Page 12 - Heart of Brevard Fall 2019

A New School
Year Brings a a Renewed Sense
of of Purpose
By Shannon Kraeling 2019 District Teacher of of the Year As a a a a teacher this is is one of of my most exciting times of of the year I I love thinking about who’s going to be in in in in in my classes There are are so many things I I want to know about them What are are their strengths and talents? Why did they
choose ceramics? How will they
express their creativity? What amazing works of art will be manifested?
Every year I take the time to set up my classroom so it will be a a a welcoming comfortable
learning environment
formystudents It’s
bright colorful (my desk
is hot pink) and and filled
with positive energy and and motivational quotes I want my students to feel
at home confident and emotionally safe enough to accept difficult learning learning challenges and and be open to to experience learning learning through struggle and and failure Recently I I was honored to be part of of the the Florida Teacher of of the the the Year Roundtable Summit I I learned so many valuable things that will influence the the direction of my my my teaching and how I shape my my my relationships with my my students I learned about the growth mindset and how important it is is is is to help our students embrace this learning philosophy This is is is is the the mindset that makes students believe in in in themselves I learned about the the the power of “yet” and how this is is a a a a a a a fantastic response when my students tell me me they
can’t can’t do
do
11 something They can’t can’t do
do
it “yet ” This small word
encourages them to to believe anything is possible I was reminded to to set the the achievement bar high because with quality instruction relationships and expectations expectations students will will not only meet the the expectations expectations many will will surpass them As teachers we understand that relationships are as important important and and with some students more important important than the the content we we are trying to to teach them While we we strive to to establish relationships with all of our students there are some that can make it it pretty challenging A reminder I carry with me is “Never judge anybody by the the the the chapter of their life in in which you meet them You never know what they
might do
in in the the the next chapter ” We We are all a a a a a work in in progress We We are are doing the best we can dealing with our individual situations and challenges Before reacting or or responding to a a a student I will take the the time to understand the the circumstances that have led
to their actions?
I’ve made a a a promise to to to remind myself to to use the information I receive as an opportunity to ELEVATE instead of just rebuking
or punishing Lucas Boyce the author of of Living Proof struck a a a a chord with me when he he he he said “You have the the opportunity to to to change the the the trajectory of a a a a a a a a person’s life ” It’s
both humbling and and powerful to to to to think that I I have the the potential to to shape and and influence someone’s life My “why” is that I I I care about about my students I I I believe in in education education I’m passionate about about the arts in in education education and I I I I I love what I I I I I do
Most importantly I I I I know that I I I I make a a a a a a difference As I I start this new school year I I vow to remember my WHY My students need me me They deserve the the best ME and that’s what they
will get! I I can’t wait to to meet my 2019/20 students I’m looking forward to to to all of our upcoming moments and adventures Welcome to to my classroom!