Mr. Joe McClung
Mr. McClung is a teacher that blogs about his learning experience at the end of each school year. McClung is the author,
What I learned this year is the link. In year 3 he learned a lot about who the boss is. As a teacher don't worry about adults they are not why you are a teacher. The kids should be the main priority. Decision making process should be student centered, they are the primary focus. Don't expect others to be excited about change, try to maintain a positive outlook. The naysayers that don't even try and say nothing is gonna work. there are a lot of teachers out there doing it for the money and not for the kids and that needs to be changed, and get more teachers who care. Don't be afraid to be an outside, sometimes it is what's best for the students. Be true to yourself. He would rather be an outsider than someone approval from other teachers. He hung out with students in the classroom rather than with the adults. He did not worry about others perception, he was there for the students. The teaching profession needs teachers that are passionate and willing to exceed the demands of normal teachers.
In Mr. McClung 4th year of teaching he was very worried about how his peers viewed him as a teacher. He worried himself a lot of the year with it. Then he came to realize he should stick to what got him this far. He knew if it worked for his students and superiors, it was good enough. I think as a future teacher I needed to only focus on what helps my students the most and continue doing it. I think when you worry about your peers you began to get off track of what you really should be focused on. Challenge yourself to stay focused and strive to be a better teacher. Mr. McClung taught Social Studies and history for three years now he is offered a different grade and subject and he is glad because he can refocus. He found himself being that boring teacher he didn't like as a child. He wanted his students to enjoy school. I think all teachers should change up their lesson plans and ways of teaching, this will help teachers and students enjoy the lesson better.
Hey Netta! I ended up reading all of Mr. Clung's posts of each new year he taught. I really liked how he experimented a bit and looked into how others viewed him. Although he ended up saying that he does not care what others think about him, it was still an important lesson for him to learn in his teaching career.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Warnetta!
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your blog post! I actually read all of his posts. Every year he seemed to have a similar realization except the year he contemplated whether or not he should care about his fellow teachers' opinions. I agree completely with your statement "when you worry about your peers you began to get off track." It is so easy to get off track. Students should always be the center of a teachers focus.