At the time he wrote this blog, Mr. McClung had recently completed his first year teaching. He taught sixth grade science in Noel, Missouri. He created his blog page to share with others what he learned as a first-year teacher.
I really enjoyed reading his post because it brought back memories from years ago when I began my career as a fifth grade teacher at Indian Springs Elementary School in Eight Mile, Alabama. The year was 1994, and I was fresh out of college with many grand plans and ideas for my students. I was so excited. But then reality set in, and I realized that having my own classroom was very different from what I expected. Like Mr. McClung, I grew and learned a lot during my first year, but I remained positive. I wished that I had had the opportunity then to read a blog like Mr. McClung's because he wrote some honest observations and tips that would have been very helpful to me during my first year.
Some of his advice and observations from his first year include: “Instead of focusing a lesson on observation, make it student-centered. No lesson is ever perfect. The lesson you teach and the one you plan are always different. Communicating is the best way to resolve any issue in the workplace. Don’t become upset when students don’t meet expectations. Our job is simply to pick them up after they fail, dust them off, and encourage them to try again. Technology is our friend and essential to living in our society today. In order to build the respect that we all seek in a student-teacher relationship, it is important to take interest in the lives of our students. It’s never too late to change your way of thinking, learning, or style.”
These are all very good points that all teachers should take to heart. Our ultimate goal as teachers is to touch the lives of our students, and guide and challenge them to achieve the best that they are capable of.
Mr. Joe McClung – What I’ve Learned This Year (2009 -2010)
At the time of this blog, Mr. Joe McClung had just completed his second year as a teacher. He was at a new school, teaching new subjects. Inspired by many comments, including those from EDM 310 students in Dr. Strange's classroom, Mr. McClung decided to create an annual reflection in his blog of his teaching year. It contains lessons learned, as well as, advice for other teachers.
The first lesson he learned was to “adapt.” For his second year in education, he moved to a junior high school in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Instead of teaching sixth grade science, he was now teaching three subjects. He was teaching science, social studies, and Arkansas history. While he loved teaching science, he was not as fond of social studies and history. In fact, he found himself in “survival mode,” assigning busy work and notes just to get through the day. So, he had to decide to make an effort to make social studies and history fun and exciting for his students. As a teacher, each school year will bring new challenges for you to overcome. His advice to fellow teachers is simple. “Learn how to adapt when the current situation requires it. The lesson to learn from here is never get too comfortable, change is good and ultimately makes us better teachers.” I had first-hand experience in adapting. After my first tear teaching fifth grade at Indian Springs Elementary School, I moved to fourth grade. Even though I was apprehensive at first, it was the best thing that could have happened. I really enjoyed teaching fourth grade.
His next piece of advice was named, “The Path Least Troubled.” In this piece, he simply reminds us that our goal as teachers is to create independent learners. We need to guide students to be able to think for themselves. He “doesn’t want students to always look for the right answer, but instead take a different approach that requires them to think analytically and access each situation on an individual basis.” I think this is extremely important since we live in a standardized testing world that doesn’t promote critical thinking.
“Find Your School Mom” is another helpful hint for success. Parents can be really wonderful and can be very helpful and kind. Mr.McClung believes “it’s a great asset to have someone who knows the ins and outs of school. If you handle yourself right and really gain the respect of your school mom. She will do anything for you and that’s always useful.”
“Check Your Ego at the Door” is another lesson Mr.McClung has learned. He believes teachers should do whatever it takes to get students engaged in learning, even if it means we have to step out of our comfort zone and act silly. As teachers, we should be willing to do whatever it takes to get the point across. For example, one day in October, the language arts teachers at the middle school that I work at come dressed in a character to teach different skills. They call it their “character carousel” as students visit each of the five classrooms to learn a different skill. Dressing up in costume is not necessarily their favorite activity, but their students love it. “Our students need to know that we have a passion for our jobs if we ever expect them to take our subjects serious.”
Another piece of advice Mr. McClung offers us is, “Don’t Be a Control Freak.” He believes that allowing students to have jobs in the classroom is important. When I taught elementary school, my students looked forward to being a classroom helper. “As teachers, we need to teach our students how to perform tasks in the classroom rather than depend on us to do it for them. This requires them to be responsible and take ownership for the classroom experience.”
“Scope and Sequence” in the classroom is essential. As teachers, we need to spend adequate time on subjects and make that amount of time consistent with the assessments which are given.
A great piece of advice Mr. McClung gives is, “Don’t Lose Sight of What’s Important.” In every occupation there is conflict and adversity. As teachers we need to be able to put aside differences and concentrate on the reason we became educators. We want to make a difference in the lives of our students. “It’s about bringing your best effort for your students.”
His last piece of advice from his second year as a classroom teacher is, “It’s What You Learn after You Know It All That Matters.” This tip is something every teacher could follow. “Listen to those around you that have more experience, alter their advice to fit your style as an educator.” I believe that teachers are also learners and there is always room for more knowledge and improvement.
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