Thriving in Transition: Finding Value and Appreciation in a New Middle School

Transitioning to a new middle school can be a daunting experience, filled with uncertainty and apprehension. However, I am here to share my personal journey, one that has proven that sometimes taking a leap of faith can lead to incredible growth and fulfillment. In this blog post, I want to shed light on why the decision to switch schools was the right move for me, as I now feel appreciated, valued, and have found an incredible community of students who have made my transition worthwhile.

One of the most significant reasons why transitioning to this new middle school was the right move for me is the overwhelming sense of appreciation and value that I have experienced here. From the very beginning, I was warmly welcomed by both the faculty and my students. The support and encouragement I received made me feel like an integral part of the school community, boosting my confidence and motivation to excel academically and socially.

From day one, I was struck by the diversity of talents, interests, and backgrounds that my students brought to the table. The opportunity to interact with such a diverse group of individuals has broadened my horizons and enriched my learning experience. The relationships I have formed here have been invaluable, and I am constantly inspired by the passion and dedication of my scholarly students.

Transitioning to a new middle school has opened doors to a plethora of exciting opportunities that I could have never imagined before. One of the highlights of my time here was the chance to run an after-school origami club. This club allowed me to explore my creativity, develop new skills, and connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for arts and crafts. Additionally, I had the unforgettable experience of blowing up pumpkins for all eighth grade students during a science experiment, which not only made learning fun but also fostered a sense of wonder within me.

Another crucial factor that has made this transition worthwhile is the unwavering support I have received from both my CLT and the school administration. They have embraced my unique learning approach and provided me with the necessary resources and guidance to thrive academically. This level of support has allowed me to explore my interests, take on new challenges, and truly excel in my studies. I am grateful for the freedom and encouragement to pursue my passions while still meeting academic expectations.

Admittedly, the transition to a new middle school was not without its challenges. The physical aspect of moving, with over 50 boxes of belongings to unpack, was a daunting task. However, as time passed, I found myself gradually settling into my new environment. The warm welcome, the amazing students, the thrilling opportunities, and the unwavering support I received have made all the initial difficulties worthwhile.

Today, I can confidently say that I am genuinely happy with the decision I made to switch schools. Transitioning to a new middle school was undoubtedly a significant change in my life, but it has proven to be the right move for me. The appreciation, value, and support I have received, combined with the incredible students and the multitude of opportunities, have allowed me to thrive in ways I never thought possible. While the initial adjustment may have been challenging, I am now settled in and filled with joy and gratitude for the experiences and growth this new school has offered me. Transitioning to a new middle school was the best decision I ever made. If you are on the fence about leaving this profession, a move could be the right move for you too!

The Power of Self-Reflection: Unlocking Your Best School Day with a Daily Check-In Journal

#teaching #teachermentalhealth #dailycheckin

Teaching is a challenging profession that requires immense dedication and energy. As educators, it is crucial to prioritize our well-being and continually strive for the best school day possible. One effective tool to achieve this is a daily self check-in journal. We check in with our students daily, why not ourselves? I have created a daily check-journal just for teachers! It is something I used this year to identify solutions on making each teaching day as great as possible. I used this to identify triggers, glimmers, and ways to make my school day better. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using a check-in journal, what is included in it, and how it can help us identify patterns and solutions for a more fulfilling teaching experience. In my Daily Self Check-In Journal you can find the following:

A Reminder to Breathe and Hydrate:

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the school day, it's important to take care of yourself. Include a gentle reminder to take deep breaths and stay hydrated throughout the day. These small acts of self-care can make a significant difference in your overall well-being and energy levels.

Rating Your Overall Day:

At the end of each day, take a moment to rate your overall experience. This simple practice allows you to reflect on the highs and lows of the day, enabling you to gain a better understanding of your emotional state and overall satisfaction. I noticed that my school days were getting harder and harder and the support I was getting wasn't what I needed. I think as teachers we are just so good at resetting each day, we often block out negative experiences. At least, that is what I did. This helped me keep an inventory and record of each day and helped me to zoom out to gain perspective.

Identifying Energy Boosters and Drainers:

Jot down the activities, interactions, or moments that boost your energy throughout the day. These could be positive conversations with colleagues, engaging lessons, or moments of personal achievement. Similarly, note down any factors that depleted your energy, such as challenging behavior, administrative tasks, or feeling overwhelmed. Identifying these patterns will help you prioritize activities that uplift your spirit and find solutions to minimize energy drains. For me, I am not great about eating and drinking water during the school day. Whenever I had lunch prepared and ate I felt better. When I drink my daily water goal, I feel better. When I wake up in the morning and workout before school, I feel better. This helped me add good habits of things that boosted my energy and recognize where changes needed to occur where my energy was being depleted.

Reflecting on Class Periods:

Take a few minutes to assess each class period individually. Identify which periods were enjoyable and fulfilling and note down the reasons behind it. Was it the students' enthusiasm, a successful lesson plan, or a positive classroom atmosphere? Similarly, identify the challenging periods and try to pinpoint the reasons behind the difficulties. This reflection will help you tailor your teaching strategies and identify areas for improvement.

Celebrating Successes:

Recognize and celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small. Acknowledge moments when you witnessed student growth, received positive feedback, or successfully resolved a challenging situation. By focusing on these achievements, you will boost your confidence and motivation, ultimately creating a positive cycle of success. Identifying successes creates a moment of gratitude and abundance mindset. These successes should be celebrated!

Learning from Mistakes:

Mistakes happen, and they offer valuable learning opportunities. Make a note of things that went wrong during the day, such as miscommunication, unsuccessful lessons, or conflicts. Reflect on these incidents, identify the contributing factors, and brainstorm potential solutions. This exercise will help you grow as an educator and avoid repeating similar mistakes in the future.

Favorite Moment of the Day:

Highlighting your favorite moment of the day is a simple yet powerful way to cultivate gratitude and appreciation for the joys of teaching. It could be a heartwarming interaction with a student, a breakthrough in understanding, or witnessing a student's pride in their accomplishments. By focusing on these positive moments, you will nurture a sense of fulfillment and purpose in your profession.

A Place for Notes:

Allocate a section in your check-in journal for additional notes. This space can be used to jot down any observations, ideas, or reminders that arise during the day. It serves as a valuable resource for future reference and planning.

Using a daily self check-in journal is a powerful tool for teachers to reflect on their experiences, identify patterns, and find solutions for a more fulfilling school day. By rating your overall day, identifying energy boosters and drainers, reflecting on class periods, celebrating successes, learning from mistakes, and appreciating your favorite moments, you can unlock your potential as an educator. Remember, the key to having the best school day possible lies within your own self-awareness and commitment to self-improvement. Using this journal this year made me realize that I wasn’t in the right place and that I had some changes to make. Now that I have, I feel empowered and that I’m progressing forward. I hope this helps you as much as it helped me! Happy journaling!

Inspirational Decor for a Middle School Classroom

Middle school teachers are their own breed. If you are part of the middle school teacher tribe, you know. Our scholars are caught in between in that weird age where nothing is cool, but they still love a nice looking classroom. So much classroom décor is tailored to elementary classrooms and a lot of the quotes don't resonate with an older audience. I took to Canva to remedy this problem and designed 10 Inspirational Quote posters that fit my classroom décor and my hard to please 8th graders.

When designing my posters, I focus on using calming colors such as blues, greens, and purples. These colors have been shown to have a calming effect on the mind, which can help students feel more relaxed and focused during class. Once I created my posters in Canva, I used Walgreen’s Photo to have the set of 12x18 posters printed. I was thrilled with how they printed, but then it was to find a way to hang them.

Poster hangers are expensive, so I decided to create my own poster frames. I purchased paint stirring sticks from Amazon, and covered them with a quick coat of black spray paint. These sticks are the perfect size for creating a frame around my posters, and they are much cheaper than buying traditional poster frames. To attach the sticks to my posters, I used binder clips, which are also inexpensive and easy to find and some twine string. I ended up adding a second set of the painted stirring sticks at the bottom of the poster to help them hang better as you can see in the second photo. I used command hooks and just tied the twine to those. The end result is a simple yet elegant poster that looks great in any classroom.

Purchase my set of Inspirational Quote Posters in my product store.

Inspiration Quote Posters

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