Many times it only takes one little negative thought to enter your mind and change your entire attitude on a new situation. Instead of focusing on poor me stop and think, “What is really here? What can I make good out of this?” Many times it only takes a moment to stop and think about one or two positives that can come out of this situation. I am currently looping with the same group of student for the 3rd year in a row. At first I had an extremely bad attitude that I tried to keep stifled inside. Over the summer I made myself make a list of all the pros of going to the next grade level which I had never taught before. As I made my list, the looping didn’t seem like that big of a deal. I can handle this.
In teaching the more passionate you are about a topic or subject the more it shows in your teaching. When it comes to a topic I really do not look forward to teaching that year, I always ask other teachers in my grade level. There is bound to be at least one who enjoys it. I ask what it is they will be doing for the lesson. As they get excited, I get wrapped up in their excitement and feel better about teaching the topic.
Wow, I've heard of looping through two grade levels but never heard looping through three. That really can be a challenge. But you are so correct that it's just that little negative attitude can really upset things, like a small grain of sand in ones boots. It doesn't take much. I like that you consciously re-assessed things and made an effort to look for the good in the situation.
ReplyDelete