A Little About Me
(Originally written in 2011. Updates at the bottom.)
My first year of teaching was 1987, in Dennington. Coming out of high school I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I sort of fell into the profession because one of my sisters was a teacher and it seemed like a good idea at the time! I hated my three years of college but really loved the 'teaching rounds' we did. Out in the schools, learning the practise, I knew I had chosen (or been lead) into the right career.
My first class (20 kids), my first classroom (old fashioned but large), was the fulfillment of a dream I never knew I'd had. It felt right. It felt purposeful. It was fun, massively hard work, all consuming and I loved it. Still do in a more relaxed, less intense way. Obsession would not be an inaccurate description.
Teaching is how I contribute to the world, how I give back to society. It's my thanks for the blessings I've been given all my life. And the funny thing is.... no matter how much you give to this job, the kids always give back more.
At my first school I taught Prep/One for three years (5 and 6 year old) There were 4 other teachers on staff and they were all fantastic to the first-year-out, know-nothing, newbie. My mentor Colleen was especially brilliant - simply by coming over to my room once a week and saying great things about what I was doing! She's a brilliant person, an inspiring teacher and I count my friendship with her as a great gift.
So '87, '88, '89 was Prep/One. I also did my Bachelor part time and got some valuable inservicing in maths and literacy. 1990 was team teaching 55 or so Grade 2/3/4s with the principal in a double room. Great learning experience, working with an expert - I had some brilliant modelling from someone whom I now see, was ahead of his time. In '91. '92, '93 I taught One/Two composites. During this time I also became a Reading Recovery teacher.
One of the best things about this first 7 years of teaching was sharing a house with two other new teachers, Anna and Lisa . We all taught in different schools, learned the trade together, did the rotten Bachelor together, debriefed daily, shared all our experiences, frustrations and funny stories, both supported and pushed each other - and we knew all the gossip(!) Quarter of a century on, we don't see a lot of each other, but when we do, it's like picking up again with a sister.
In 1994 I moved schools (and home) to a very small two-teacher school in a farming community, where I taught the younger half of the school and the principal taught the older half. As there was only 30 or so of them, I often took the whole school when the principal had meetings etc.
Time for a change again in 1997 and I moved to the rapidly growing suburb of Werribee outside Melbourne. Much bigger school this time and I had three years - again in the younger classes. I really benefitted from the 'big school' experience, especially working on a large staff and planning in teams, which I'd never had the chance to do before.
By this time, I finally worked out that I wanted to live in Geelong so I moved again, bought my little house and taught Gr 1/2 for two years at a school which again, was a very different experience. The students at this school were from very low socio-economic families and to say the job was stressful was, well.... you betcha. Every day was a challenge. I used to read 'Desiderata' (the 'Go placidly amidst the noise and haste' one) every day before I got out of the car. While my two years there were very difficult, I wouldn't take 'em back because I learned so much about my own beliefs regarding the way human beings should treat each other. I also learned about the resilience of kids who sometimes came to school having faced more conflict before breakfast, than I have ever experienced in my life.
In 2002, I came to my current school, so I've been here a fair while. Again I started in the juniors - 5 years in Prep - and I would have always said my heart belonged to the juniors, but in 2007 I moved to Grade 5 and I've been in the seniors ever since and enjoyed it waaaaay more than I thought I would.
I've been lucky to experience a great deal of wonderful professional development (and a bit of sucky stuff). When I look at how my teaching has changed over the years it's quite different - even without counting the dramatic changes in technology. (My first school had one Apple IIE computer!) But the principles and beliefs about teaching haven't changed all that much. I believe that who I am for these kids is really important and I keep working on making that the best I can.
I've also been lucky to experience roles of leadership early - benefits of teaching in a small school. Religious Education Co-ordinator, Literacy Co-ordinator, Vice Principal, Curriclum Co-ordinator have been 'interesting' experiences. Leadership's not my favourite thing but you have to put in at a whole school level and not just mind your own class.
I've always taught in Catholic schools. It's my family upbringing, my culture and with all its faults, 'issues' and sometimes horrors, I believe the good outweighs the bad. Certainly from what I've seen happening in the 5 schools I've had the privilege of teaching in and my own experience of being taught in Catholic schools, Catholic Education is a wonderful, affirming, joyous place for kids to learn. And that's all about the teachers - which is true of every school. Whichever type of school, it's the teachers that give the school its 'feel'.
I'm a bit of a fan girl, of the Whedonesque variety and I've been inspired by this. My fandoms have always been avenues for learning for me. I learned the internet by looking up fan sites for my favourite shows, characters etc. I played with scripts, wallpapers, icons and galleries. My current obsession is Supernatural!
I love words, so books, movies, tv shows and songs that treasure words are like chocolate for me - irresistable! I'll read a good book 10 times, rather than read 10 lousy books. Douglas Adams, Richard Bach, Jean Webster, Cynthia Voigt, Sting, Sarah McLachlan and dear Joss Whedon, I love you all and more!
I don't have kids of my own but I started being an auntie when I was 2 and have been 21 times. I think that's why teaching has come so naturally - because I've had so many nieces and nephews and put in so many babysitting hours!. They're all young (and, ahem, old) adults now and the great nieces and nephews are coming quickly (did I mention the good Catholic family bit?!) . It's been wonderful to see them grow into the brilliant adults they are, and five have chosen education as a career too.
In 2009, some kids I was teaching were using Weebly to present inquiries and I was a bit wary about kids doing websites. I find the internet both a wonderful and completely scary place. So I thought I'd find out about Weebly by making my own site and that's how this came to be. I wanted to learn how to upload information and media and of course my hard drive is chock-a-block with teaching resources so it seemed practical to make a teacher resource site. It remained a private hobby I'd potter around with every now and again. until 2011 when I began sharing the link with others and very nervously 'going public'. I believe deeply in teachers sharing resources. I don't 'get' teachers who hoard things for themselves and don't like to share. If I'm going to make something, why not make it available for other classes to benefit from as well?
The website's been a very rewarding experience for me because of the wonderful feedback and generous comments I've received from all over the world. It's a great pleasure to open the email each morning and see who's been 'pinning' and who's left comments. The idea that a poster about 'RED' or a powerpoint on narratives is being used in a classroom in China, the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Lebanon or New Zealand just floors me! And I thank the teachers who've taken the time to communicate.
What's next? I've probably got around 15 years left of teaching. I want to keep learning, keep experiencing new things, keep benefitting from the camaraderie of other teachers, and most of all, keep hearing kids laugh and enjoy learning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2013 Update: I'm now back with the juniors! But not as a classroom teacher which is another first for me. I'm a support teacher working in all three junior classrooms, giving more teaching time in our large classes and intensive support for individuals and small groups.
2016 Update: Back in the classroom!!! And oh, what a classroom - it's the school library, 'cause we ran out of classrooms and 20 year 3/4s and myself are happily ensconced.
My first year of teaching was 1987, in Dennington. Coming out of high school I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I sort of fell into the profession because one of my sisters was a teacher and it seemed like a good idea at the time! I hated my three years of college but really loved the 'teaching rounds' we did. Out in the schools, learning the practise, I knew I had chosen (or been lead) into the right career.
My first class (20 kids), my first classroom (old fashioned but large), was the fulfillment of a dream I never knew I'd had. It felt right. It felt purposeful. It was fun, massively hard work, all consuming and I loved it. Still do in a more relaxed, less intense way. Obsession would not be an inaccurate description.
Teaching is how I contribute to the world, how I give back to society. It's my thanks for the blessings I've been given all my life. And the funny thing is.... no matter how much you give to this job, the kids always give back more.
At my first school I taught Prep/One for three years (5 and 6 year old) There were 4 other teachers on staff and they were all fantastic to the first-year-out, know-nothing, newbie. My mentor Colleen was especially brilliant - simply by coming over to my room once a week and saying great things about what I was doing! She's a brilliant person, an inspiring teacher and I count my friendship with her as a great gift.
So '87, '88, '89 was Prep/One. I also did my Bachelor part time and got some valuable inservicing in maths and literacy. 1990 was team teaching 55 or so Grade 2/3/4s with the principal in a double room. Great learning experience, working with an expert - I had some brilliant modelling from someone whom I now see, was ahead of his time. In '91. '92, '93 I taught One/Two composites. During this time I also became a Reading Recovery teacher.
One of the best things about this first 7 years of teaching was sharing a house with two other new teachers, Anna and Lisa . We all taught in different schools, learned the trade together, did the rotten Bachelor together, debriefed daily, shared all our experiences, frustrations and funny stories, both supported and pushed each other - and we knew all the gossip(!) Quarter of a century on, we don't see a lot of each other, but when we do, it's like picking up again with a sister.
In 1994 I moved schools (and home) to a very small two-teacher school in a farming community, where I taught the younger half of the school and the principal taught the older half. As there was only 30 or so of them, I often took the whole school when the principal had meetings etc.
Time for a change again in 1997 and I moved to the rapidly growing suburb of Werribee outside Melbourne. Much bigger school this time and I had three years - again in the younger classes. I really benefitted from the 'big school' experience, especially working on a large staff and planning in teams, which I'd never had the chance to do before.
By this time, I finally worked out that I wanted to live in Geelong so I moved again, bought my little house and taught Gr 1/2 for two years at a school which again, was a very different experience. The students at this school were from very low socio-economic families and to say the job was stressful was, well.... you betcha. Every day was a challenge. I used to read 'Desiderata' (the 'Go placidly amidst the noise and haste' one) every day before I got out of the car. While my two years there were very difficult, I wouldn't take 'em back because I learned so much about my own beliefs regarding the way human beings should treat each other. I also learned about the resilience of kids who sometimes came to school having faced more conflict before breakfast, than I have ever experienced in my life.
In 2002, I came to my current school, so I've been here a fair while. Again I started in the juniors - 5 years in Prep - and I would have always said my heart belonged to the juniors, but in 2007 I moved to Grade 5 and I've been in the seniors ever since and enjoyed it waaaaay more than I thought I would.
I've been lucky to experience a great deal of wonderful professional development (and a bit of sucky stuff). When I look at how my teaching has changed over the years it's quite different - even without counting the dramatic changes in technology. (My first school had one Apple IIE computer!) But the principles and beliefs about teaching haven't changed all that much. I believe that who I am for these kids is really important and I keep working on making that the best I can.
I've also been lucky to experience roles of leadership early - benefits of teaching in a small school. Religious Education Co-ordinator, Literacy Co-ordinator, Vice Principal, Curriclum Co-ordinator have been 'interesting' experiences. Leadership's not my favourite thing but you have to put in at a whole school level and not just mind your own class.
I've always taught in Catholic schools. It's my family upbringing, my culture and with all its faults, 'issues' and sometimes horrors, I believe the good outweighs the bad. Certainly from what I've seen happening in the 5 schools I've had the privilege of teaching in and my own experience of being taught in Catholic schools, Catholic Education is a wonderful, affirming, joyous place for kids to learn. And that's all about the teachers - which is true of every school. Whichever type of school, it's the teachers that give the school its 'feel'.
I'm a bit of a fan girl, of the Whedonesque variety and I've been inspired by this. My fandoms have always been avenues for learning for me. I learned the internet by looking up fan sites for my favourite shows, characters etc. I played with scripts, wallpapers, icons and galleries. My current obsession is Supernatural!
I love words, so books, movies, tv shows and songs that treasure words are like chocolate for me - irresistable! I'll read a good book 10 times, rather than read 10 lousy books. Douglas Adams, Richard Bach, Jean Webster, Cynthia Voigt, Sting, Sarah McLachlan and dear Joss Whedon, I love you all and more!
I don't have kids of my own but I started being an auntie when I was 2 and have been 21 times. I think that's why teaching has come so naturally - because I've had so many nieces and nephews and put in so many babysitting hours!. They're all young (and, ahem, old) adults now and the great nieces and nephews are coming quickly (did I mention the good Catholic family bit?!) . It's been wonderful to see them grow into the brilliant adults they are, and five have chosen education as a career too.
In 2009, some kids I was teaching were using Weebly to present inquiries and I was a bit wary about kids doing websites. I find the internet both a wonderful and completely scary place. So I thought I'd find out about Weebly by making my own site and that's how this came to be. I wanted to learn how to upload information and media and of course my hard drive is chock-a-block with teaching resources so it seemed practical to make a teacher resource site. It remained a private hobby I'd potter around with every now and again. until 2011 when I began sharing the link with others and very nervously 'going public'. I believe deeply in teachers sharing resources. I don't 'get' teachers who hoard things for themselves and don't like to share. If I'm going to make something, why not make it available for other classes to benefit from as well?
The website's been a very rewarding experience for me because of the wonderful feedback and generous comments I've received from all over the world. It's a great pleasure to open the email each morning and see who's been 'pinning' and who's left comments. The idea that a poster about 'RED' or a powerpoint on narratives is being used in a classroom in China, the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Lebanon or New Zealand just floors me! And I thank the teachers who've taken the time to communicate.
What's next? I've probably got around 15 years left of teaching. I want to keep learning, keep experiencing new things, keep benefitting from the camaraderie of other teachers, and most of all, keep hearing kids laugh and enjoy learning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2013 Update: I'm now back with the juniors! But not as a classroom teacher which is another first for me. I'm a support teacher working in all three junior classrooms, giving more teaching time in our large classes and intensive support for individuals and small groups.
2016 Update: Back in the classroom!!! And oh, what a classroom - it's the school library, 'cause we ran out of classrooms and 20 year 3/4s and myself are happily ensconced.