Still Learning to Teach

By Jazmine H

Teaching online was something all teachers struggled with despite teaching for decades. Long-term teachers were affected due to the fact that relationships had already been established with students and soon ended up being nothing but a picture on a screen, but I don't think we have talked about how first year teachers felt during the pandemic year.

YB teacher Kalisha Ferris is one of those first year teachers. Her first year teaching happened to be completely online, which was not at all how she thought it would go.

Ferris: “I was pretty devastated because there were always hopes that we were gonna go back to in person, and then we heard there were other states going back in person with restrictions and so I was pretty bummed out because it was my first year teaching.”

Not being able to see her students was one of the biggest struggles yet. Ferris couldn't see what her kids were thinking or feeling. Since most students were nothing but a picture on a screen, she didn't know whether they were understanding the material.

Ferris: “Trying to understand where students stood academically, so I could meet them there. Luckily, a lot of students did rise to the occasion on what I was expecting.”

Not only did she have to go through being a first year teacher online, but she also had to deal with being away from family during such a hard time. She had to deal with everything going on alone.

Despite struggling with everything going on, she didn't stop thinking about her students and how they were most likely going through the same things.

Ferris: “I did struggle with a lot of mental issues that I had to deal with on my own, and just knowing that my kids were kind of going through the same thing or students would open up about that, and you literally feel physically locked because you couldn't help them but you had to try to help them, but it was a really stressful time.”

Despite being in distance learning, Ferris still got to experience what most first year teachers look forward to: seeing their classroom for the first time and getting to make it their own little space.

Even with no students there, she was nervous when setting it up. According to her, how you set up your classroom defines the classroom culture.

Ferris: “I was able to decorate it without anybody really being here but I was pretty nervous because I knew the students online, but I really didn't know them in person and I didn't know how they would respond to the classroom.”

Now being in her third year of teaching, she is learning what she needs to improve on to become the best teacher she feels she can be.

Ferris: “Continue setting boundaries; I try to set strict rules. A lot of students do look at me as more of a friend versus more as a teacher or an adult role, but as I get older that is something I need to learn to change throughout the years is to become more of that adult role just because I'm not always gonna be looked at as friend where they tell me everything.”

Despite starting off a bit rocky, Ferris has been able to enjoy her time teaching here, especially spending time with and getting to know her students.

Ferris: “Yes, I enjoy the students. I feel like 90% of my challenges don't come from the students.”

With all the hardships as well as all the good memories she has experienced so far, her journey is far from over. Whether she decides to continue her journey here at YB or decides to continue it elsewhere, the impact YB has left on her will be something she will remember for sure.