Dear Cohort,
Amongst the bedlam that I sometimes have to describe
my classroom as, I found a peaceful moment in my thoughts. I scanned the room in a focused delirium
taking conscious note of the idiosyncrasies about my students that define a
part of who they are. Marissa is sitting
with her knee up high (“partial fetal” she would say), Travis’ eyes glance from
you to the floor with a smirk he has plastered on his face all day—he has
hidden Connor’s books again somewhere around the room, Kyle grunts as he sees
the room set up for speeches, and Riley declares, “I love almond joys. I love to take out the almond and enjoy the
joy.” I’m paused in this moment of 28 different stimuli and realize my cheeks
hurt from smiling.
Today, we had a lockdown drill with my students as
sitting ducks in the back of my classroom. Lights off, blinds drawn, posters to
cover the window of our 8th grade Team Streaks pod. As I squatted in front of them and studied
their faces, telling a few to be silent, I heard Riley’s voice in my head
repeating: “I love almond joys! I love to take out the almond and...enjoy the
joy.” What a fresh perspective! Simple.
Innocent. Wholly original, and irrevocably Riley. How could I ever not fight for his education,
his safety, his ability to voice those kinds of thoughts to the other people
who could learn from his perspective as he continues to develop as his own person? Eleven reported school shooting since the
2014 year began and I think this can not be done to him—to any of my
students.
My goal for this semester is to provide my students
with opportunities to showcase their idiosyncrasies. In this sense, I am appreciative of the heavy
focus on differentiated instruction that we will be learning this
semester. Now that I am back in my
groove and teaching everyday (as opposed to last semester), I feel as if my
students are responding to me in new ways that are exciting as I get to see
them in even more complex lights. I am
constantly reminded of the enigmatic Hamlet—can we ever truly know a person
inside and out? Never and never and never. But there’s a beauty to that
uncertainty that I’ve come to appreciate more and more in my classroom.
Remember this; it’ll help you carry onward in teaching.
Sincerely,
Becca Fairchild
Becca,
ReplyDeleteThese are such important thoughts to have in our minds as we navigate our classrooms this semester. I just finished my first full week back at the high school, and we started my unit on To Kill a Mockingbird on Wednesday. I am already feeling the pressure of being more in charge than I ever have been, but I think that if I can take a step back and realize the beautiful brains I have the pleasure to be witness to every day, the unit will fall into place.
I read a really great article recently about how so few students will actually remember anything that we teach them inside the classroom when it comes to straight up curricula. The article goes on to discuss how the most important thing that a student can take away from his or her teacher is a sense of value. If we can radiate positivity, belief, and respect, and teach our students that they have important and valuable things to offer, then we will have done our jobs. If they happen to remember a little bit of Shakespeare along the way...perfect.
Your students are lucky to have you on their side.
-Sam
Dear Becca,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the way you articulate the beauty of our ever-changing students, about whom we may never know inside and out. Each day as I work with my students I see new facets, like they are precious jewels with whom I have the honor and privilege to teach. As far as lockdowns are concerned, My first experience with a violent intruder practice drill was a shocking revelation for me. As I have been preparing to become a certified secondary school English teacher, I have never thought about dealing with this situation. I knew that I was responsible for my students' learning and growth in social skills, but never that I was responsible for preventing their deaths at the hand of a violent intruder. I think that the definition of TEACHER has expanded beyond teacher of liberal arts, to include psychologist, ordained member of clergy, police officer, and fire fighter. We must be heroic in our attitudes and courageous in our actions, because we are not only responsible for the enlightenment of our students' intellects. While the students are in our schools and classrooms, we are entrusted by their families and communities with keeping them safe and alive.
Isn't it so awesome just to be able to take a step back and observe - to really pay attention to your students and see who they are? It can be pretty wild and difficult to get to know 25 students (x6!) at once, and I value any down time I have just to sit back and observe. It's almost funny when you can relate it to your own experience when you were their age.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea to try and showcase the individuality of the students - I appreciate your feedback on my post and how you recommend doing it through some sort of writing contest. While my students moan on groan when I make them write, many of them truly are great writers with fun imaginations. I love giving them free writing time, and now I hope to take it a step further by encouraging them to add as much of themselves to their writing as possible - to teach them that writing isn't always a strict, structured five paragraph essay.