A freshman teacher begins her journey
Editor’s note: A teacher’s first year in the classroom is a
remarkable journey. Armed with ideas and years of training, it’s
still an emotionally taxing, even overwhelming introduction to a
profession that loses half its practitioners within five years of
entering the field. This is the first in an occasional series that
will follow high school English instructor Melissa McGrath through
her first year on the job.
‘I know that I know what I’m doing,
”
she reassured herself, as she moved quickly from row to row,
placing a crisp manila folder on each empty desk.
A freshman teacher begins her journey
Editor’s note: A teacher’s first year in the classroom is a remarkable journey. Armed with ideas and years of training, it’s still an emotionally taxing, even overwhelming introduction to a profession that loses half its practitioners within five years of entering the field. This is the first in an occasional series that will follow high school English instructor Melissa McGrath through her first year on the job.
‘I know that I know what I’m doing,” she reassured herself, as she moved quickly from row to row, placing a crisp manila folder on each empty desk.
“I just have to remember that.”
It was Monday morning and English teacher Melissa McGrath busily put the finishing touches on her classroom. As she adjusted the blinds and wrote the day’s agenda on the large whiteboard that spanned the front of the room, the unforgiving clock displayed the time. Its relentless pace was monitored by McGrath’s occasional quick glances.
Within a few minutes her first students were due to cross the threshold of her room. The students who were headed her way, however, were not just the first students of the year. Nor were they merely her first class of students as a teacher in the San Benito High School District.
These were her very first students. Although her career had its beginnings more than a decade ago, it had its real beginnings Monday, when she opened her classroom door to her first class.
“I grew up playing school,” she said, remembering fondly the chalkboard she had in her basement and the lessons she would try to teach her younger sister. As time would tell, that first classroom played a bigger role than just occupying childhood playtime. She grew up and so did the scope of her instruction.
Tutoring during high school in Nevada, McGrath realized she had a gift for teaching and explaining concepts, a gift that was further nurtured by an inspirational speech teacher. Within a few years, she was majoring in English at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, her sights set on a high school classroom of her own. Last spring, McGrath accepted a position with San Benito High School to teach English 11 and the third level of English Language Development, a program for non-native English speakers.
The hectic weeks leading up to Monday were jam-packed with preparing her classroom, coaching an energetic squad of junior varsity cheerleaders and making almost daily trips to Target to cross the “must-haves” off her long list. About an entire week was spent attending San Benito’s New Teacher Academy, a point of pride for school officials and those involved.
“It’s something that most districts don’t do,” said trainer Kristi Britton, taking a break during the session that covered classroom organization and management training. The training session was structured to include both lectures and group activities. McGrath studiously took notes as ideas and methods were introduced by Britton and complemented by veteran teachers in the group.
“I have such a good impression of this school,” said McGrath, regarding her experience in the New Teacher Academy. For her, the training answered many of the questions swimming in her head and helped her feel less isolated going into her new job. Portions of the New Teacher Academy will be continued throughout the year, giving teachers a chance to reconvene for more training and discussion.
Working around a multitude of other obligations, any free time McGrath had seemed to be spent in her classroom. The room, located in the 200 block of the main campus, still contained several items awaiting removal by last year’s teacher. Veteran San Benito High School teachers had told her that the room has the potential to get very warm because of the adjacent stucco wall that surrounds the pool. And on top of that, she didn’t have nearly enough student desks and was not really sure when they were to be delivered. But, as she talked about making the new space her own, her optimism and enthusiasm easily looked beyond the list of less-than-ideal details.
“I love the pink blinds,” she said with a big smile, and thought aloud about what other colors would work with the existing window coverings. Her goal was to create a simple, orderly workspace that was not only neat and tidy, but “visually clean.”
For this organized and creative young woman, there was really only one main issue that challenged her in recent weeks. “My biggest worry is time,” she said, as she talked about all the things left to do. “I feel the pressure.”
Any worries that did exist Monday morning were masked by McGrath’s pleasant smile as she greeted her students at the door. One by one, they took their seats in a pristine classroom made sweet with the faint smell of potpourri. Roll was taken. The school year had begun.
“I feel good, I feel really good,” McGrath said after two long days. “I think I’m going to make it,” she said with cautious confidence.
Looking forward to the opportunity to get ahead this weekend, McGrath was already planning schoolwork into her days off: a teacher’s reality. But, she was beginning to catch up on sleep and was finally able to make time for a gym workout, two signs that she was maintaining some semblance of balance.
“I’m starting to feel a little more under control,” said McGrath. “And I think it will only get better.”
