It's hard (but not too hard) to believe that it has been over two years since I have written on here. Life just happens. But I have been wanting to get back into reflecting on my math-teacher-life on here for a while now, and finally found the motivation that I needed to do so in the form of submitting my Math for America Master Teacher II+ Fellowship this week. It seems like just yesterday it was 2016 and I was writing on here how disappointed in myself I was when I applied for MfA for the first time and did not get in. Fast forward a year, and in June 2017, after applying again, I became a MfA Master Teacher. And here we are, four years later, and I applying to continue to be a part of this incredible organization that has been such an important part of my professional career these past four years. However, whether I get to stay in MfA or not (don't get me wrong, I really, really want to) I think it's important for me as a teacher to find the space to reflect on my practice and make my voice heard, now more than ever.
A lot has changed since I last wrote on here. Personally, I gave birth to my daughter in October 2019 and now view the world not just a teacher, but as a mother. Professionally, I have learned to adapt to teaching in a remote, and then blended, and then remote again setting due to school buildings being closed because of COVID. I am currently in my 14th year of teaching mathematics in NYC Public Schools. I have taught in three different schools and have taught everything from 6th grade math to 8th grade Algebra 1. When school buildings closed for the first time on March 13, 2019 (yes, I know, the day before Pi Day!) teachers everywhere were forced to rethink the "how" of their jobs. I say "how" because even though how we did our jobs looked completely different, the "who" and "why" of our jobs, our students, has never changed.
For me, switching over to remote teaching in 2020 was just a new thing to learn how to adjust to last year since I had been out on my parental leave until mid-January, and had to learn to adjust to being a mom, while also being a full-time teacher.
While I have been able to stay active on Twitter, I haven't on here, and going through the process of reflecting on my last four years as a Math for America teacher as I worked on my MTII+ Fellowship application these past few weeks, has reminded me how important it is for teachers to make the time to reflect on what they are doing and how reflect on how are they changing the landscape of education, because teaching is the most important profession - the one that makes all other professions possible, and as professionals with skills, creativity and drive everyday, we have a responsibility and power to change the way we talk about teachers and teaching.
I have started a list of topics that I hope to expand on more as I get back into writing on here. Being a mom and full time teacher, my time is limited, so I am setting a goal of writing on here at least once a week, even if it is just a couple of sentences. I am a professional. I am empowered. I am a teacher.
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