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I went to the doctor today. It was the first time I’ve been in over a year and a half. I have strep throat. And it’s summer. How lame is that?
Enough with the complaining, As I was sitting here this evening wondering why my visitor numbers were a bit lower than they have been lately, I realized that I didn’t write anything on here today. Then I tried swallowing again and was reminded of my strep throat. That’s when I began to realize the similarities between me going to the doctor and me learning how to handle a classroom full of children.
- I waited until the last minute
I can deal with congestion. I can deal with coughing. I have been through more than my fair share of hospital visits and emergency room experiences. The thought of someone sticking an IV needle in my arm is little more than inconvenient. As long as they give me morphine, I’m cool with it. Unfortunately, this hardiness can also lead me to get sicker than I really ought to. It’s not that I don’t like going to the doctor, but I like to solve problems on my own.This is what happened to me with classroom management my first two years. I thought I would just figure it out. But I didn’t. It wasn’t until the very last minute and I really needed to move to a different school district that I decided I needed to go around and ask lots of teachers lots of questions. - I got bad news that I knew was coming
I pretty much figured that I had strep throat. I just wanted the doctor to tell me something different. I wanted to hear “we’ll give you a shot that will take that sore throat right away.” That news never came.Similarly, when I went to other teachers, they basically told me that I was letting the kids walk all over me. I didn’t want to hear that! But I had to hear that. There was no overnight solution to solve the problem; it took a lot of hard work on my part before things began to turn around. - I got a prescription, had to get it filled, and had to take the medicine
The nurse came back in after running the throat culture and told me that I do have strep throat, and she gave me the prescription. I went to the pharmacy, got it filled, and then went home and had to swallow the medicine.I asked teachers how to solve my problems, they gave me suggestions, and I had to go implement them into the class. Some were not easy. I thought they kids wouldn’t like me. They argued and complained. But I didn’t allow them to argue or complain. If they did, they got in trouble. - I anticipate getting better very soon
Over the next day or two, I anticipate the sore throat going away. I will continue taking the pills until the supply runs out.Similarly, if I had stopped working so hard on good classroom management skills after I began to see better behavior, I would have never fixed it. I would have settled for good instead of pressing on in to that which is best.
I know a lot of this may not make sense. I haven’t slept for more than three hours straight at any given time over the last 3 days. I’m doing the best I can!
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Very very funny
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So how did you get over the feeling that you were imposing all the time on other teachers when you kept asking them questions? I’m afraid 1) they’ll be sick and tired of my questions “uh oh, here she comes again with another question when I have so many other things to do” and 2) “doesn’t she know that? she must be so dumb.”
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Hey Carolyn, maybe I can shed some light. I have been in this for over 25 years and still ask questions. It’s the only way to find out. I ask other teachers, counselors, principals, my boss, her boss,… anyone who I think may have a better idea or a different slant on an issue. Things change so much in this business that only a truly “dumb” person wouldn’t ask. I try to make sure that 1. people have the time to take the question. If not, I come back when they do, or ask them to see me when they have a minute.2. I ask in a way that makes them feel that they have the answer. We are all flattered when someone considers us to have knowledge. 3. I ask people who will know. That takes some getting to know others, and their skills. 4. I make sure they know how much I appreciate their time and their talent. 5. I make sure that I can use the answer and then be the sharer if someone asks me something.
Hope this helps some.
Tom Anselm
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