For all of you teachers

Is this how you think of the upcoming school year? A year to meet a testing goal? A year to hit those learning objectives so that the students will do well on the spring tests?

If it is, let me offer this bit of advice: don’t. Don’t think about the tests.

“But, Pam,” you say. “You don’t understand. You taught non-tested subjects.”

You’re right, I don’t know what it is to feel the pressure you do. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about the objectives. You should. After all, that’s what the students are supposed to learn.

What I’m saying is, don’t think about the test itself. Each day, when you’re making plans, think about the kids instead. You’ve got lazy kids? Then figure out how to engage them. You’ve got smart kids who already think they know everything? Then figure out a way to challenge them. You’ve got kids who learn more slowly than others? Figure out a way to reach them so they can perform to the best of their abilities. They may not score as well as others, but if they have learned at all, that is an accomplishment. By both of you.

I guess my point is this. Most of you in this profession chose it because you are passionate about kids and learning. You love the subject(s) you teach, and you want the students to love it too. At one time, you were excited about getting your room ready, creating lesson plans, working with students, and being the best teacher you could be.

Then the data got in your way. Your teacher effectiveness score discouraged you. Blame the state department of education for this. I get it. Data is useful. Data tells us what we need to know. So use the data. It is a tool you can use to improve your instruction. But don’t let it become the focus of your days.

If you struggle with this, try focusing on each day, one day at a time. I’d focus on what needs to be taught, what needs to be learned, what methods would work the best. Don’t be afraid to ask to observe other teachers who seem to have high scores every year. Don’t let yourself get in a teaching rut, doing the same things year after year, especially if you don’t like your past test scores. If what you’ve been doing hasn’t been working, be open to new ideas.

Anyone that knows me knows that I often say teaching is the hardest job I’ve ever had. Harder than working as a loan officer at a bank. Harder than being a principal (really, although the principal job had longer hours and was stressful in different ways.) Harder than my newspaper job. Harder than working at Kentucky Fried Chicken in high school, LOL.

You have a challenging, often thankless job. You create lesson plans and give your best effort to engage the students, yet some refuse to become engaged. You have students who defy you when you push them to do the learning activities. You have students who are rude to you at times. On top of that, some of you have administrators who can be harsh, temperamental, or distant. (Hint to administrators: If you want the best out of your teachers, a personal touch and expressions of praise and gratitude go a long way. I will go the extra mile times ten for a boss who acts like he/she appreciates my efforts and recognizes my few accomplishments, whereas a hard-nosed boss with a harsher style (think of coaching) just discourages me. I will not work as hard for that kind of boss. I’ll just change jobs.)

But you also have those kids who are soaking in what you are teaching, kids who are trying to learn, kids who want to make good grades. You have those students who give you respect and who appreciate you, even if you don’t know it. I know how hard it is not to become discouraged by the few kids who misbehave or are rude. They can ruin your whole day.

If you are dreading going back to work, I hope you can recapture the excitement you once felt about teaching. I hope you have the most incredible, wonderful school year ever. And I hope that you make a positive difference the lives of your students. You never know what your influence means to them.

So this year, don’t focus on the tests. Focus on the kids. I have a feeling that you will have a better year because of it.

Note: next week I will write a blog directed to parents. 🙂