My year at the UBC Secondary Education Program has finally come to a close. I’ve learned a lot this year. Revised, reflected, planned and come up with even more questions than I had coming into this.

Going forward, the biggest thing for me is to continue to grow and not stay stagnant, to not lose what I’ve learned, been given, and I’ve connected with. So here is a list of my 8 big points moving forward. Eight things every new (and old) teacher needs to get moving and stay moving:

  1. Connections
    1. Make them. Shake every hand, take every email and phone number, get to know people. Make friends (or at least contacts) and stay in touch with these people (even Facebook works). Connections can be valuable resources of information, activities, and great springboards for your crazy ideas. Appreciate all your connections – you’ll have them forever if you put in a little work (I’ll miss all you UBC teacher candidates).
  2. Support Network
    1. Friends, Family, coworkers. These people will keep you sane and can be a ear, shoulder, or second set of eyes for you. Use them. Love them, and thank them. It goes a long way showing you appreciate these people. Thanks Mom, Dad, Nicolas, Cara, Emily, and Cody – couldn’t have survived the year without all of you.
  3. Health
    1. Physical, mental, emotional. Go for a run, eat well, avoid getting sick (I was sick for 3 weeks of my practicum – and it was hell). Keep your stress as low as possible – give yourself a break, it’s a damn demanding and difficult job. This leads to my next point.
  4. Take time for Yourself
    1. Want to stay sane? Want to last in this career for more than a year (5 years, 10 years, 30)? Take time for yourself. This might be exercise (basketball, soccer, and tennis for me) or it might be a new hobby or skill (guitar was my meditation for the year).
    2. Do your best, but not at the cost of your sanity and life. Every lesson can’t be perfect, every lesson can’t be the most innovative, fun engaging lesson ever. If you don’t take time to take care of yourself, you’re not going to be able to take care of others.
  1. Step outside your comfort zone
    1. Do some things that make you uncomfortable. You won’t grow unless you try new things – and that’s bound to make yourself uncomfortable. It’ll keep your students coming to class excited and it’ll keep you growing. I’ll be co-presenting a professional development workshop on Sex ed. in October – you bet that makes me uncomfortable.
  2. Being yourself – own it
    1. It’s difficult to put yourself out there sometimes (especially if you feel a little different). But the most successful and satisfying moments of my year came when I was truly just acting myself – even if that means embarrassing yourself. Follow through with confidence and no one will laugh (unless that’s the goal).
  3. Resources (and notes)
    1. Take them all. Most teachers are very willing to share their resources with you – just ask. I like to take notes of any websites, people, or resources on my phone. It’s wonderful to gain new resources, but if you’re constantly forgetting them (like me), they’re no good to you. Make a record and explore!
  4. Reflection
    1. I have learned so much this year by reflecting (I must begrudgingly admit, UBC). Taking time to think about what went well, what didn’t, and what to change can have a huge effect on your practice. Reflecting on your beliefs, philosophy of teaching, and controversial issues can help you make great strides. Reflection might be internal debates you have with yourself, conversation with others, or prose – verbalize your reflections: it might lead you to wonderful new places. Record them – because if might be only a fleeting a second that you have that thought, don’t let it be wasted.
  5. Bonus 1 – Share
    1. Share your ideas, thoughts, inquiries. Whether it be with colleagues in the staff room, during a staff meeting, department meeting, make use of your unique perspective. If you think your perspective isn’t being shown by anyone else, make your voice heard – it might be the voice to make something happen.
  6. Bonus 2 – Show off: online presence/ portfolio/profile
    1. Get one. Get out in the world and show who you are – don’t Hide your accomplishments. You’re probably awesome.

Cheers to all, good luck, see you in the school year.

*mic drop* (…sorry, I knocked over the mic stand)

Mr. Karpluk

 

 

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