Some teachers are waiting for the punishment pendulum to swing back the other way again so they can “put the fear back into students.” I remember my first day teaching. I met an – at first overwhelmingly – bossy 7 year old girl nick-named “Lion.” A tired teacher whispered to me “Doesn’t it make you want to slap her?” And tired me said “Yes.”
Charlie was a 6 year old student of mine who’d always ask eagerly when the next big test was coming up so he could prove himself. I watched him one day as he licked his lips, grabbed the test, sat down, took a look at it… didn’t understand and started to cry. I don’t remember what I said to him but he eventually went back to the test, finished it before anyone else and scored 100%.
I play music quietly and someone says “That’s good!” I start to play louder with a big smile on my face.
When everyone in my grade 10 math class got the solution to a problem except R., the teacher said disappointed and surprised “I made this problem just for you!” And from then on he gave up completely.
You say “I am seeing that I want to give up on the kids that need me the most because i can get away with it and it is easier on me.” Are you just struggling with whom to focus your energy on sometimes? Have you ever had a student who wanted you to give up on her or him? I have to let the punks at the back fend for themselves while I connect with the rest of the class, and hope that once these folks will be rocking out, the punks will want to rock out as well. Yeah they drag the class pace down and steal my thunder. But they are also a test and an opportunity. If you have any little wins with them that's something to celebrate. They may not look you in the eye and admit it but there is that much needed satisfaction and I'd you hope that you'd be a good tired for it.
A young developmentally disabled boy found himself playing baseball and always swinging and missing. But this time, to his surprise, he hit the ball… thought for a second… -and then ran ran ran to first base. The pitcher scooped the ball off the grass and purposely tossed it over the head of the first baseman. The crowd started to call out for the boy to run to second, and then to third, another fumble with the ball and everyone was screaming for the boy to run home. It was an in-field homerun. It was an opportunity to bring the best out in everyone.
I'd like myself and my students struggle along more gamely.
Performance gone wrong.
A man was going to sing the song Shout by Tears for Fears for karaoke at a packed bar/restaurant when a different song named Shout came on. It was obvious the man didn’t know the song at all but he tried to sing/narrate it in a low growly voice anyway. By the end, people he’d never met before with tears of laughter in their eyes came up to shake his hand thanking him.
Ah you know I wrestle with how I am going to be seen by other teachers too. I wear these silly suit jackets that make it annoying to raise my arms above shoulder level. It’s a bit of compensation for still not remembering how to tie a tie. And hey don’t say “let’s drop that one Ang” – it almost takes value away from your truths. I get this Jonathan Livingston Seagull feel from Bri and Angie here so thank you for kindling the fires.
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