What's This Going To Be The Year Of?

Each summer, before the school year starts, I try to dedicate a focus for the school year. My first years teaching, my focus tended to be a bit more superficial; organizing units, creating resource guides for my students, making sure that my resources were in line with the curriculum.  My early years were very focused on learning to relay content.  

Two years ago, my focus turned outside of the classroom.  Being a teacher is far more than imparting information to knowledge hungry students.  A teacher is a mentor, a confidant and a guide. My focus that year was to ingrain myself into the school community and say "yes" to every opportunity.  

Last year became known in my mind as "the year of no" because after saying yes to every opportunity the year before, I had to reel it in.  I am what's known as a strong candidate for teacher burnout, so last year, I had to focus back on the classroom and not take on any new obligations.  I was also finishing up my second Master's degree in Educational Technology so a lot of my focus became on using technology successfully in teaching and I began flipping many of my units as the year progressed.

This year, my focus will be on balance.  My joke each year to my friends as the school year starts is that I will become a phantom again for 10 months because I get so absorbed into the school year that I forget that I am a human being with human wants, needs, hobbies and hunger pains.  This year, I will not make that well meaning joke because this year I will focus on not losing myself to my work.  I will find a place where I can be a teacher and a person at the same time.  

Many of you reading this are teachers like me who throw your whole being into your careers and forget to be their own human selves during the school year and you people are probably chuckling to yourselves in disbelief of there being the ability to be both at the same time (and no, you do not have to wear a mask) but I believe it is possible as long as I am willing to consistently reflect and be honest with myself.  I will keep this blog updated as much as possible.  Join me on my journey to find an authentic life to live, loving the most important and fulfilling career there is, while not losing the other parts that make me who I am!