Educators in Indiana

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Comment by Marissa Hradek on July 15, 2009 at 10:54am

I recently was hired with a wonderful district here on the south side of Indianapolis. First year teacher! It is exciting and scary at the same time to start putting together my classroom and get organized for August 10th (we start early!) Any tips for a first year teacher?

Comment by Elaine Whitesides on July 12, 2009 at 11:11am

I feel like I should have on a fedora pulled neatly down over my eyes and a long black cape and be inconspicuous here! I spent my time in Illinois (suburban Chicago) schools and no longer am in the classroom. I tutor a few children here in Indiana. I find a few, small differences, but generally, children and learning remains constant for the most part.

I love education and the theory of it and I love to see new strategies implemented and good, solid results. In my mind, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to anything, least of all educating forming brains. As an educator, my credo was mostly - we do what works for that child and what works for that child over there and what works for this one here. It is a wonderful, challenging, exhausting job that can never be explained, it must be experienced.

I am eager to hear what is going on in education here and what challenges and delights are presented to teachers every day in their classrooms. Sometimes it is just a relief to say it out loud and know someone else understands - teaching is just that different a profession. No. A calling.

I have a tendency to make suggestions or throw out ideas, not a criticism, ever, but just another angle or thought to consider.

All the best to those out there who don those sensible teacher shoes and goofy earrings to spark some interest in that one child who doesn't respond often. Like I said, in education we try what we can and do what might just work - even for one child. Here's to a productive, fun, memorable school year!

Cheers!
Elaine