If you teach elementary school, I'm sure you can sympathize with me. There are always those days when you walk out of your classroom at 3:00 and it's like culture shock. You mean…I could have…like…an adult conversation?! I won't have to repeat what I said 17 times?
All joking aside, I want to write about the importance of those adults around you. As teachers, we can forget about the wisdom and experience of the colleagues around us. In reading through the first few chapters of Meenoo Rami's Thrive, I am reminded of the importance of building a community that is centered around support and mentoring. When I think about the word, mentor, there are a few main people who come to mind. However, the more I read, the more extensive the list becomes.
I have been in the same teaching position now for four or five years. However, the running joke up until now was that I had done every job in our school building except for being the Principal. To some extent, it was quite accurate. I have been in long term positions as an Emotional Support Teacher, Special Education teacher, Gifted Teacher, 6th grade teacher and 5th grade teacher. That doesn't include a few days where I stepped in as a pseudo-disciplinarian and ran lunches in the cafeteria. I write all of this because, I would not have been capable of doing any of it without the teachers around me.
Each time I stepped into a new position I had to learn the ropes from someone. I would run around and get as much advice as I could from whoever had answers. What has resulted is a whole cohort of people that I can go to for a variety of types of advice. You would be surprised at the numbers of mentors you have when you really sit down to think about it! Here are some that I have been thinking of throughout this process:
*The GateKeeper: It seems funny, but the school secretary should be one of your best friends in the
building. She truly is the gate keeper to the building. If you need to know where something is, or
who to ask what question; she knows everything. Very frequently, if you smile pretty, and ask a
question sweetly you can get an answer to any question. I'm lucky enough to have the most
awesome school secretaries in the world!
*The Creative Mind: When I worked as a Gifted teacher, I frequently collaborated with the other
Gifted teacher in the building. She is always thinking about the next engaging unit of study that she
can create. We worked very well together as I functioned as the 'organizer' to her creative ideas.
The relationship becomes even more fruitful when there is give AND take.
*The Lesson Planner: My official mentor as an incoming teacher has become a very close friend and
colleague that I trust. Besides going over the required list of topics, we began to plan together and
bounce ideas off of each other. This is also a relationship that has great give and take. When one of
us is not on their "A" game, the other is able to compensate. There are also the times when I am at
my wit's end and she is able to help out with behavior management tips as well.
*The Former Union Rep: There will be times when you need to say exactly the right thing or send
an email that is worded in precisely the right way. I can always run over to her to see if an email
looks ok. She has a talent for putting words in such a way that what needs to happen is able to
happen. The other benefit to the former Union Rep is that they know our contract inside and out. If
I am unsure of how something works contractually she has the experience of dealing with it
previously.
There are so many more that could be included, but this is a sampling for you. When you start to look around, the number of mentors that you actually have is probably much higher than you would have predicted. The more you build a community of support, the better the community becomes. Stop back here shortly to find a more up close and personal look at one of these mentors!
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