As I phase out of my journey as a student teacher, I reflect on my past year and a half and all that I have learned about myself. “One Word” was an important part of finding who I am and who I want to be as an educator. As I enter this new season of life, I want to begin this new chapter with a new “one word”. The word I want to focus on as an early years educator, about to begin my journey as a TTOC, is grounded. 

The word grounded can have many different connotations to it, but when I reflect on the word grounded, and how I want to relay it into my everyday life as a teacher, I want to remind myself that there will be challenges and obstacles thrown in my direction as I begin this new journey. I won’t have the ability to make deep and meaningful connections during my time as a TTOC like I would in my own classroom, I won’t have the opportunity to find “my person” within the school I work at to bounce ideas off of or be the person I can talk to after a difficult day, I won’t have the same structures and routines and will be working in new schools with different students each and every day. During this time as a TTOC, I want to remind myself to stay grounded through the change. I am someone who loves to plan and have structure, so this new opportunity will be a transition for me but with reminding myself to stay grounded and be present in the opportunities I am given, I will succeed. Becoming a TTOC is something to be grateful for, I will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of schools, different grades to teach, diversity within the students, and get to meet new admin and colleagues that one day I may have the pleasure of working with in a more permanent setting. Here is your minder to stay present, show gratitude for what you have, and to be grounded in all that you do.