Burning Bridges

If you read my last post, you have a little understanding of my absence from blogging. The last two years have been super difficult, but I am here and much stronger. Because I am feeling back to ‘normal’ as I mentioned in my last post, I have really been reflecting on my teaching. One conclusion that I am coming to is that I am burning bridges with all my questions and requests. I, in my opinion, was being overwhelming. I got into the habit of asking for help because I was drowning in my personal life that I was forgetting to think about those who were helping me. I needed to realize that the world didn’t revolve around me and just like me, everyone else had (and has) a family, teaching responsibilities, and a life to worry about. By no means, was anyone being mean or telling me that I was too much, but I knew that I was too much. The point of this blog post is to say thank you to a few teachers who have literally saved my teaching career in the last two years and continue to do so. The first person for which I am beyond grateful and, I must have done something write to call her my friend, Natalia Delaat . Thank you for all that you do and have done for me. Two others to whom I want to say thank you are: Meredith White and Amy Lenord . Thank you for answering my million questions and offering to provide samples of your work on your different platforms.  There are so many that offer their resources and I could go on, but these three incredible women deserve a lot more than my thank you and a blog post, but besides Natalia, I don’t live close enough to give each of them a hug. I appreciate all that you do. THANK YOU!

You’re right, Dorothy! There is no place like home.

Is anyone still out there? It is crazy to think that I haven’t written anything new for almost two years. I’ve definitely missed blogging and putting forth more effort in this part of my life, but things had to take a backseat. I had a family situation (all is well now) where I had to choose where my attention went and everything other than my family was put on the back burner. These last two years have been the hardest two years of my life, but my family and I are in a better place and I am feeling back to “normal” in my teaching.  

I have switched schools AGAIN. This is the third since starting to blog, but this school is part of the feeling back to normal. It has been a while since I have felt at home. Have you ever had that feeling of home at your school? It is funny because my school is actually the high school that I attended when I was a teenager. There are three teachers that were my teachers in the past that I am now working with as colleagues. It is definitely weird, but amazing at the same time! 

My department is great. We are a small department- just three of us ( two Spanish teachers and one French). In my opinion, our department should be bigger considering our enrollment, but my school has had some setbacks. Our goals for our program consist of retaining the students we have while growing the program. I am hopeful. I am currently teaching levels 2 and 3, with one 3/4 split. Our current level 4s are very much like our 3s since they only had a certified teacher for half the year last year. I am really enjoying my students and I think my students are glad to have a teacher who is consistent and passionate about her teaching. 

Because of the setbacks in our department, I knew I had to hook my students from the beginning. I decided to start my level 2s with the Wildebeest short film and my level 3s with the Alma short film. They LOVED the films.  One of my students said we should do more short films. I did have a few not understand why we keep talking about crocodiles and wildebeests, but once I explained to them that the storyline was just a means to an end. It was the language that we were using that was my goal.  We just took our assessment in both levels and I am so proud of my students. Their retells were awesome. For not having a teacher for 1/2 of a year, they did amazing. I can’t wait for them to see their assessments so that they can see how much potential they have (a lot of my students have the idea that they can’t “do” Spanish). 

Although I haven’t talked ideas or tips today, I wanted to say that I am BACK and excited to start blogging again. After trying out hanging folders and manilla folders, I decided to go to binders so look for that post next.  What are some other topics you would like to read about? Let me know. Until then, ¡Adios!