How do we teach while kids are throwing paper airplanes and fighting and swearing at each other? It's easy to formulate a philosophy that claims one will strive to reach all children and work individually with students in need. It's easy to say things, but not so easy to act on them, especially in the classroom environment that is ever-changing.
How do we come to a personal philosophy and also know how to apply it in a classroom setting? How much of our philosophy actually focuses on the daily tasks of teaching that become daunting? I think that when we think so deeply about teaching that we forget that teaching is so much more than these "great ideas." Our ideologies may sound wonderful, but we need to apply them to the real world. Dealing with paperwork, tesing, conferences, administration, parents, colleagues...these are the things that teachers face every day that they don't prepare for in a teacher prep program. As we sit around creating these big ideas, lets not forget that the more tedious parts of teaching are yet more obstacles to overcome. The uncooperative students, the messy classrooms, the lesson plans that just don't pan out...these are things that we have to think about. I think some teachers get scared away by these aspects because they are unable to practice their beliefs.
If we approach all of this with the knowledge that teaching is tough, in so many ways, we will be okay. It's not necessarily a dream job for every one, and by no means easy. Teachers don't sit at their desks while students silently do seat work all day. Teaching encompasses jumping all the seeminly small hurdles (that are really big), and still getting some child to learn something on any given day. Staying late to help one student, or staying late to clean up your classroom...small things are sometimes better than the big things. Teaching becomes miraculous if you help just one child gain confidence, achieve a better grade, or be happy to come to school. I think it's all a process, and you can't expect an entire classroom of kids to move along at the same pace and achieve pre-set goals made by you, the teacher.
I agree with you. Teaching is hard. It's easy to get caught up in ideologies, theories, and philoshophies. What happens when the rubber meets the road? How do we respond to the adversity of being a teacher? I honestly do not have the answers to these questions. When we are hit with the adversity, we can run from it or learn from it. I believe the teachers who are able to learn from it and adapt will develop patience, endurance, and perseverance. It's not easy, but it is worth it to help someone and give them a hope of a better life with an education.
ReplyDeletei think it's interesting how it seems to me that the main topic and concern for teachers from all generatins is how hard it is and how many obstacles we have to overcome. even the books we read, and the articles we read...all seem to imply the same thing. it makes me wonder about this teaching thing. you have to really want to make a difference in people's lives to have the stamina and patience to deal with all of the challenges. i hope that the rewards for children outweigh them. i do know that when a student smiles and runs over to me to say hi, i just melt. they are so innocent and full of joy about learning...
ReplyDeleteI think you have the right idea! Teaching is not an easy job and many who go into the profession have no idea what they are getting into. What is the hardest part of teaching? Is it classroom management, dealing with parents, trying to spend one on one time with each student when there are 30 in a classroom, dealing with administration, and the list could continue. So why do we teach? We know it is not for the money!! If you go into teaching believing that it will be a struggle at times, then maybe you wont be in shock when it gets rocky!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that teaching is hard, yet rewarding. Perhaps the philosophies we're currently trying to articulate, will get us through the rough days when nothing seems to be going right. Perhaps they should be reviewed each year as compasses to see if they are still pointing us in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteWell classroom management is the number one reason first year teachers struggle. Get involved in creating procedures and model them with your kids. It is that first two weeks that sets the tone. I even heard, in the hallway of my job site, “don’t smile for the first month”. I can not believe how difficult this is but since I have been in a Behavior Management, Special Education classroom for the last two years I can have certain “bag of tricks” modeled to me. I would suggest visiting other classes, see how it’s done. The issue of individual needs of each child is already invented, the Individualized Education Plan, if your in Special Education. Yes I would have to agree if you “think” to much about philosophy that you may enter the classroom with high expectations and they don’t always work in the class. Again I collaborate with many teachers, ask them for lesson plans, get to the teachers that only teach one grade and one subject you may find that they have an entire years lesson plan worked out from day one.
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