My Mantra

My mentor teachers for my observations have been tremendously helpful to me, but they have frightened me a bit too. They are great teachers who spend a lot of time in and outside of school working on the curriculum and formulating activities to involve the students...to excite them, to encourage them, to TEACH them. They do not spend a lot of time on much else, and I sense that they feel discouraged and overwhelmed quite often. All too often, I have heard: it's nothing like you think it will be while you are in school. And: you don't have time to be an idealist.

It has taken me SO MUCH time to put together (my first) three day unit plan that I am REALLY proud of. How will I possibly have the time to do things I am really proud of for an entire school year?...and I am overachiever enough to not do any less.

I am passionate about "higher order" thinking and about diversity issues. I am passionate about creating my own activities and assessments and not pulling random stuff off the internet. I am passionate about being a reflective practitioner, to grow and change with my future students' needs. I am passionate about working with my colleagues and the community. I am passionate about making a real difference in children's lives and affecting the world in a positive way. I can not accept less. I can not be something else. Anything less will feel like failure.

I know that I am green and inexperienced and idealistic. I know it's not going to be the way I think it will be...but I know that I am going to be a great educator (in time) because I refuse to quit. I refuse to quit trying to be the educator I want to be.

My mantra: I will welcome the challenge.