The End of the School Year takes on a whole new meaning when you work in a year round school. One year ends around June 29 and another begins July 3. 3 days.... 3 days to finish a school year and begin another. For all my teachers, principals, librarians, and anyone who works in a year round school building; 3 days feels like 3 minutes. I have taught and worked in year round schools all but 1 of my 10 years of teaching. It's hard to remember the summer break and time off for July 4th. The week of the 4th is our first week of work days, gearing up for the new group, reviewing cum folders, getting to know my new team, updating the website, rearranging the classroom layout, watching the obligatory training videos and trying to learn 120 names before the first day.
As a classroom teacher, there was a virtual divide between school years because of those special students, the ones who make you laugh, the ones who seemed to lose everything, or the ones that touched your heart in a way that you'll never forget. But as an ITF, last year, next year, this year all seem to blend together until I start getting feedback on my "near the end...end of year" survey. That's when the virtual divide becomes real.
As a teacher and now as an ITF, the end of year ALWAYS means a time of reflection for me. This usually takes many forms and as a teacher, it was a Google survey for my parents and for the students I had been with all year that was the most meaningful. The feedback is honest, valuable, and gives me an opportunity to figure out how to get better at the hardest job I have ever had. Parents and students shared thanks, concerns, and memories that make the art of teaching so powerful.
When I accepted the position of ITF two years ago, I knew my audience would not be parents and students, but teachers, staff, and students. I had room for improvement and I knew it. So I went back to the survey, knowing my awesome staff of educators and support people would share pure feedback that would help me grow....not just grow my brain, but improve my craft of how I offer support, meet students and teachers where they are with technology integration and how to help them connect with their students and our community.
So here I am, near the end of another school year, where in just a few weeks, we will begin again.
So here I am, asking my staff to take a survey that will help me grow, and get better in the ways that my teachers need me to be.
And of course, as a way to say thanks for taking my survey or to remind them to take the survey, I have a Survey Snack Cart! I'll be roaming the halls during planning today. Who can so no to this?
Happy Summer to all of you!
As a classroom teacher, there was a virtual divide between school years because of those special students, the ones who make you laugh, the ones who seemed to lose everything, or the ones that touched your heart in a way that you'll never forget. But as an ITF, last year, next year, this year all seem to blend together until I start getting feedback on my "near the end...end of year" survey. That's when the virtual divide becomes real.
As a teacher and now as an ITF, the end of year ALWAYS means a time of reflection for me. This usually takes many forms and as a teacher, it was a Google survey for my parents and for the students I had been with all year that was the most meaningful. The feedback is honest, valuable, and gives me an opportunity to figure out how to get better at the hardest job I have ever had. Parents and students shared thanks, concerns, and memories that make the art of teaching so powerful.
When I accepted the position of ITF two years ago, I knew my audience would not be parents and students, but teachers, staff, and students. I had room for improvement and I knew it. So I went back to the survey, knowing my awesome staff of educators and support people would share pure feedback that would help me grow....not just grow my brain, but improve my craft of how I offer support, meet students and teachers where they are with technology integration and how to help them connect with their students and our community.
So here I am, near the end of another school year, where in just a few weeks, we will begin again.
So here I am, asking my staff to take a survey that will help me grow, and get better in the ways that my teachers need me to be.
And of course, as a way to say thanks for taking my survey or to remind them to take the survey, I have a Survey Snack Cart! I'll be roaming the halls during planning today. Who can so no to this?
Happy Summer to all of you!