My placement has made me a better teacher. When I came into the classroom the first day I already thought I was a decent teacher. I always made sure to try to meet the needs of all the students, but I found myself running around the room, acting more like a servant than a teacher: I tucked in chairs, I put on jackets, I directed the aimless mass. After the first two weeks I was spent. I dug into overdraft and I didn't even have the protection. Everyday I longed for that feathered pillow in my room and I met that pillow religiously every time I arrived at home. I had managed to burn out as a teacher before technically becoming a teacher.
I was taking the easy way out instead of taking that long arduous road. Each time I did something for a student, although it took only about five or so seconds, they would come back to me again. Multiply that student by 20 and you have many minutes gone, and multiply that by many activities and you could waste up to an hour. So now, when a student does not tuck in their chair I have to walk over and find them and remind them to tuck in their chair when they leave. When a student tells me that they can't put their jacket on, I tell them to put it on the floor and show them a technique how the can put it on by themselves. When students ask me what they are supposed to do next, I direct them to the chart that has their name and the activity. I'm teaching them to depend less on me and more on themselves. It takes a lot of time as I'm doing it, but the payoff is big when all 20 kids tuck in their chairs, all 20 know where to hand in their work, how to use the bathroom, how to wash their hands, etc.... I had to stop thinking of them as babies and more like adults. They are much more competent than many adults I know. I just can't take the easy way any longer.
