I've had a lot of jobs in my life and several careers with a new one developing as I write. But the toughest one I ever had was that of the classroom teacher. I've known this for quite a while but I got a great reminder this week when I guest lectured Monday at my old high school.
I had forgotten how early teachers get up. I had forgotten how the teacher (or the presenter in my case) has to keep changing the pace of the lesson and the style of presenting every ten minutes or so to hold the attention of teeens - teens who are used to the fast pace of IM's, Ipods, the internet and TIVO. I had forgotten how there literally is no time to run to the lav so no drinking tea or water that morning, how hard it is on the voice to talk that long. I had forgotten all the non teaching duties - emails to answer, new grading software that must be updated constantly, student achievement reports from guidance, court, special education professionals, student recommendations - that take away from the reason teachers teach - to share their knowledge and connect with students.
To be honest, I haven't really forgotten (except for the getting up early part) because I only left teaching 2 years ago and part of what I do now is to help teachers connect and engage their students better. I'm glad I got to go back to the subject I created (Strategies of Success) because it's important to support those that use my program and it's important to keep current if I'm going to be sharing my teaching strategies with others.
No one truly understands what anyone else's job is like but many have an opinion about what it's like to be a teacher. I suppose it's because we all sat in front of teachers for years and they made it look easy.
But of all the jobs I've had, teaching is without a doubt the toughest...and the most rewarding.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Telling Students Why
How many times did I hear the question, "When am I ever going to use this?"
I taught math for 25 years before I developed and taught my Strategies of Success program and heard that question more times than I'd like to say. I'm not sure I always had the best answer to that question. Where indeed will some of them ever use the Quadratic Formula? I knew they needed a varied education. At their tender age, they were unaware of all the possible futures that lay ahead of them. But I didn't really understand their need to question until I began teaching my Strategies course.
Kids needs to know. The same two year old who was always asking, "Why is the sky blue? Why do the leaves fall off the trees?" is now the teen wondering why he or she must learn something in class. Other than the occasional wise guy, they truly want to know the meaning and purpose of the things we're asking them to do. And when we tell them as I did in Strategies class or at least told them that they were welcome to ask, it changed everything. They were more accepting of the lessons I presented and more open to the activities I challenged them with.
We adults aren't much different. IKEA, the Swedish furniture store knows
that. You can find the answers to our potential questions posted all over the store. "Why are the boxes usually flat?" So they'll be easier to store for them and also for you as you take your items home in your car. "Why are there plants on the roof?" Because they want to help balance the environmental impact of their big box building.
Letting us know the 'why', helps us to understand their viewpoint and gives us a reason to continue the relationship. It helps IKEA build trust with their customers. Students who are privy to knowing why we do what we do are not much different. Open the door to why you teach the way you do and why the different lessons of your subject matter are important and teens will become a partner during the school year you share.
I taught math for 25 years before I developed and taught my Strategies of Success program and heard that question more times than I'd like to say. I'm not sure I always had the best answer to that question. Where indeed will some of them ever use the Quadratic Formula? I knew they needed a varied education. At their tender age, they were unaware of all the possible futures that lay ahead of them. But I didn't really understand their need to question until I began teaching my Strategies course.
Kids needs to know. The same two year old who was always asking, "Why is the sky blue? Why do the leaves fall off the trees?" is now the teen wondering why he or she must learn something in class. Other than the occasional wise guy, they truly want to know the meaning and purpose of the things we're asking them to do. And when we tell them as I did in Strategies class or at least told them that they were welcome to ask, it changed everything. They were more accepting of the lessons I presented and more open to the activities I challenged them with.
We adults aren't much different. IKEA, the Swedish furniture store knows
that. You can find the answers to our potential questions posted all over the store. "Why are the boxes usually flat?" So they'll be easier to store for them and also for you as you take your items home in your car. "Why are there plants on the roof?" Because they want to help balance the environmental impact of their big box building.Letting us know the 'why', helps us to understand their viewpoint and gives us a reason to continue the relationship. It helps IKEA build trust with their customers. Students who are privy to knowing why we do what we do are not much different. Open the door to why you teach the way you do and why the different lessons of your subject matter are important and teens will become a partner during the school year you share.
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