Step Out of Your Comfort Zone - Guest Post by a New Teacher

Today's guest post is by Molly McCormick, one of our new (2nd year) teachers in the special education department. I asked her to write a blog post about her experience to encourage new and experienced teachers to Just Say Yes and try something new. Here's her story....


“Step out of your Comfort Zone.” I have heard this so many times in my young career. I finally decided to do just that. During my PLP (Professional Learning Plan) meeting with my administrator, Jennifer Hogan, she gave me the push I needed to step out. One of my PLP goals is to have a well-managed classroom. 

While we were speaking on how I was going to prove how I am working towards my goal, I told her of a teacher, and now speaker, that I admire who has great ideas on the topic, Mrs. Chelonnda Seroyer. Mrs. Hogan then says, “Why couldn’t you do a Google Hangout with her?”

Well…….

A. What is a “Google Hangout”? 

B. I’m just a 2nd year teacher. 

C. “Lay low” is another piece of advice I’ve heard often. 

D. We have over 200 teachers at our school….that means I have to send a faculty wide email…AND 

E. You don’t say “no” to Jennifer Hogan.

So, I emailed the aforementioned educator, Chelonnda Seroyer. This woman is engaging, intelligent, and charismatic. I was introduced to her in my last semester of college in my Classroom Management class at Ole Miss (HOTTY TODDY!) We were instructed to watch her presentation on classroom management and reflect. You know, REFLECT! This presentation is on the DVD that is sold with the book, First Days of School, written by Dr. Harry Wong. 

She started out at Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama, as an English teacher. She eventually worked alongside Dr. Wong and now travels the world, speaking on classroom management, strategies, and interventions. And, ironically, this all started with her stepping outside of her Comfort Zone by sending Dr. Wong an email to inform him of her admiration for his book and strategies. 

Now, here I was, writing her to ask her to stop traveling the world for 42 minutes to speak with my colleagues and me on Classroom Management. The same day she wrote me back and said she could come, and I impulsively forwarded the email to my administrator. Now I was really nervous. There was no going back.

Molly, prepping the audience

All went better than I expected. With the help of Jennifer Hogan to coach me through it, Keith Fulmer and Jonathan Sandlin to work their technological magic, and colleagues (aka friends) to support me by coming, it went smoothly and flawlessly. We started our meeting with her via Google Hangout at 11:10. This is a feature through Google Drive to provide a way to meet with others over the internet using a mic and a camera. It’s like Skype. 

With the camera on her computer facing her and our wide angle lens on the Teaching Academy students, several of our teachers and librarians, and myself, we began our Q&A.  

This is what I took away: 

Three pieces of advice on how to have a well-managed classroom: 

- Consistency 

- Be Prepared for downtime 

- Be friendly without being friends

Great Strategies:

- Use an attention getting signal

- Document behavior and academics with “The Pink Slip”  

*This is a piece of paper that the students have to write an explanation as to why they were misbehaving or not doing what they were supposed to be doing and then sign it. 

- Establish an “Action Plan” and be explicit with students and parents on it

- Call as soon as possible for good things too.

- Call at different times of the day

 *My favorite: “When contacting parents, no attempt is a “failed attempt”

 

“It’s never too late to implement strategies and structure to have a well-managed classroom.”

For more information on Chelonnda Seroyer, PLEASE visit her website.

This experience was one that I never could have imagined I’d do as a 2nd year teacher…… . . . or ever. I not only got to learn new teaching strategies and new ways to use technology, but I got to work with some cool people along the way. And, not to mention, hear one of my role models refer to me in the first person. I have learned so much through my time so far at Hoover High and as a professional. Through this experience I have seen it’s OK to be nervous, make mistakes, ask for help, and, most of all, take the leap. As my dad likes to remind me on my bad days, “well, good thing you only have 35 more years of teaching, ” I hope to have 35 more years of stepping out, making mistakes, and learning so much along the way.