One audience = less stress + more joy

Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 10:16 PM

By Mollie Dickson

“Surprisingly smooth. I’m way less stressed and having way more fun than I ever imagined I would be.”

This is the answer popping out of my mouth as everyone continues to ask, “So how is your first-year teaching?” And believe me, no one is more shocked by this sentence than I. How could this be?

My first thought: denial. Maybe, in an attempt to put everyone at ease, I am letting a false sense of security slip from my lips; convincing others and myself that, yes, I’m all smiles. Yet underneath the calm composure, there must be a storm. Somewhere? It must be bubbling below… building… preparing to burst. After all, I spent the summer prepping myself to endure 9 months of Firstyearitis: an inevitable state of mind, characterized by chronic fatigue, daily failures, and constant feelings of frustration—generally flustered, frantic, and freaking out. And now here I am: support group on call, mentor teacher next door, stock of Sudafed PM, Facebook a click away for procrastination, and a stash of both sweet and salty munchies to satisfy any stress-induced cravings. I’m set. But where is the storm? Sure I catch a mild symptom here and there, but there’s no denying, the full-blown Firstyearitis has failed to launch.

Okay, so second thoughts: a perfect group of students, a simple schedule, a solid curriculum map in place at the start of the year. Hah! Two-letter answer. Easy elimination. N. O.

Then what’s left? Any final thoughts to account for my peculiar state of calm contentment? Think. What’s the greatest difference between this year and last? Okay, an obvious answer: audience. As a student teacher, I was planning and performing lessons for a wide range of viewers: my mentor teacher, my supervisor, multiple professors at Lewis and Clark, my cohort of graduate students, my oh-so-important resume, and oh yes, my 6th graders. But this year, you can scratch that. It’s all about my students. Fully invested and absorbed in one purpose: to meet the needs and desires of the energetic, quirky, and talented group of 7th graders who walk into my classroom each day. One audience. And so, I am able to prepare and deliver more genuine, flexible, and engaging lessons. Rather than obsessively drafting the perfect plans, sticking to set timeframes no-matter-what, and hoping to please all parties, this year, my students are driving and shaping the curriculum and instruction. It’s no longer about me. I am now a vehicle, a facilitator, a guide… to direct their energy, spark their curiosity, hone their skills, uncover their passions, and shed light on the “so what” factor—revealing a meaningful, relevant purpose for why we do what we do. And the result? Less stress. Deeper rewards. Authentic learning.

More joy.

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