A Friday Blog - September 4

During our discussion about the "Joy in School" article today, a few class members shot it down, saying that it was a warm/fuzzy reading with nothing really substantive. I thought it was much more than fluff. The author (Wolk) reminds readers that school is not just about standardized test results and issuing the "prescribed amounts of information." I remember Chip Kimball's comment (from meeting last month) about how students are reporting that they are bored. What teacher wants to hear that his/her students are bored with our classes? What I learned from this article and from our class discussion is that we need to constantly ask ourselves, "What joy has my students gone home with this week?" and "What do my students look forward to in coming to school tomorrow?" Wolk provides eleven suggestions for keeping the joy alive in kids' learning, in their classroom environment, and through interaction with their teachers. Sure--some of his ideas seem unattainable, but they're food-for-thought. And "joy" doesn't refer to fun and games necessarily. It's about the need for teachers to look beyond their task-master role, to inspire others and get in touch with students' needs to be themselves and not to lose their souls in the process of education. For me as a new teacher, I know I will be heavily focused on what and how I am teaching kids; I welcome these kinds of reminders about staying focused on the kids!

Just curious...
When teachers interview for teaching positions within a school district, I understand we are generally given opportunities to ask our own questions. I'm wondering if it's always appropriate to ask about teaching teams (grade level teams) at the school. I would personally prefer a school which advocates for collaboration among staff.

Anxiety?
We get to work with our students for nearly six hours every day, five days a week. For kids who are challenged academically or behaviorally, I understand the need for teachers to form a good line of communication with the families. I'm also envisioning that this may be no easy feat with some families (e.g. dual working parents, lack of computer at home). When I become a teacher, I hope that if such a situation occurs, I will have good sense and judgment to know how to work with a student, regardless of parents' choice of involvement.

Excited?
I truly enjoy getting to know kids, and I believe the same will hold true of me getting to know how they are as students in our classroom. I really hope I can help my supervising teacher in identifying concerns about kids and different learning styles and needs. Certainly, two sets of eyes and ears will be useful in making sure the kids are getting the most out of their time in class and that they are finding some joy in their learning!