The Start To My Journey

What the start of my teaching journey has consisted of

This year is proving to be one to remember. When it was announced that schools were going to be learning from home with honesty I was worried, worried how I was going to teach through a screen, worried how to use online sites, worried how my students were going to cope, worried that I was going to lose relationships that I had just built. It could go on. I decided to turn these worries into challenges and that I was not only going to face but overcome to the best of my abilities.

How? 

I am lucky enough to be a part of a school that had already been set up with online facilities such as class sites, blogs, and a fantastic support team to help me with these. I have had to learn how to use the wonders that google has to offer, although in the beginning I probably wouldn't have said that but after time and a few screams at the screen, it has improved. I have avoided these in the past, looking back on that today what a mistake that was. This has been a huge highlight of mine during this journey so far, I am amazed what you can do online and with the help of my amazing support team at school this has been a huge step forward in my journey.

My class blog and daily hangout calls have been the most rewarding. This tackled my worry of losing relationships with the kids as I am able to see them every day not only to discuss learning but just to check in and chat. Some even stay on longer to chat, to read a story to me, or share something they have been doing which brings a smile to my face every morning. The kids are my main priority and as cliché, as it sounds they are why I chose to be a teacher. I often feel like a proud mother hen with even the smallest things that they say or do. My goal is to make our time on the hangout an enjoyable experience, I often think I have lost the plot. For example with my Wacky Wednesday theme on Wednesdays I have worn my clothes backward, put socks all around/on me, and putting my acting skills (that are nonexistent) to the test.

Some challenges along the way

My relationship with screen castify and recording myself is proving to be a love/hate one. This is something that has been great to present learning and to break it down for the students but wow I think it takes up most of my time as I record almost 100 takes before giving up and just posting one. I cringe at listening to my own voice and worry about how I look or sound. Here's hoping this relationship improves.

I take my hat off to those who work from a computer all day every day, this has been a challenge as my eyes, headaches, and back are not my best friends right now. I find that I could easily be staring at my screen all day and I have found it hard to know when to switch off. I am now trying hard to completely shut off at 5.

What now?  

My learning journey has only just begun and I am going to use this experience as a foundation to grow. Taking everything day by day seems to be the way to go at the moment. I am thankful to have started my first year of teaching with such a great team.