In 2020, a Year of Many Firsts, Ms. Brookman Has Her First Year at Wilde Lake

This year, 10th and 11th grade English teacher, Ms. Brookman is taking on her first year of independent teaching at Wilde Lake. On top of these new beginnings, she must face the challenges of virtual learning.
After completing her internship as a student teacher in March 2020, Ms. Brookman had a vision of how her skills would transfer to her own classroom. However, she was unprepared to teach in a pandemic world. Ms. Brookman had to reflect.
What does it mean to have to do everything virtually? She was forced to overcome obstacles that new teachers never talked about, and never incorporated into teacher training.
Staring at a screen and looking at her students’ profile pictures for hours a day wasn’t a part of the training for Ms. Brookman. “We see you, but if nobody else has their camera on, or unmutes, it still feels like a void for us,” she said.
Ms. Brookman has tried to focus on building a bridge over that void. “I feel like there’s so much more that I could be learning about these students. I haven’t exactly had the joy of seeing kids in that ideal situation, without all of this extra stuff on them,” Ms. Brookman says.
While she continued to adjust her mindset in order to fit the virtual world, Ms. Brookman also had her worries about coming into a new setting at a time like this. “As a first year teacher, nobody knows me, I’m just coming in! I thought people might have heard my name before, but not known how to reach out.” Ms. Brookman said.
This is not the experience she encountered at Wilde Lake. Ms. Brookman received an immense amount of support from her fellow staff members, whether that was over emails, phone calls, or text messages.
She highlights the joy and willingness of the Wilde Lake students as well, crediting them for her incredible first impression of the Wilde Lake community. “It just seemed really cool how so many of them were so open with virtual learning, and willing to take risks that they might not have even taken in the classroom,” said Ms. Brookman.
The best part of Ms. Brookman’s year has been engaging with her new students. She does whatever she can to get to know them, looking to brighten the lives of her students. “She actually talks to us, and it really seems like she cares about us and our lives,” says junior Justice Wideman.
One of her favorite in-class activities is called Rose Bud Thorn, where students share something good that happened to them that week, something they’re looking forward to, and something not so good that happened.
“I think just those reminders when I’m not feeling at my best, that maybe the kids aren’t either. And even before getting to all the content, reminding ourselves that we’re all people, who are going through a really hard situation,” said Ms. Brookman. Putting exercises like this before her English lessons is something that has helped Ms. Brookman navigate through this year with her students.
Ms. Brookman has found that flexibility has been essential to thriving this year with her students. She accepts late work through the end of the quarter and sets up extra meetings in addition to synchronous support. She makes sure she always offers availability like her students have done with her this year.
Despite the circumstances, Ms. Brookman emphasizes positivity. She notes the energy that her students bring make all the difference.
Ms. Brookman loves her students, and is looking forward to meeting them in person. “There’s kids who have never turned their camera on at all, so I have no idea what they look like,” She says. “So it’ll just be even more fun for that big reveal when we finally get back in the building! I can’t wait.”
It seems like teaching during this time would be very difficult but what perseverance and hope it must take when you have never taught in person either. Teachers truly are super stars.
Beautifully written article!! Good luck to Ms. Brookman as she continues her career.
Abby, I love that you were able to recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate Ms. Brookman’s dedication to her students! It’s moments like this that push teachers to persevere.
Ms. Brookman, in just a few short months of your teaching career, you are making a difference! Stay Strong❤️
I love how you captured her enthusiasm for teaching and the way she is trying to get to know her students virtually. Great article!
This is a great article, Abby! And, from the sound of it, Ms. Brookman has what it takes to make a great teacher!
❤️
Great article!
Excellent article! Best wishes to Ms Brookman for a wonderful career of teaching.
Thanks for the Rose, Bud Thorn idea! If you live teaching now, you’ll love in person teaching.
Really nice writing Abby! Ms. Brookman you couldn’t ask to get your start at a better school!
Great article! You really seemed to capture the essence of what this was like. I enjoyed reading this. And I’m stealing the Rose Bud Thorn exercise- it’s a great one!
Congratulations Abby on this well written and insightful article! It says so much about you: the caring, kind and empathetic young lady you are. I hope that you can look back on this time and read this article when you are older and recall this crazy time in history, but most importantly, have very fond memories at The Lake. I hope you keep writing and find ways to enjoy your senior year. XO
Abby- this was a great read. Happy that “The Lake” continues to have such amazing young talent, not just in students but in their teachers as well! It is a win / win! #lakepride Congrats
Very well written article!
Amazing article Abby. Such a difficult time for everyone, teachers and students. So nice to read a positive article!
Being a high school teacher is not easy, but very rewarding. You get to see and know these young adults, mindss of their own, thoughts of the future.
Abby, i am very sure Ms. Brookman will remember her first year as a teacher at Wilde Lake and especially your article, and cherrish these unique moments and memories forever. Keep it up. Job well done
Abby,
What a great article. So many things stand out to me. It’s wonderful to see a young writer like your self come from an incredible program at the lake. It says so much about our school and how you are taught and guided along the way. Kiddos to you and our great teaching staff! I love how you captured Ms. Brookmans enthusiasm, especially during these difficult times. She not only is persevering her self, but leading by example and modeling to her students that they can do the same. I hope for her and our students that she gets that great celebration in meeting everyone she’s taught this year. Keep up the writing, you’re very good at it! Melanie
Great article Abby. Thank you to Ms. Brookman and all the teachers for everything that they do, especially during this difficult time.
Very well written article!! I can’t imagine being a first year teacher and everything virtual. Best of luck to her.
Great piece. My mom worked for the San Antonio Express News first in the Style section and then in the News Room. She taught me that the secret to a good interview is good questions. It was apparent that you asked thoughtful questions that revealed your subject’s positive approach and creativity, as well as techniques for meaningful teaching and learning during the pandemic. I’ll look forward to reading more of your work. Best to you and to Ms. Brookman.
Great article. You captured the emotional part of teaching as well as the content. Keep up the great work and please share more articles.
Ms. Brookman is my daughter. Her Mother and I are so very proud of her. She has grown into being a Great Woman, person, and now an Amazing Teacher. For this being her first year as a Teacher, she has adapted very well with the Virtual Learning. She speaks highly of all her students and truly loves them all.
Thanks to everyone for the positive comments. Know that your children are on Very Good hands.
What a great read.
To Ms. Brookman, this year is so completely different than any first year teacher could have imagined! I admire your positivity and ability to reach out to your students- especially the rose /thorn activity because students’ emotional needs are so critical to a successful academic year. To Abby, I commend you in a well written, thoughtful article to share with your peers. Students will recognize that teachers also are struggling during zoom lessons. We are all in this together and will come out stronger on the other side.
Great Article…Congratulations and good luck next year. Enjoy the journey.
Thank you for recognizing how hard teachers, like Ms. Brookman, have been working to make it work! Great article!