Trevor Butler's Blog

I experienced standardized testing through my K-12 years in many different ways. Teachers would change their lesson plans up the week before to run through test prep to get us ready. Their whole demeanor would change. We would come in on test day and grab a #2 pencil and go to our assigned seat. From there we were given a scantron sheet and sat in silence until we filled it out and everyone was finished. I do not remember the names of the tests given throughout my younger years. The PreACT and ACT were the main ones throughout my high school years. Each test made me feel stressed out, anxious, and scared. I believe they caused these emotions because they are such big tests that determine if I may be ready for the next grade level and even what colleges I can apply to due to my ACT score. Every person will have different opinions on the negative aspects of these tests. I believe they cause way too much stress on students and even teachers. Too much stress can cause students to perform ...

Everyone has their own experiences that led them to pursue teaching. I would say that mine was  witnessing  my teachers making sure every kid felt supported.  Whether that support included helping out in the classroom or even outside of the school walls, the teachers were always there.  My teachers were the type to bring snacks for students whose parents may have been struggling financially or going to a funeral for a student that may have  encountered  tragedy. They were always there, and kids  need  that type of constant in their lives at  a young age . I chose teaching because I also know I can make a difference in a child's life.   I only have one concern as of right now. Will  I   ex perience the professional burnout that teachers often face? I do not want to experience it because it will affect the way I teach, which in turn will affect my students' success. My students deserve the best version of myself so that I can alw...

Committed—I am a very committed person when it comes to sports. This year I coached three teams. Out of all three teams, we won two games. My junior high boys were held without a win. Most coaches would’ve seen that and hopped on the first train out. Although I really want to win, I am not going to bail on my guys. I am committed to making them better; the wins will come. I see challenges as growth. Conscious—I am very conscious when I coach. I understand that as a coach I need to be self-aware of how my actions may influence my team. If I have a bad attitude, then my team may think it is okay for them to have one, and then that affects their play. I need to be conscious and think of the aftermath I could cause. Courageous—There are many examples of what courage looks like. The teams I coached either didn’t have a team the year before I got there or had a losing record. No one wanted to go out there with the possibility of looking like a fool. I stepped up to take on the challenge, and...