Kimbo's COMM 1010 Chronicles: Part 1

As we get closer to entering week five of the Fall semester, I find myself slowly easing into my new norm. My two year break between undergrad and now was necessary for life-planning and self exploration. For the first few months after my graduation, I found myself in a classroom. With no job offers knocking on my door, I visited the idea of earning my teaching certification. So, I signed up to be a substitute teacher in the school district of my hometown to "try-out the classroom." To make a long story short, that try-out was short lived and I quickly jumped at the opportunity to work elsewhere. Ironically, two years later, I'm in the classroom again. This time the setting is different, and so am I. I believe the timeline of my journey is playing a pivotal role in my experience thus far as a teacher. But let's talk about my first day, shall we? I know I'm not the only one who was deathly nervous on the first day of teaching? Right?

The morning of my first class, my alarm buzzed at 7:15 am, and I didn't have to hit the snooze button. Mind you, this only happens when I am extremely excited and nervous about something. I had the perfect morning. I ate a bowl of Kellog's Special K Cereal with vanilla almond milk, had enough time to apply my makeup perfectly, and my outfit was ironed the night before. I was out the door and at my building by 8:35 am for my 9:00 am class. Once I walked in the building, I took a seat on the couch near my classroom. I immediately noticed my students were already gathering around the door, waiting nervously just as I was. After sweating bullets for fifteen minutes, I confidently stood up and walked to the door while spitting out "Good Morning!" to the nervous faces gathered around. We all piled in the classroom and the silence was THICK. I nervously stumbled in my backpack, searching for my clicker and replaying my words for the day in my head. I was a HOT MESS.  #TheREAL #BerryBlues

My classes ended up going well. My nervousness never went away, I sweated bullets all day before each class BUT I got through it and that's what matters. Throughout the first few weeks, I've had my ups and downs with my students. I've realized that they don't listen to everything I say, and they won't. They all don't follow directions and they all don't participate how I would like them to. However, those things should be expected. Every student is different. So is every teacher. None of my students have had a 5'0, quirky, energetic, Beyonce loving, 24 year old teacher named Kimberly Berry, at least I would assume. Bain said that "caring is crucial," although I don't have all the answers, and my teaching may be rough around the edges right now, I do care. I have witty, funny, intelligent students who have came to college on a journey, just like I did six years ago. Bain says that the best college teachers have faith in their student's ability to achieve. As the semester continues and I'm beginning to get comfortable, I have consistently looked back on Bain's words throughout his book. I'm reminding myself daily to be myself in the classroom. Starting there gives me the formula to succeed.  #DoYouBoo

Kill IT this semester, friends!

-Kimbo