11. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

11. Wheeeeeeeee!

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

* The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all. School Environment

Several years ago, there was a commercial of a pig, with her arm hanging out the window of a car, her chin up, eyelashes blowing in the wind, singing, “wheeeeeeeeeee., wheeeeeeeeeee, wheeeeeeee.” The driver turns in her seat and says, “Hey, we are home. You can stop.” Today I felt like that pig. The car is stopped and yet, like the pig, I am still living the sensational joy of the “wheee, wheee, wheee, all the way home.”

Last night I shared, “I hope when I retire, I feel this way. I have lived the dream."

Many years ago, I was introduced to Margaret Mead. She was a cultural anthropologist who would live in cultures to study them. I was fascinated by the concept. In the 1980s, Paul George, one of the early middle school movers and shakers, worked closely with a middle school in Gainesville; and every year he spent two weeks teaching a unit in social studies. These two individuals, by living and writing about their experiences, inspired me to live what I believe.

The experience has been magical, challenging, inspiring, painful, worrisome, hopeful, passionate, disappointing, defeating, uplifting, and amazing.

Advice

1)   If you choose to teach, I hope you will always remember, teaching is not just a job. It involves a tremendous amount of time, energy, commitment, and advocacy for children, parents, colleagues, and administration.

2)   Learn as much as you can about young adolescents. Their world is bombarded with social media, where reality and fiction may not be easily distinguishable.

3)   Learn as much as you can about working collaboratively with others. Being a team player, in word and in action, takes on new meaning in a school.

4)   Make lessons that allow students to dig deeply into meaning and communication. Give all students (gifted and exceptional) opportunities to think critically and creatively.

5)   "Relationships matter; but relationships alone are not enough." My colleague, Nancy Mizelle shared this nugget of insight.

6)   When I was teaching at Shorter College, our middle school group had the following inscription on the back of our t-shirts, “If you can’t reach them, you can’t teach them.” Always reflect on who your students are and what they need.

I have loved this year!!! Yes, if I had it to do over again, I would do it over again. I am forever thankful for a district, a principal, a staff, who gave me a year to immerse myself in the culture of a middle school; a system of educators who believe, like I do, that going back into a classroom is a valuable experience. Thank you McDowell County Public School system!!!