Am I Right?!? Establish a time to write 15-35 quality letters of recommendation depending on the year. Make sure each letter accurately depicts the student you are writing about. Do you teach this child currently? Nope. But you love them and are going to find the time to do a good job. Do you get paid more.... Don't bother asking that question again.... Seriously

Collaborator = Be a good person and a good teacher... Who knew being a good person and a good teacher was so time consuming. Why is this a priority? Collaboration is imperative for unique, equitable, and responsive teaching. 

Attendance Taker - Make sure you complete your legally binding document 1-8 times a day. Ensure it is accurate because you are liable for that information. Don't forget!

Motivational Speaker - Because at the end of the day, kids need pump ups. Why? Because they got a B on a test. Because that topic is hard. Because they did not see the homework posted on the calendar you use every day for the entire 180 school days. Because group work is hard. Because parents are hard. Because friends are hard. Because life is hard. 

Bodyguard = Stand-in-between young-underdeveloped frontal lobes when they want to solve their problems with fisticuffs.

Teacher = Counselor - If you value classroom culture and relationships with the students in your care, then likely they trust you. You are safe to talk to. And so they do. So you hear the stories of home-lives. You listen to the emotions. You listen to the evils of social media. These things typically have nothing to do with the class I teach or the sports I coach. But this is the life of kids. They do not care about your job description. They do not care what the school says are your priorities. They do not care what the government says your priorities should be. They care about being heard by someone they trust. So you take that time. Do you have it... nope... but you make it.

It is in this moment that instead of continuing with my, "job description," I stop to illuminate the reason I write this blog. I do not have the time to write it. That is not the point. If something matters enough, we as educators, make it happen.

I am a fighter. It is my nature. So here I am. I hope you join me. I hope you use your fire to engage in the conversation. To be all the things that you don't have the time, mental capacity, or emotional stability to handle. But you do it anyway - because you are a member of the most beautiful vocation.

See you soon - we have a lot to talk about!

-A "Teacher"