Goals for the year are usually much bigger around
new year because it is the time where most people make new year resolutions
that become fuzzy as time progresses. However, the goals that I want to
accomplish and will talk about are different. I’m talking about the goals that
I will remain consistent about, ones that I won’t drop or simply forget about a
month later.
A goal that has stuck to me throughout my junior
year of college is to speak up more often. Classes, especially discussion-oriented
classes, involved students to share ideas and thoughts, but it wasn’t something
I was allowing myself to do. Fear, anxiety, or the fact that I was probably
going to mess up what sounded really good in my head, I just never spoke up.
This is a goal that is going to translate throughout
both my personal life as well as my student teaching experience. In “Ready, Set,
Goals,” Mark Sanna emphasize on creating precise goals because “the more
clearly defined your goals, the easier they are to attain” (39). Therefore, I’ve
came up with more specific goals for myself: I will raise my hand, I will share
my ideas/thoughts/opinions in my classes,
I will stand by the door to greet my students, and I will get out of my
comfort zone to be more active as a student teacher. I say ‘I will’ instead of
‘I will try my best’ because I refuse to give myself the excuse to say “oh,
maybe next time then.” Delaying my goals will do me no good, and according to
Sanna “procrastination is the silent killer of goals” (41).
By giving myself the chance to have more of an
active presence is something I know I’m going to need, especially being in the
field of education. Besides, I don’t just want to teach students, I want to be
more than that. And speaking up as well as getting out of my comfort zone is
going to take me there quicker.
Works
Cited
Sanna,
Mark. "Ready, Set, Goals." Chiropractic Economics 61.7 (2015):
39-41. CINAHL Complete. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.
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ReplyDeleteDo your thing, Quynh! It's great to hear you want to become more outspoken in your life. I feel the decision by you to be outspoken means you are ready to take an active role in furthering your life. Instead of letting the cards fall how they might, you are stacking the deck in your interest and maybe have a few aces up your sleeve. Cheers to you and your commitment to yourself!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Disregard the Dirt McGert name ha!
-Josh
I think it is great that you are trying to set this goal up for yourself as we begin this new year. I can understand that it is somewhat difficult to follow through with goals as we start a new year, but I encourage you to keep with it. I have found that developing an interest in the students and their interests has definitely helped me to become more engaging in there. I can relate to you with the idea that you are simply a “student teacher”. It is an idea that has often become stuck in my head and because of it, I am afraid that I cannot stand up and actually be the teacher. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the idea of being the teacher. If you feel you are having problems doing this, don’t be afraid to communicate with your mentor teacher to see if they have any suggestions for you on what you can do to improve this. I think you are off to a great start! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteMs. Nguyen, thank you for your thoughtful post! I appreciate your focus on a goal that's going to transform you from an effective teacher to a teacher-leader! You have amazing ideas, and I'm so glad you plan to share them in our class, with your mentor teacher, and with your students. Your efforts to participate in the professional dialogue on the teaching of English language arts will raise up the profession and allow others to see you as a leader in the field. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteReply from Alexis:
ReplyDeleteQuynh,
Your goal to speak up and get involved is a fantastic one! Not only will this improve your self-esteem and confidence as a teacher, but it will also serve as a beneficial model for your students. If they see that you are confident in your abilities and role as a teacher, they will place more confidence in you, making it easier for you to build professional relationships with your students. Sharing your own story with your students will also benefit you, especially because most probably feel the same way about sharing their thoughts and ideas. When you feel nervous just remember the helpful advice that you gave me, take it step by step and breathe! I know you will accomplish your goal and I wish you great luck this year!
Alexis