Over the past six years, I have taught three different grade levels. This has definitely lead to multiple instances of feeling incompetent. I appreciated reading that “sometimes realizing that feelings of competence and incompetence are human and touch everyone’s life path can bring perspective to our own lives.” It is important to reflect on our feelings of incompetence, so that our actions can be changed in the future. I have found that preparedness and self-confidence are keys to building a positive self-efficacy.
In an administrative role, I believe that having mentors and surrounding myself with positive people that I can trust, will lead to fewer feeling of incompetence. Obviously, no one is perfect. It takes a strng person to admit their mistakes, reflect, and learn from negative feelings. It would be much easier to ignore them, but as the leaders we are setting the tone for the staff and our students. We must model that behavior that we expect from them, believe in our abilities, and be willing to constantly grow and change.
I have been in 2 different schools and 2 different grade levels in the last 4 years and I have felt the same way. It is important to surround yourself around positive people and mentors. Thanks for pointing that out.
ReplyDeleteI share a very similar working experience. Within my first 7 years I taught grades K, 3, 4, and 5th. Loved each grade. The incompetence that I experienced was probably my first year. I was the only 3rd grade teacher on campus. It was a wonderful learning experience. It is fortunate that we have these experiences to allow us to grow and to become competent.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience when I first began teaching as well. I started teaching 9th and 10th grade English, without a classroom. I was a traveling teacher with my classroom in a cart. It was very difficult to pack up and move each period (especially for my first year teaching) and I too felt incompetent at times. Luckily, I had wonderful support from a mentor teacher who was always encouraging.
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