Recently I had a “growl” moment with my students – all of the classes. I had arrived at school full of my usual “pep” and was eagerly anticipating the day. I was introducing the assignment called “Say What?” (This title sounds best when said dramatically in a high pitch voice.) “Say What?” is a vocabulary group project involving online conversations. Although some classes of students had a not-so-secret pop quiz, the rest of the class was planned to involve them actively: using rotating pairs to play the parts of the sample conversation’s pretend students, and having the whole class shout “woohoos” whenever a vocab word was read in the sample conversation. In short, I was hoping for a rockin’ time with the learning.
While reading the book “The End of Molasses Classes” by Ron Clark, I was struck by a passage discussing how energy can be sucked out of the room. As I was jumping around the room, standing on chairs and stools, and doing everything I could to try and excite the students it struck me how some of them seemed determined to “suck the energy” right out of the room. Granted some students were actively listening and participating. Others however were trying to slouch down in their chairs, lean on their hands (in that scrunched up position where you push your cheeks up to your forehead), stare at spots unknown around the room…In short, they were doing their best to let me know that they did not want to be present, engaged, learning or participating.
For 4 months I have run around the classroom, used funny voices, had stretch breaks with Simon Says, jumped up and down, sung, stood on tables etc….Some students had responded, but a large number still sat passively waiting for me to, well, I am not sure what they were waiting for me to do! The point is, they were waiting for ME to do it with no work from THEM! Somehow we, our classroom community, were still missing the point that a fun classroom needed both sides to actively participate, not just the teacher! Well, my students, as I told you today…that is not going to “fly” during Term 3.
There are children all over the world who do not get the same opportunities as the ones I teach. Such students would trade anything to have a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs at regular intervals, and are dying to LEARN! Such students do not have regular access to teachers who actually WANT to teach. My heart goes out to the children who want opportunities and yet do not get them. My heart aches just as much for those students who sit in my classroom determined to not engage in the learning. They have no idea what a magical world opens up when you are willing to have fun learning about it.
I’ll say it before and I will say it again. I sure as hell ain’t in the teaching profession for the money. (Although if you know any teacher who is in this profession for the money, please pass their information on to me. I would LOVE to speak with him or her!) I love teaching on the good days, and those that fall short of my expectations. I plan to continue to give every day in the classroom my all; and I will continue to expect that my students will give their all too.
So welcome to Term 3 my fabulous students. The work will continue to get more challenging. I will continue to provide you all the resources – including my time – to help you succeed. You, however, will not continue to sit passively in my class. You will participate, you will learn, and by golly, you will have some fun in school – whether you want to or not…
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