The eternal optimist in me struggled a
little through this last section of my book. I think there is a reason it is
written for current teachers, specifically after the first 1-2 years of
teaching. I don’t have that reality yet, and in a year I may agree with most of
the things said, or at least experienced them.
In all honesty this book is not for those who are still wrestling with the
idea of teaching, but it is an honest book by honest teachers. It has given me things to think about that typically
I wouldn’t from little things like cell phone and late assignment policies to
negative teachers and administrators, this section covered it all. So once again- here is your
spark-notes-highlighted-version with reflections from Ms. Hack of “See Me After
Class” by Roxanna Elden.
My Underlines, Highlights & Questions:
"The heart of teaching
is forming relationships with students as we move them from point A to point
B."
I loved
this analogy. Working with FFA for the
last few years while in college we talk a lot about this, and the importance of
realizing that not every student moves directly from from point A to point
B. Every student will be different. Visiting Pequea Valley and doing some other facilitation
engagements I have realized that different students need different avenues to
get to point B, and it may take a few U-turns or even fender benders- but we
still need to get them to point B. Even
more how we get them there, Elden emphasis the importance of relationships, and
how they will look different with almost every student. As a learner myself I know I am extroverted
and not afraid to share responses and ask questions- but that is not what every
student is like. This challenges me to
think about how I have students share answers and discuss with their peers or
the class as a whole. Question and answer does not need to happen every time, and
I do not need to always call students out to share an answer- it is the easy
way, because then I know if my students have the ‘right answer’, but it does
not give them as much ownership over their learning or put them at the center-
it will require unique and new techniques, which I am excited to try out!
"Resist the urge to
single out good kids..." and don't give up on those nightmare kids."
Elden and
other teachers are really honest in this chapter- both about students and
teachers that make our jobs difficult, negative and those that make teacher
wonder why they decided to teach. It is easier it seems to focus on the “bad
kids” the ones that make you pull your hair out, but Elden also mentioned the
“good kids” and the difficulties that can follow them within school. This
section showed me the importance of looking at my students yes as a whole
class, but even more individually- because they will all have different
challenges and triumphs. It is about
balance- which I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult that will be with 100
students through a program in one day. Each of them or groups of them may need to be
challenged in different ways. Even though
it will be hard, I won’t let the challenging students or other teachers hate my
job. A statement that seems ridiculously
optimistic, but as someone who is really committed to having my own classroom
very soon I can’t help but be optimistic, it’s been a desire of my heart for
too long not to be a little optimistic.
"Students continue to
grow up when they leave us."
From cell
phone policies, late work to broken rules and the ‘how many times do I need to
tell you’ this is probably one of the most important things to remember. It is not all
on my shoulders, and the end of the year is not the true end for my
students or for me. I know I will have
the position, ability and desire to make a difference, but my students won’t
stop growing or learning after they walk out my door. But if they don’t grow or
learn between the times they walked in and walked out, I may have failed
somewhere along the line.
"A note about mentor teachers.."
Elden mentions some things to be aware of when working with our teacher mentors. Thankfully ours for this year were chosen carefully for each of us in our student teaching cohort- and in my opinion I was placed with some good ones!she warns about challenges that may arise for various reasons, but regardless I'm looking forward to being continually challenged Mr. Masser and Mrs. VanSant! And looking forward to hearing your thoughts on your first few years of teaching!
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