Finding My Footing: A Busy Start, New Challenges, and Fresh Resources
- Nicky B-literacybiteresources
- Nov 30
- 2 min read
It’s been a little while since my last post, August, to be exact, and if you’re a teacher, I’m sure you understand why. The beginning of the school year always comes in like a whirlwind, but this year brought a few extra layers of busyness, change, and growth for me.
A New Season at Home
One of the biggest changes has been at home: my daughter started college! We are incredibly proud of her, and thankfully she’s still at home for now (thank God!). Even though she’s here, the shift into this new season has come with its own adjustments...new schedules, new responsibilities, and new routines for everyone.
A Challenging New Class
On top of that, I started teaching a new class filled with students of varying exceptionalities, and I’ll be honest: it has been one of the most difficult things I’ve done in a long time.
I absolutely love my students! They are funny, kind, curious, and full of potential, but this particular group has stretched me in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’m still finding my footing, trying to figure out what works best for them and for me.
Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly), some of the strategies I’ve used for years with my own autistic son have made a difference in this class too. Consistency, visual supports, step-by-step breakdowns, and predictable routines have helped create some calm in the chaos, and I’m grateful for that.
Teaching will humble you and teach you all over again, even in your 20th-something year.
Rigor, Rigor, and More Rigor
As if all that wasn’t enough, I was also asked to create and deliver a professional development session on rigor for the teachers at my school. That meant most of my October was spent researching, designing, refining, and then presenting the PD during multiple PLCs.
It took a lot of time, but it also reminded me how much I love helping teachers feel confident in the classroom.
And because I know so many coaches and educators struggle with how to incorporate true rigor (without overwhelming teachers or students), I decided to turn that PD into a full resource, complete with slides, notes, and handouts.
New Resource for Coaches & Teachers
If you’re a coach, a team leader, or just someone who wants to deepen your understanding of what rigor really looks like, I’ve made the full presentation available as a product.
You can find the presentation here.
Thank you for being patient with me during this incredibly busy season. I am excited to return to posting more consistently. If you are also navigating a challenging or transitional season, just know that you are not alone. We are all learning, growing, and adjusting right alongside our students.
I am grateful you are here.
💗
Thank you for your post Nicky. Trust me, I feelall the challenges that you're going through with your class but you got this. I'm so happy that the strategies that you use with your son is working with your class. I'm super proud of you.