Conference

[franceslievens]

There it is again: the idea that I don't work hard enough. That whatever I decide to do for school, is never good enough for the kids. It's always the same, the things they have to do in my class. They hardly learn anything, because I forget to focus on the goals of the learning process.

Or is that untrue? Is it only my shy and inconfident nature that makes me believe what in fact is not?

Comments

[chrissie-linnit.livejournal.com]

The questions to ask yourself, are:
Am I satisfied that the content of my class-work is interesting/engaging/worthwhile/constructive?
Would I want my child to be taught by me?
Do I, ultimately, still get job satisfaction from teaching?
Can I identify, and implement, new ways to stimulate my classes?
Am I isolating myself from my peers/mentors?

Am I due a break/vacation?
Is it that time of the month? *winks*
Are the grey and damp winter days and dark wintry nights getting to you?

You know you're good. You know you enjoy teaching (*Oh Yes You DO!*) and so, methinks, you need a good night off from thinking about schools, children and work.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Chrissie, you truly are an assessment manager (or whatever kind of manager you are). I usualy hate it when someone comes up with a whole heap of questions that you should use to evaluate yourself, but coming from you it sounds okay. And your questions aren't stupid ones. They're actualy quite helpful. Thanks!

My anxieties are usualy fueled by envy btw. I had a teacher's conference yesterday and then you see how everyone does things differently, and I don't seem to know where I fit in.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope our conversation yesterday didn't make things worse...

But I get that feeling, too - other people seem so much more organised and seem to plan their lessons more thoroughly etc. until you realize that - as we say here - sie kochen auch nur mit Wasser. This is especially true of the people who always have to advertise their brilliant lesson plans because they need the validation - it's just insecurity dressed differently or in some cases complete bullshit.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Oh, no worries. The elections went pretty good, btw. ;-)

I also want to advertise everything I do, because yes, I need the validation.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Yes, but there's a difference between wanting to advertise (who doesn't, especially if something went well) and actually telling all and sundry about your successes even if they happened years ago. (I'm thinking of one of my colleagues who has told me repeatedly of how he basically took over a seminar at university as a first-year student and similar stories.)

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Err, I keep talking about the 20/20 I had for the written part of my logic exam in second year at uni. Does that count? (I usually follow that remark with the next remark that the exam was too easy.)

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Trust me, that colleague is not like you at all - and he'd never say that something he excelled in was easy - he's just brilliant, not only a teacher, he's also a part-time writer, actor etc. and he won't let you forget about this (he's mostly harmless though).