#sol23 May16 Not a "Regular Teacher"

 

These days, my students are older, but they still speak from the heart as each semester comes to a close. Some have perspectives about teaching and learning that grow from struggling in school.  Others have ideas born from watching their own students.  As the old saying goes, "Kids say the darnedest things!"

"You are a different kind of teacher," one student wrote in her exit ticket, "because you don't lecture so much and you make us do the stuff.  Like that night you made us do the Means and Standard Deviation math!  I wanted to just get up and leave because I can't do math.  But, you said, everybody can do it.  I was so proud of myself! 

"You are not a regular teacher," another student wrote, "every single class you ask us questions about what we are supposed to read and so we try to divide up the reading and talk about it before class because we don't want you to think we're stupid."  

"You are not a normal teacher," another student shared "you made us write all the PLAAFPs, Goals, and Benchmarks in class in front of you while you were watching and then you made everyone share even if they didn't want to do so!" 

I was grateful for my own review as different, not regular, and not even normal; however, i was really sad to think what these almost master teachers  perceive as regular and normal!

#sol23 May 9 Orange Stripes Spur Disjointed Feelings

 

A few doors away,

A group of men and women

Flanked by uniformed supervisors,

Are building a ramp that will allow

 A wheelchair to enter the front door.

I am not sure

If I am appalled

By the orange shirts and orange striped pants

That scream, "I am a criminal, watch me work," or

If I am angry 

About the sheriff's vehicle

With lights flashing for 10 hours a day, or

If I am happy

By the work program that might provide skills

That might promote futures outside, or 

If I am grateful 

For the support

 Of people in our community,

Including my neighbor

#sol23 What Goes Around Comes Back Around

 

🎓It's that time of year when my "students" are not going to be students much longer, they are going to be the teachers!

🎓I know I can't "teach" them everything they will need to know, but like all teachers, I want my "students" to be prepared to be life long learners who look eagerly but critically at new ideas and theories they will clearly face in the years ahead. 

🎓I find myself trying to hook them onto all the professional growth options, resources, and links they will need to stay on top of our profession.  

🎓I encourage them to ask questions and to discuss controversial issues.  

🎓So, when my students asked me about the Science of Reading, I did a quick review which grew into a historical perspective on learning to read. They listened with rapt attention.  They asked questions.  It was all new to them, even though it was the story of my life.  

🎓"We sure hit a hot topic," one student said as she left.

🎓"I can't believe there is such a controversy," said another, "because it all makes sense to me."

🎓"Can you teach us about phonics next week?" several asked as they left.

🎓"What goes around comes back around," I thought as I drove home wondering if one of my students might someday be the teacher-turned-professor having this same conversation about the long standing reading debates with a new generation of teachers!