A breath of fresh air (and a cliche or two) as I reflect back on my first semester as a remote teacher.
Looking back now I am proud of what the students, AEIOs and I have achieved this semester. It is so strange reading back through some of my exhausted, negative posts and hardly recognising that frustrated person.
I think it was a combination of culture shock and the fact that I had to effectively start the whole year 9 program from scratch while trying to manage a million new aspects to teaching that I hadn’t encountered before. Think my exhaustion was evident by my short, then dwindling blog posts!
Since my post in June I have developed a working relationship with my AEIO colleague and we have begun to team teach together. This relationship was nurtured by our amazing deputy prinicpal through meetings and discussions using several Stronger Smarter approaches. It has also helped that we now have our desks together in the classroom as well so can discuss ideas and have a laugh together throughout the day. She is an awesome resource for behaviour management ideas that are culturally appropriate and that she has seen work by other teachers she has worked with.
This term also saw one remote teacher and one deputy principal leave suddenly. Also, another friend finished her intentional six month contract and returned to Melbourne. If my sense of loss and saddeness are anything to go by, I can only begin to imagine what it is like for students and community members who need to constantly emotionally engage with people who will most probably only stay for up to four years.
Looking back over the last six months (wow that went quickly) I have met some amazing people- colleagues, students and community members. I have learnt more than I could have ever in my previous mainstream school. I have been challenged professionally and personally. I have experienced an amazing part of the world and had the opportunity to explore a rich, vibrant landscape. I have avoided a cold Victorian winter and experienced a scorching Kimberley summer. I have continued to witness and learn from poverty and suffering in Australia.
While I am still frustrated by the education system, an inexperienced team leader and some of the negative situations my students find themselves in, I can also see so much potential and positives in the ancient Aboriginal culture and the strong Aboriginal people.
I am currently at my desk planning units for next term, but thought I would take a moment to update the world on life remote.