After a 20-year hiatus, I found myself back in a classroom.
Two decades ago, I was a very young, very SHORT teacher trying to teach 150 kids art and spelling, whether they aspired to more than drawing a stick figure or could spell more than C-A-T. I thought I'd failed those kids (and in a way, I had), so I left the classroom. I was determined to dig ditches before I ever darkened the door of a classroom again.
But you can't NOT be a teacher if you're a parent, and I am first and foremost a parent to The Kiddo. Teachers are so swamped these days that often at least a quarter of the teaching of content subjects is left to the parents. I'm not saying teachers intend for that to happen. I'm not even saying that's a bad thing. But I can assure you that I've been mighty proud of all those education methods courses I toiled over in college. They've come in quite handy as I've shepherded The Kiddo through her elementary school career thus far. I honestly don't know how parents who don't have that background knowledge do it.
Between that homework-at-the-dining-room-table time and my previous successful (if I do say so myself) stint as a college English instructor for remedial students, I realized that I wasn't a half-bad teacher. I realized that I loved showing people how to do things. And the thing I especially love? The high that won't quit? The moment the lightbulb dings on for your student, whether she happens to be a 50-year-old returning college freshman or a 9 year-old Kiddo who finally understands the difference between conduction and convection.
In the midst of my job-hunting, I counted up my blessings, and one of them happens to be a defunct teaching certificate. In order to renew it, I'll need some time with the books (10 professional learning units or six semester hours of college courses), but it's doable.
But was it right for me? Would I be okay in a classroom? Would I even like dealing with whippersnappers all day long? Or would it be an utter failure like I thought I'd experienced two decades ago? The questions led me to volunteer in The Kiddo's school. No, I'm not in her class, but Tuesday was the first day that I served as a sort of reading coach to a third grade class.
And you know what? I had a ball! I learned a lot about classroom management from the teacher I was with, and I got to try out the skills I'd been honing on The Kiddo on a new crop of unsuspecting guinea pigs. They didn't seem any more the warped for it.
On Friday, I get to teach a writing lesson. Imagine! Me! Teaching third graders about writing! No, I'll spare them the lectures on deep POV and conflict (for now!). But I'm rubbing my hands together in glee at the prospect of turning the lot of them into -- gasp -- a whole class of plotters! Linda Grimes and Tawna Fenske will probably organize a protest!
9 comments:
Look out world, we have a new master villain looking to corrupt our young ones! LOL
Good luck with the teaching stuff. It's hard to ignore those little nudges, isn't it?
"Plotters Rule"
I am getting you the bumper sticker. Congratulations and I think this is awesome!
Good Luck. (But you really don't need it. I am just saying it for good measure.)
Congrats, Cynthia! I wrote a blog Friday about "Going Back" b/c I just returned to an old job made new again.
It's interesting how different I am 7 years later... I actually don't mind it at all, I'm far more patient, and relaxed and confident which makes the job easier for me.
Congratulations, Cynthia! Have fun this week and good luck on Friday. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Look out, world! Here she comes!
I am so happy to see you roarin' to go. You'll be awesome but you already know it.
Here's an idea I read this week, but cannot remember where... perhaps too much for third-grade, but I'll leave it to you to decide. Think of a memory, something that happened to you. Now write it from someone else's POV.
There are a whole lotta worse things you could do with your time, than expand young minds!
This is so funny, because just this morning I was putting a small plan together to teach writing to my son's second grade class - and the other two second grade classes as well. We'll see on Friday if they think I'm any good at it! :)
Come on. You should at least MENTION to the kiddos that there are other ways to approach writing. Some of them may be nascent pantsers, and you wouldn't want to stifle them, would you? ;)
Awww good on you :) A good teacher is pricless and echos in your memory forever :)
http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com
This is awesome! Good luck with your recertification and think of how much more your years away will allow you to bring to the classroom.
I just started my 25th year in education (10 as an English teacher and 15 as a librarian) I may complain from time to time, but I can't imagine doing anything else...except writing full time. :-)
Best wishes.
Post a Comment