failure

Failures:

There were many failures this year, but I'd like to view these as learning experiences that I could draw from to become a better teacher and better person.

My list includes:

classroom management struggles during 1st semester

not effectively managing 3 preps.(It was very difficult for me to transition from 1 lesson to another from period to period; to jump from teaching electronegativity 1st period, ionic trends 2nd period, to renewable/nonrenewable resources 3rd period)

still felt that at the end of the year I was working too hard

In particular, watching kids who showed light and potential at the beginning of the year, slowly fizzle and give up and eventually drop out.

I did not differentiate instruction very well. I essentially just inflated the grades of my special ed kids.

I also spent way too much time trying to reach students who were giving minimal effort. I had a lot of really great kids this year who were motivated and despite their surroundings, were quite intent on learning. I feel that I failed these students who could have benefitted from me the most.

I am intent on not making the mistake twice. Next year I'm going to focus more on these motivated students, doing everything I can to maximize their skills/abilities, as they are the most deserving in my mind.