Sunday, April 24, 2011

The 3 Questions, Part 1

The three questions students want answered by their teachers, but will never ask.

#1 - "Are you committed to your job?"

Well... are you? Do you strive to get better each day? Do you read to get new information about content or styles of teaching? Do you reflect on your interactions with the kids and try to make them meaningful?

Let's be honest. Who wants to work with, much less for, someone that does not put their best effort into what they do?

Soo... as we head into the final weeks of the school year and begin making our summer plans, take some time to to answer this 1st question for yourself. Are you committed to your job and being the best teacher you can be, or do you find excuses to cut corners? Do you blame other people (students, parents, administration) when your class does not go as planned? Do you find faults in the grading and discipline systems to justify lowering your commitment?

As an educator, it would be hypocritical to demand commitment from our students while allowing excuses to lower our own levels of commitment.

...And if you are not committed to your job as a teacher, well, then you owe it to yourself and the kids to get motivated or get out of education.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

BEE Yourself...

Geek. Funny. Argumentative. Smart. Weird. Laid Back. Opinionated. Organized. Too Friendly. Too Strict. Different.
Nerd. Anti-Social. Childish. Friendly. Creepy. Confident. Mean. Good. Bad. Jerk. Favorite.

Sooo... What was that all about you ask?

Those are all names and descriptors I have heard used to define my classroom and me as a teacher, from both students and co-workers.

...And, you know, I am okay with all of them! Besides, can anyone really come up with a meaning of "normal" that includes more than just a small percentage of the human population? In the end, your definition of "normal" tends to develop into a picture very similar to yourself!

"Who am I?" "Am I normal?" or worse "Am I different?"
These are questions that all middle school students struggle with at some point during their years with us. They fight so hard to be liked by others and not stick out, all the while sacrificing a little bit of themselves at each turn in the process. I believe one of the biggest failings of classrooms is not reinforcing the fact that there is NO SUCH THING as "normal." Each student comes to us with unique intelligences and abilities, but, unfortunately for them, most teachers do not want unique. Most teachers want uniform... sameness... robots. They have tests to prepare students for, and their jobs would be so much easier if the kids would act the same... be "normal".
(Hey, Teachers!!! I have news for you. This picturesque, nonfluctuating classroom is NEVER going to happen!)

Maybe that is why I let my "normal" leak out all over the place. How else are kids supposed to understand that no one is normal, that we are all unique, if no one models this mindset? They do not get this from their friends, music, or TV/movies. Those sources are filled with images and words telling our kids how to act, talk, and look so they do not stand out in a crowd. Very robotic!

I also think that being comfortable with your personality and knowing who you are automatically makes you more lenient towards people. You become less judgmental of others just because they did not react the way you wanted or did not handle a situation the way you thought was best.

So teachers... Let's work on a couple of things. I think we should be more accepting of the uniqueness that is brought into our classroom by our students and learn to do the best with it. Second, shouldn't we be better at modeling how the "real" world works? We don't have to please everyone, and when differences arise with our friends/acquaintances, it is not the end of the world. Help the kids understand that it is fine to be quirky or like things that others may not by modeling it in our own behavior and words.

...Because, do we really want a world without variety?