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Musings from Moffitt
Well Well Well..... I was floored last month when my Principal came in and started taking pictures of me. First, I started posing as if I was in the middle of a GQ photo shoot. Then he congratulated me on being named "Teacher of the Month". This was better than the ONLY time I made the "Deans List" in college! It was better than when I made All-Stars in Baseball, Basketball and Soccer. It was better then when they said, "It's a boy!"...Just kidding. I knew I was having a boy! I got to go to my first Board Meeting on a Monday Night where they read an article about me! I was very honored with the kind words. I have to say, my school is AMAZING! I have an amazing leadership team, amazing teaching team and an amazing support system. I've been teaching for 4 years now and still feel like I'm trying to figure out what to do! For some...teaching is a 7-3 clock in clock out job. To me it's always been much more. Teaching is not just academics but leading students to be the best person they can be. I have a student roughly 38 hours a school week. They are awake roughly 70 hours a school week. I have a student the majority of his or her day and the majority of their week. Mom and Dad have a lot less time with them as well. If you think about all the influences our culture, media, peers, and world throw at kids today, you can guess how much junk influences their life, language, character, personality, and anything else about a child. I teach Math, Science and Social Studies to my kids throughout the day. I do this and teach "how to make good choices", "how to look at someone and talk to them", "how to shake hands", "how to say yes please or no thank you" and respect, character qualities, manners, and integrity to name some more. Every Friday my 3rd grade boys club meets. We call it the "Moffitt's Matey's" club. I gave each student a tie. We learn how to tie them, converse appropriately, hold doors for ladies, and other things that young men need to know now. As I approach the end of my 4th year teaching, I can honestly say, teaching has got to be the hardest job in the world. I am an uncle, grandpa, dad, friend, mentor, shoulder to cry on, buddy, someone who will listen, someone who will give attention or a much needed hug. Teaching is not a 7-3 job. It's a calling.
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OK...so there are many countdowns that are important in life. A child that is on it's way, Holidays, vacations, family coming to visit. My countdown has begun. Every year we have a state test...the STAAR. Everyone has feelings over this test, including myself, but I think we all welcome the challenge and dialogue that comes with it.
I teach 3rd Grade Math, and this is the first time my students will see the STAAR test. They've heard the ancient rumors that it takes 5 hours to complete, or kids running out of the room crying, or that if you don't pass it you fail the 3rd grade! I love to start talking with these kids about it right away. We get rid of the rumors and I show them what it looks like! At first, it's as big as the Family Bible. Then by February...now...they start to see it as less of a giant and more of a challenge. I show them past problems from released tests and they celebrate knowing they can solve the problems! So here I am...Next week we begin our official worksheets called "Countdown to STAAR". It's going to be so much fun! Small groups, review games, Smart Board workers, Student Teachers, and Mr. Moffitt being the Student! May your countdown begin! Whatever it is! Maybe you finally began that workout plan, or maybe you've been counting the days till a loved one comes home. Whatever it is...rejoice knowing that our time is short and we have one life to do all we can. Stop waiting till something happens...make it happen! As for me and my kids...we're going to ace this! Hello...It's Me...I was wondering if after all these months, if you feel the same? A great year is coming to an end and the beginning of something beautiful is upon us! Disney is releasing a Star Wars movie every year for the next 20 years...Super Hero movies are going to exploding...and I still get to teach 3rd grade!
I'm having a blast this year! I have some of the greatest 3rd graders on this planet! I'm not sure about the 3rd graders on other planets, but on Earth...this is the greatest! As a teacher, I feel like I'm growing and being challenged at so many levels. I'm learning to be better in classroom management, organization, planning and preperation. This New Year we will start a "Moffitt's Men" group with my boys. Once a week we will meet to discuss mannerisms, dress, eye contact, shaking hands and everything that young boys need to grow into young men. As a dad, I'm trying to be better at saying No to crazines and yes to my kids. I want to spend more time playing with my kids and taking my wife on awesome dates! I will become a better teacher by researching and learning more from other who have wisdom and experience that I can benefit from. This year, I'm going to find new, creative and innovative ways to teach my students not just academics, but everyday lessons that will help develop, mature, and grow them into awesome men and women! Goodbye 2016 and Hello 2017! Here we are at the end of October 2016. I have an amazing group of third grade students! They are interesting, hungry for any kind of knowledge and very loving. In my 4th year of teaching, I'm learning that what I knew doesn't work. It is a constant change with students today. Their attention span, attitude, likes, dislikes, and everything else. How to take a Discipline and make it fun, interesting, likeable and relevant is an educators quest for success.
In my class we do a lot of group work, partnering up, walking around, opposite thinking, questioning and finding another way. The other day, while working in small groups, it was so refreshing, thrilling, exhilarating to hear students say "Ahhhh...now I get it". The sweetest words to my ears. I'm constantly trying to find another way, one more trick, a new method or anything I can find on how to get my kids to grasp a concept. What works for one might not work for the other 22. I have to say that this years success already is due to parent involvement. There are a few parents who are doing so much for me and have no idea. Their presence in the school, cafeteria, math nights, carnival, etc. does for a child. Right now, we've had tests, worksheets, activities, games, tablets, computers, common assessments but just seeing kids open up, become more confident, smile at their mistakes and find out how to fix them has been the fuel to my fire. Students...I love you guys...keep working hard....keep asking questions...keep being you because as of right now...So far...so good! Here we go!
It's late July and I've just finished all my summer workshops. I've learned a lot and took in too much knowledge. I will now dig deep into my superhero powers and find a way to apply these "new powers" to my teaching. In the next month, I will be finishing my room, getting supplies together, completing my "to do" lists and have my room, self and Math ready for my new Students. I'm excited to meet my new team. They will be filled with every emotion, every nervousness an 8 or 9 year old can endure, new teachers, new policies and ultimately new school hours! This year I intend on starting a "Gentelemen's Club", but I need a better name. I'd like to find a way to meet with boys weekly or bi-weekly to talk about how to be Gentlemen. Mannerisms, opening doors, please, thank you, and everything else a Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent can teach us about being men! I'm scared, excited, nervous, not ready...but ready. New teachers, new parents, new students, new evaluation, and new ways of communicating Math to a generation that has so much potential...can't wait to start! So I've been teaching for three years now. 2 years I taught in Port Arthur and this is my first year to teach at Vidor Elementary School. I have to say this has been my best year yet.
The weird thing is that I'm 39 years old and I'm a rookie still. I started here confused and with a stomach tied in knots. Right away the Principal and teachers (my fellow heroes) made things great. I've had an amazing Mentor (Mrs. Castle) show me the ropes on how to work the computer system, reminding me of meetings, checking on me and just being Mom. The 3rd grade team has made things amazing. From helping me when emergencies arose, to just being friendly with their food! I've had an amazing group of 3rd grade students that have made this year the best! They all have different personalities which keeps things interesting. They have helped make me a better teacher. They've reminded me why I teach. I believe they have taught me much more than I could ever give them. Since 1993 I have been working with students. It started as being a "big brother" at a church camp in Texas. I have since taught dance, soccer, baseball, basketball, and helped with many extra curricular events, clubs and retreats. From college to now, I have worked with students in sports and Church Camps. Currently, I bring students to Alexandria Louisiana for camp. At camp, I teach, lead games, get dunked in the pool, and have many extreme food challenges that I end up losing. Students have always been a "heartbeat" in my life. The best part of teaching for me is seeing lives changed. Students come to me from all walks of life. The moments when we are at my desk and I hear "Oh...now I get it"...is the moment I know I'm right where I need to be. |
AuthorMr. Moffitt is a 3rd Grade teacher in Vidor Texas. . Archives
March 2017
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