I am in an interesting place where I am a teacher and a student. I teach Middle School English, while also taking class at Lipscomb for my Masters of Education. I have loved the dynamic of learning about different ways to teach while I am also teaching. The work load can sometimes be overwhelming, but I have trained myself to see the value of having both an education and my own classroom.

I have found, through my experience and listening to friends, that it is easy to fall into a negative mindset about what you're doing. Finishing my first year of teaching is the biggest accomplishment I have to date, and I tried to keep that thought in my head as I laughed and cried (both happy and sad tears) in my classroom.

It's easy to slip into a state of apathy while teaching, and even while being taught. The entitled thoughts take over that you don't need someone's help, or that you could be doing something else much more important. These mindsets are dangerous and distract you from how the present can be beneficial to you. When I pulled out of an apathetic mindset, I was able to organize my classroom in a different way that showed students I respected them for what they brought to the table, even if it wasn't what I initially expected. I also re-organized my thoughts about my graduate classes. I had to go into the night classes with a positive mindset that even though I'm tired, my teacher had something relevant for me to learn.

Going to class and teaching a class at the same time provides a unique perspective about how your students feel. When I was tired in class and fighting to stay awake, I thought about how some of my students felt the same way in my class that day. In my case, it wasn't because I was trying to be disrespectful– I had just had a long day. In many cases, that is the same situation for my kids.

My professors spend so much time on their lessons so that me and my classmates can be engaged. Unless I was sick, there were few times I spaced out because I didn't want to learn. A lot of the work we do in classes are either discussion or hands on. Sometimes, it feels like we are back in Elementary School, but in an exciting way. Don't you miss having snacks in class? Or having a name plate so everyone knew who you were? If you answered "No." to both, then please come to my class this year so I can give you these and make you feel special. Students respond positively to teachers who show they care about them in many ways.

When I invite friends over, I make food because I care deeply about them. When my friends plan a trip, they spend a lot of time planning it soothes can have a wonderful time. I realized towards the middle of the school year, that I cared about my students, but I had not done a lot to show them– not in the way my professors do.

This year, I am going to change that from day one.

While talking with one of my best friends, I decided that I will be re-inventing my classroom this year. My 6th grade classroom will be a Detective Agency, where we will work closely and rigorously to solve four mysteries. As we solve the mysteries we will be reading, writing, and thinking critically to be the best detectives we can be.

Even as I type this, and continue to write down ideas in my planner, I know it will take me three times as long to plan lessons around this theme. But between my excitement, and the engagement I know a lot of students will have, it will be worth it.

This seems "Elementary" for my Middle School babies, but looking back at last year, my students were more engaged when we would do role-playing activities with characters and when we used accents in class. Sure, I'll probably be "the crazy teacher," but I will design my lessons so I may come out crazy, but the students will come out learning, and that is what really matters.