Today, I am thinking about teaching and what I like about it. Besides imparting knowledge about the subject area and about life, I also love the fact that I am almost on a stage each class period. I get to play with voices, with intonation, with the way I share information.
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| Quote on my board. I try and put quotes up that relate to what someone is currently going through. |
One day I can be reading a story about the KKK and using accents and volume and strategic pauses to get the message across, another day I can act as though I agree with the "bad guys" of WWII and help the students to look at the issues from a different perspective. I can use "the look" to get students' attention refocused and I can joke around with kids between classes as I help them try and solve what they believe to be life-altering issues. I use my humour and a touch of sarcasm to cheer students up when their outside of school lives can get messy and when they feel hurt by in-school drama.
Despite some of the stresses, it really is enjoyable!
I have been told from the kids that I should become an actor because I am so good at changing it up.
Perhaps that is my next calling.
What a great post! I'm a theatre educator, and a good deal of what I do is going into classrooms and teaching core content through the arts. (In fact, I'm starting a poetry residency in a second-grade classroom tomorrow.) I wish more teachers had your outlook: there are SO many ways to play and have fun at your job!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is your job!?! There really are so many ways to play in education. I'm glad you are able to show the content teachers this in your position.
DeleteTeaching is all about engaging your students - - great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! It is sometimes hard to engage high schoolers, but that is part of the challenge of being a teacher that I have accepted.
DeleteFrom that I wish I could drop my daughter into your class for a few sessions. School drama's are dominating our lives at the moment and we are just not in a position to do much about it! I wish more teachers were as enthusiastic as you. The teachers that stay with you are the ones who seem to care, they are remembered by students well into their adult lives. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteHaha!! I wish I could help more students including your daughter. School drama takes up a large part of young people's lives since that is where they spend the most time during the school year. FB has helped me reconnect with teachers who made a difference for me and has allowed me to hear back from former students.
DeleteThanks for the compliment!
YAY! You had a quote from The Four Agreements on your board! One of the best guides to life I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that quote and read it regularly for my life and hope my students will adopt it and remember it for themselves (especially when they go through teenage drama)!
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