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Volume 4, Issue 9 May 2019

ENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH A “BANG”


The end of the year is upon us! You may feel that you are, Sometimes it is hard to even figure
trudging through this last month in “survival mode,” many of out how to start reflecting or to organize
us feel this way. Through experience, I have found that this your thoughts. I love Cult of Pedagogy’s
final month is filled with so many happy moments. It is a “Gut-Level Teacher Reaction”. They
wonderful time for reflect on growth and to prepare, during recommend examining and trusting your
the summer, for the following year. We must take advantage body’s natural reaction to the triggers
of that! Beginning teachers, my wish for you is not to just which stress us out or cause us to feel negatively. Perhaps
survive the next month, but to finish the school year with a your back table is always cluttered and you get pain in your
BANG! Here are three tips to help you do that. stomach when you walk by it. Maybe hearing a colleague’s
name gives you a sense of guilt because of an unresolved
1. Savor those rewarding moments. While the end of the
altercation you had earlier in the school year. It’s important
school year can be extremely stressful, especially if you teach
to nail down the sources of your bad feelings, name them,
a tested subject, there are also more moments that allow you
then think through and plan to resolve them. Here are a
to see the rewards of teaching and remind you of the reason
couple of questions they recommend asking yourself in a gut-
you chose this profession. I love this time of year because you
level end-of-school-year reflection:
often get to see the fruits of your labor: one of your students
• Look around your classroom. What parts of the room
finally “gets” how to add fractions after they have struggled
make you feel tense, anxious, or exhausted? What
with it all year; another student, with whom you have formed
parts make you feel calm, happy, or proud?
a close relationship, asks you if you can move up and be their
• Open up your lesson plans from the year and just start
teacher next year. And while you may not have experienced
browsing, paying attention to how you’re feeling as
these moments yet, I promise similar moments will be there.
your eyes meet certain events. What days and weeks
You must look for them and be aware of them. When they
give you a lift when you see them, a feeling of pride or
happen, savor them and document them.
satisfaction? Which ones make you feel disappointed,
Find a way to savor, enjoy, and document those rewarding irritated or embarrassed?
moments. If you journal, write down those stories of kids 3. Make-a-plan (or plan to plan) for the next school year.
saying “thank you” or that lightbulb moment you get to Once you have savored those rewarding moments with
witness this last month. Be sure to save those notes and cards students and reflected on where you need to improve, it’s time
the kids give you during the end of the school year—you may to start planning what you will change so that you can be the
need them as a pick-me-up next October or March. Or, take best teacher that next year’s students deserve. Perhaps there
pictures like I do. Just make sure to allow space in your busy are some professional development sessions you want to
day to be mindfully aware of those moments of gratitude— attend or books you desire to read over the summer. Maybe
teachers need them for refuel. you plan to spend a few days in a coffee shop to revisit your
curriculum and lesson plans. Or you need to arrange a meeting
2. Give your school year a “gut-level reflection.” You and your with a colleague or mentor to discuss a new teaching method
students have worked so hard this year. You have tried, failed you want to try. The key is to write down these plans while
and succeeded with many different teaching strategies and they are fresh in your mind before summer begins.
lessons. Give yourself some space and time to reflect on the
school year, because you deserve it as a professional and your Or maybe you don’t have any fresh ideas and you are not
next group of students deserves it too. You may have a list in ready for reflection, and that’s okay too. Simply plan to make-
your head of ideas you had throughout the year, or maybe a-plan! Put a reminder in your phone for some time in July to
even initiatives you planned to implement, that you moved to think about this later, or perhaps write down your ideas, put
the backburner and said, “I’ll try that next year.” Take a them in a notebook, and don’t look at them again until you’re
moment before the school year ends and your brain turns to ready. But when you are, you will help yourself become that
“summer vacation mode” to engage in meaningful reflection. amazing teacher your students need!

Free Professional Development for North Carolina beginning teachers is available during
each regional 2019 BT Summit! This year’s theme is, Building Resilience: Leaders for a
Lifetime. For location and registration information click here. See you at the Summit!

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