Last Friday, my classroom was chosen as a fill-in for a classroom walk-thru. What is it about knowing that peers and admin are going to sit and scrutinize you, your room, and your students? And...not in a negative way, either (I have sat in those same seats...and know the positive critiques that will follow)...but...still...just makes one a bit more nervous. Right?!
I told my kids they would be walking in and staying for about 20...and they were just amazing. When the team walked out, Sara asked, "How did we do, Mrs. Gillmore?!"
"You are definitely my favorite sixth hour class. Definitely!"
Yes, the eyes did roll. BUT...I meant it! :)
Later, when I sat before the team (one of whom was a former student of mine), I attempted to inhale their kind words. Just really hard to sit and take the accolades, for I know what all they did not see!
When I responded to the final question, I heard myself drift into a reflection about my current classroom layout, "The way the seats are arranged now, some of the students' backs are to me. I just feel like better communication happens when we can connect eye-to-eye."
Later, it hit me what I had said. I moved my room to its current design during COVID and had the seats in rows. When I returned them to table format, I did not move my desk. Hummm...this calls for a new-old design, which I shared with one of my pre-educator classes, who wanted to immediately begin moving the room around...of couse!
Story aside...reflection is just so powerful, a dedicated time that teachers often ignor, thereby not changing what we have always done, not choosing what is best for kids, not growing professionally. This occurred all because I sat down and took three minutes to respond to one question.
While moving my room will be quite the task, I am excited about the outcomes from that decision: more two-way focus, more learning, more teacher accountability. Just more!
Good stuff this reflection is!
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