I had so much fun teaching 7th and 8th grade yesterday that I almost wanted to do it full time. Even in the classes where kids looked at me with slack jaws and glazed-over eyeballs, it was fun to have a chance to explain something to people who were listening (mostly).
We read an article by Mr. McNeil (Of McNeil/Lehrer) on the evils of television, and the kids caught the irony thereof. Also many of them picked up a Moses metaphor, which is awesome – because kids and metaphors are sketchy business at best. And they laughed at the part in the article that called television the “instrument of national linkage” and wondered, How old is this guy, anyway?
I love teaching. I do. So much. But one of my favorite parts is the part where I say, not today, thanks, and I work on my revisions and I write things and I clean the sticky kitchen floor and I bake bread.
But being in the room, with minds whirring, and kids getting rowdy about words, and laughing together, and Learning happening, that is really, really fun. Thanks, Ms. M — whatever you were doing yesterday, I doubt it was as awesome as what I got to do in your classroom.
(6) Comments for this blog
I thoroughly enjoyed subbing, for precisely the same reasons you cite here. And I’ve seen you teach. How could they NOT love you and hang on your every word?
I thoroughly enjoyed subbing, for precisely the same reasons you cite here. And I’ve seen you teach. How could they NOT love you and hang on your every word?
I’m so glad you love it! I bet you are the best teacher, too!
I’m so glad you love it! I bet you are the best teacher, too!
I’m a paraprofessional at a high school, and I love to see the moment when the light goes on and one of the student’s “gets” something that I’ve been explaining to them. Mine is the privilege of working with students who struggle and need extra help, and I love my job:)
I’m a paraprofessional at a high school, and I love to see the moment when the light goes on and one of the student’s “gets” something that I’ve been explaining to them. Mine is the privilege of working with students who struggle and need extra help, and I love my job:)