Time has gone by so fast these last few weeks that I dread the rapid approach of the first day of classes. I have done so much, and yet, it seems that I have done nothing to prepare for the beginning of the year. As usual, I have done my share of reading different materials that may shed a light on my still obscure beginning as a teacher. In preparation for a workshop in reading I participated all of last week, I read several chapters of Lucy McCormick Calkins books The Art of Teaching Reading and The Art of Teaching Writing. Was I in for the ride of my life? Absolutely! What a wonderful way to give confidence to a new teacher that has had no previous experience with reading and writing workshops, as either a student or student teacher.
These books have been written in such a poignant language that moves the reader and inspires her to follow the dream of teaching reading and writing to kindergartners. I feel validated simply by having read chapters of these books, and by participating in the workshop last week (August 4 – 8). The workshop was organized by my district, Cabrillo Unified, and instruction was provided by the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project from Columbia University. The instructors were all highly qualified teachers who have had years of experience in the classroom, and that now spend their time teaching new teachers and veterans alike on how to institute and maintain an excellent reading and writing program, starting in kindergarten. The topics I learned during this past week include, but are not limited to, effective reading minilessons, conferring with student readers, a guide to different kinds of conferences, balanced literacy using read aloud and shared reading, building accountable talk, matching books to readers, teaching fluency and comprehension, among many other topics. All of these were explained and demonstrated at length, giving us time to simulate and prepare our own lessons and conferences.
During this workshop, I met many teachers from other districts. Many of them were veteran teachers who wanted to implement an innovative program in their classrooms. Several of them were there because their district required them to be there. Many more were new teachers like me, who had less than three years of teaching and valued all the new information being sent our way.
My year of student teaching and teacher preparation prepared me for many great ideas, but I wish that reading and writing workshop instruction were more than a passing commentary at the end of a semester. Teachers should be prepared from the first semester on how to implement such reading and writing program in their classrooms.
My level of confidence grew consistently as the week wore on, and I can say that I feel much more in control and empowered for having participated in this workshop. I know that many new teachers do not have the privilege of participating in training sessions like this one, and I highly recommend that all new teachers should look out for mentors or be blessed with a school district that so value their new teachers that they enroll them in such workshops in order to prepare them for the challenging year that is to come. I feel I am prepared now for the challenges I am about to start in less than two weeks.
There is so much information out there now on the internet that it is easy to become overwhelmed and not know what to do first. I have found countless websites for new teachers, or regular teaching community websites that give advice to new teachers, but I have come to believe that there is nothing like experiencing the beginning on your own. I have to face the first few weeks and hope that all the information that I have sought out will come in handy when I need. One last piece of advice that I think will come in very handy for me on the first few days is this, do not forget to breathe, think positive, and empathize with the children because it is likely that they will be feeling the same way you and I do. I say I can do it!
