Yup - I like coaching

So the past 2 days I have been teaching.

I know.

I missed it a ton.

But what was more neat than teaching - was watching someone teach what I had just taught to the next couple classes. It is really neat to remember when I would see someone teach a lesson and be like "I can do that" and then try and do that and be like "woah... how did they remember to do all those things!?!"

I think this whole being a coach while still so young in my career will really help me remember to relate to the new and growing teachers in a truly empathetic way. Because I really only had one year where I said "I think I know what I'm doing" and was about to being a year where I truly felt I was a good teacher. Now, for sure, I will always always always have room to grow as a teacher - and I intend to. How boring would it be if I didn't?

But I love that I was so into the growth process when I got pulled to help other teachers begin their growth process - I think it is one of my best assets as a coach.

That, and I love it. Loving your job always helps.

Happy Friday!

The grass is pretty green here...

It is safe to say, after 7 student days, and 12 total days as a science coach, I think I am enjoying it. 

Obviously, I miss having my own set of students to get to know. I don't think I will ever get over that no matter how long I am out of the classroom.

But - I am really enjoying the coaching part of my job. I love that I have the time to come up with and implement initiatives around the school. I am in the process of planning and 8th grade science field trip (there hasn't been one but 6th and 7th both go within the district), looking into hosting a STEM competition, writing updates to our school science fair guidelines, and, of course, finding and mastering different resources so I can help our teachers utilize them in their classrooms. I am also leading a staff book club next week, attending a training on how STEM and Race to the Top are related, modeling different types of lessons with various teachers (close readings, stations), and organizing the supplies that the department has accrued and lost track of throughout the years. 

Did I mention it has only been 12 days since the year started? That is including today, where I am supervising make up tests for the baseline test for both 7th and 8th grade and not really leaving my office :( 

But I spent most of yesterday in classrooms which I always enjoy! 

Today's tasks include typing up and sending lesson plan feedback, updating the Unit 1 tests to reflect the desires of the department from last week's meeting (I was at the district office at a training and couldn't be there),  creating the remaining learning goals for Unit 1 and some sample learning goals for Unit 2, prepping the close reading lesson and stations lesson I am modeling, and doing research on this whole STEM competition thing into costs, rules, and anything else I don't know about it (which is a lot... I really have no STEM competition clue...)... plus anything else I think of to do, like update this blog :)

As far as maternity leave - I still have a lot of goals I want to accomplish by September 16 (1 month before my due date) but I haven't entirely outlined what a lot of them formally are. I would like to have my department creating good complete lesson plans and outlined the units they will be going over while I am out, inventory done, field trip prepped, and probably other things... I really should formalize this list soon - that is only 3 weeks away! Just consider that another thing added to today's to do list :)

No students

The year is starting!!

My contract starts Monday... so like most teachers I was here a week in advance getting things ready.

Oh, and learning the ropes to my new position as full time science coach.

When I left I was to be half time science coach, focused on 7th grade, while also teaching 3 7th grade science classes, and I was going to be department chair. Fast forward 8 weeks and I get a call from my principal that he wasn't satisfied with the applicants for the other half of the position... do I want it?

I'm not at a point in my life to turn down a promotion, so of course I said yes.

And then started the million questions. Actually, mostly one question over and over again...

How will I react to having to students?

Which, as any proactive person would do, I have just turned into a person goal - get to know as many students as possible this year. Instead of thinking of it like I have no students I am thinking of it like I have 700 students.

That is a lot of names to learn.

But a lot of excitement to come.

So as I settle into my new role, my new room, and this new year be sure to check back! I'm tackling inventory starting tomorrow... wish me luck!