I won teacher of the month, but it is a bittersweet victory.
Why? Because for the previous two years at Dale, I won it in September. This year, I won it a month later in October. Which means I’m clearly getting worse as a teacher. The number of teachers available to win the prize dwindles with every passing month, which makes it obvious why a victory in the beginning all the more desirable.
That being said, if I were to make a few excuses for myself, I would say I don’t actually really teach this year as a special education teacher. I co-teach with another teacher, where I’m basically a glorified aide for the most part of my day. My personality doesn’t come out nearly as much in this classroom because of course everything is dictated by the general education teacher, who chooses the lesson plans, sets the mood of the room, and of course oversees everything. In the periods I do teach (SDC), I have a total of only 11 kids.
Still, I am a bit disappointed in myself for a jaded victory. Here’s hoping when I do go back to teaching history I will be able to reclaim my title as an early victor of said prize.
