"It is going to be a fabulous year!"

Posted on Sep 08 2009 at 9:51 AM

By: Melissa Mullineaux

After many hours spent attending professional development seminars, reading an abundance of literature on teaching English, and reflecting on my student teaching experiences, it was not until I received the key to my classroom that “being a teacher” felt real. Entering my classroom with just four days until my students’ arrival, I was excited as well as anxious about all the work that needed to be done to create an environment that would create an engaging space for my readers and writers! Looking at my empty classroom, I envisioned all the hard work, success, joyful moments, and challenges that lay ahead.

Upon accepting the 6th grade English position, I learned that Lincoln Middle School joined with Bell High School last year. Now, the combined school is named Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC). A focus of the school is to stress the importance of college beginning in the 6th grade and administrators and teachers are working to align effective goals and strategies for grades 6-12. In my opinion, two effective decisions that have been implemented are the following: 1) uniforms are required; 2) classes in grades 6-8 are separated by gender. There are two 6th grade English teachers, myself and my co-teacher and now friend, Mita. I have all boys this year while Mita has all girls and one class of boys. 

Mita and I met one week before the first day of school.  Although both of us are first-year teachers, I feel we have been successful in planning our lessons together, discussing our teaching philosophies, and discussing what strategies are likely to work best for our 6th graders. I feel fortunate to be working alongside her as we both bring different strengths to the table when designing our lesson plans. 

With already two weeks underway, I am still working on the logistics of differentiating lesson plans, building up my students’ reading and writing stamina, and creating engaging lessons. Each class we begin with a community circle named “Harambee,” which is Swahili for “coming together”. We form a circle and participate in Harambee by reflecting on a quote of our choosing that sets the tone for the class period. My students’ comments are thoughtful and sometimes surprising as they participate in the community building activity. I look forward to hearing their thoughts, reading their writing, and talking with them about their learning as they grow as individuals and develop the color of their words. It is going to be a fabulous year!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

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