Went into the classroom yesterday. I have been working on curriculum at home. I do live 45 miles away from my school so tell you the truth I am not keen on prematurely commuting when I can do much of the set up work at home.
Unfortunately I ended up having to physically set up my room. It took just about 4 hours. I am talking setting up tables, and stuff. At the end of summer school I felt bad for the janitorial staff and folded my tables and stuff for them to shampoo and wash the floors. mistakenly thinking that they would put it back. It was kind of funny one lady was complaining all she did was shampoo carpets or something. My friend and fellow teacher said (not to the custodian by the way) "isn't that her job?" and that is true. We ALL have tons more to do with less people to do perform the tasks. As teachers we have more piled on our plates seemingly on a weekly basis! I don't ask custodial staff to help me put together packets or anything.... Just venting..... Anyways didn't get a whole lot done curriculum-wise yesterday.
This is bringing something up that has been on my mind a lot this past year. What should we expect from our educators? this is a short list of things I believe we should expect
1. They should genuinely like and respect students, and do their best to treat them in a caring, but professional manner....
-It is at times a difficult balance between being "teachery" and being a human being. I do think that as much as possible to make this possible teachers MUST have lives OUTSIDE of school. I shall discuss this aspect more later. Also I think that there should be more of a mentoring aspect for educators new to the profession.
2. Organized curriculum, keeping it relevant,
3. Keeping up with grading, constructive feedback for students
4. Consistent discipline
5. Creating connections with life outside of school as much as possible
----These are all no brainers- but day to day they are more difficult than many people imagine.
I did not watch the movie "waiting for superman" and on the whole I try not to watch teaching movies. I do know the basic gist of these flicks. I think anyways..... At least in the case of "Freedom Writers" the teacher is all -consumed with teaching students and her whole life and being was dedicated to them. How long did she teach? It seems like many of the teachers who do this teach a while, publish a program or something, and leaves active teaching behind. In my experience there ARE TIMES where you are spending most of your day on teaching matters. But that is not sustainable or healthy. When I was younger and single - it makes your students your life which makes #1 and 4 more difficult. As I got older and established my own life outside of school - and didn't go to all the games, and concerts and extra activities - I became a better teacher. Now that I have a husband, and child - that all or nothing mentality is not sustainable.
I remember watching the news when Bush Jr. was in office and he was presenting a teacher of the year award to this wonderful lady. He mentioned that she never missed her student's games and other litany of things she did for her students outside the classroom. Never once he mentioned what she did in the classroom, her techniques, her ....well you get the idea. I do believe in making connections with students outside the classroom at times, but shouldn't we focus on making connections in the classroom? (I am sure that teacher was amazing in the classroom by the sheer fact she was nationally recognized, and I applaud her)
When I started teaching 16 years ago I viewed education as a "calling" or a "mission" Ironically I think my framing what I do in this fashion had stunted my abilities to teach. It was deeply personal. Different students need different things at different times. I am not immune to the fact that many of them need someone who cares about them, or a parental like figure in their lives. BUT what they need far more, and what will help them find there way in their lives is information, and feeling empowered to use that information to achieve their goals.
Now have to say teaching is my career. A job that I can objectively look at my skills and improve upon them. I am human. I am going to have good days, bad days. But each day I can choose to strive to do better, and seek new ways to facilitate learning in my classroom.
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