Teaching Lounge: Part 2

I was very surprised by the number of responses to my post about spending time in the teacher lounge. I found out that I am not the only one that has struggled with this issue.  In my years as both a speech therapist and literacy coach, I've worked with teachers and children in seven public elementary schools and at least four parochial schools.  Some years, in some schools, I ate lunch in the lounge. Other years I shoved food in my mouth, in my car, on the way to the next school. Every building had its own karma, which extended to the lounge. 

 I've lived my teaching day in the classrooms of others for the past ten years.  In a previous post, I compared coaching to cliff diving. I've spent many hours planning with teachers, problem-solving ways to assist children that puzzle them, and helped them communicate with challenging parents. I've modeled both successful and unsuccessful lessons and avoided behaving like the expert. Listening to and sharing personal stories has been essential in developing  trust with co-professionals.  In the past, when I ate lunch in the lounge, I was often put on the spot with regard to district issues or ended up with an additional to-do list. Eating lunch in my office, which I share with two wonderful colleagues, gave me a safe place to be myself.

4 comments:

  1. I found myself not visiting the teacher's lounge to eat lunch most of the time. I needed down time. When I wanted to find something out or talk about an incident, I would go there. As a rule, I would rather choose my own lunch buddies. It is lunch, after all--a time to breathe and reflect.

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  2. I feel that I spoke a little hastily in my previous comment, & am sorry. I don't think I understood your circumstances very well & I was hasty in my advice. In this recent post, perhaps I see it in a different light, because you are in different places than I am. And-I too am really enjoying listening to everyone's ideas & approaches to their own jobs & classes. I'm glad that you have found this writing group so helpful, & am looking forward to hearing your advice, having worked so much longer in the job than I have. Cheers to you!

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  3. I worked many years as a Resource Room teacher pulling out kids and pushing in to classrooms. Like a Lit Coach, it is an interesting tight rope you walk on some days. You are a part of a grade level, but not really.
    It takes sensitivity and flexibility which I sense you have from your writings.

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  4. I hope the teachers whose classrooms you have been a part of over the years have a clue how lucky they are.

    ReplyDelete

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