I know... I know.... I have been neglecting my blogging duties, but even a highly organized, awesome teacher gets lazy sometimes! Besides, you didn't think I would let December end without a single blog post?
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One of the signs in my classroom says, "You never have to grow up, just be responsible for your actions." I have always subscribed to the idea that, although we grow up and start careers, we should never take life too seriously. You don't have to give up the things you like just because there are more candles on your birthday cake than in the past.I have occasionally been accused by students of being a little boy trapped in a man's body, and I am OK with that! This comment mostly comes from the fact that I like video games, talk to kids about movies and music, and willingly do things that don't make me look that cool. (Maybe the toy lightsaber that I use for a map pointer doesn't help either!)
As a teacher, I believe it is important to stay in touch with the the little boy inside of me that sometimes gets beat down by adult worries. This serves a few purposes. First, it has been my experience that most people don't like hanging out with someone that worries, complains, or takes things too seriously. Life is supposed to be enjoyed, so who really wants to waste it on someone like that? Secondly, many of our younger generation are continually being told how they need to grow up and that the things they like are dumb. Why not teach the better lesson of knowing the difference between work time and play time? What is more important is that they know how to get a job done; and besides that, are their "favorites" dumb or just different than our own?
In the end, being true to myself, not giving up the things I like, and being quick to smile helps me to stay in good relationship with my students. I may not be young in age, but who says I can't stay young at heart?
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Sooo... with this big holiday coming up, try and do something for me. If you are still young, enjoy it! Remember the good times and keep them with you as you get older and situations don't always seem that great. If you are older, ask yourself if your problems are really worth giving up joy in your life. You may not work in a classroom, but I am sure others in your life would like to see less worrying and more smiling! :)
-Mr. F
