Teacher Talk Tuesday
... even though its Wednesday (are you getting used to that? because its seems I've done this an embarrassing amount of times).
This past Monday (Columbus Day), my school district provided and in-service day for their teachers in which I had the pleasure of sitting through 3 meetings throughout the day. Now, I'm not complaining, it's great we get these days. It's great to come together, either as a building or a district, to work towards more cohesiveness in our teaching. Plus, it allows us a glimpse into what working with adults all day would be like.
At the end of our last meeting, a speaker presented a video capturing several teachers responses to the questions, "why do you teach?" It got me thinking of what my answer may be...
I teach because, quite frankly, there is nothing else I see myself doing... there's nothing else I ever saw myself doing.
Teaching and I, we go together like peanut butter and chocolate.
I teach because the dress code fits me.
I'm not huge on dressing up and I simply don't do dry cleaning. My work clothes have simple requirements: comfortable and easy to clean. I need comfort to move about the floor as needed and easy cleaning for when my kids use my clothes as a Kleenex (yes this still happens in 5th grade).
I teach because I get to make multiple to-do lists per day and receive the most ridiculous sense of accomplishment when I complete said list(s).
I teach because I find kids to be fascinating company.
Somehow, day in and day out, these little people make me strive to be a better person. I spend 90% of my working hours sharing my "office" with 28 young minds in an environment best described as organized chaos sure to send any "normal" human being running for the hills. I hardly notice a thing.
My students were reading a magazine in pairs today about knights and castles in medieval times. One of my boys was reading by himself which was unusual for him because he usually jumps at any opportunity to work with his friends. When I asked him if he was interested in reading with a partner he said, "thanks Mrs. Pentek, but I'd rather not. I never thought I was a good reader before but after listening to the things you talk about with our class, I realize I'm a good reader now. Reading with friends just distracts me, I'm a good reader and I like to hear my own thinking when I read." Boom.
Teaching and I... we're like peanut butter and chocolate.
This past Monday (Columbus Day), my school district provided and in-service day for their teachers in which I had the pleasure of sitting through 3 meetings throughout the day. Now, I'm not complaining, it's great we get these days. It's great to come together, either as a building or a district, to work towards more cohesiveness in our teaching. Plus, it allows us a glimpse into what working with adults all day would be like.
At the end of our last meeting, a speaker presented a video capturing several teachers responses to the questions, "why do you teach?" It got me thinking of what my answer may be...
I teach because, quite frankly, there is nothing else I see myself doing... there's nothing else I ever saw myself doing.
Teaching and I, we go together like peanut butter and chocolate.
I teach because the dress code fits me.
I'm not huge on dressing up and I simply don't do dry cleaning. My work clothes have simple requirements: comfortable and easy to clean. I need comfort to move about the floor as needed and easy cleaning for when my kids use my clothes as a Kleenex (yes this still happens in 5th grade).
I teach because I get to make multiple to-do lists per day and receive the most ridiculous sense of accomplishment when I complete said list(s).
I teach because I find kids to be fascinating company.
Somehow, day in and day out, these little people make me strive to be a better person. I spend 90% of my working hours sharing my "office" with 28 young minds in an environment best described as organized chaos sure to send any "normal" human being running for the hills. I hardly notice a thing.
My students were reading a magazine in pairs today about knights and castles in medieval times. One of my boys was reading by himself which was unusual for him because he usually jumps at any opportunity to work with his friends. When I asked him if he was interested in reading with a partner he said, "thanks Mrs. Pentek, but I'd rather not. I never thought I was a good reader before but after listening to the things you talk about with our class, I realize I'm a good reader now. Reading with friends just distracts me, I'm a good reader and I like to hear my own thinking when I read." Boom.
Teaching and I... we're like peanut butter and chocolate.
I happened to be eating a Reese's peanut butter cup and thinking that it was the best invention ever...peanut butter and chocolate in a little cup...ahhh...and then I clicked on your blog...how weird! I love your analogy (right literary device, huh Mike?!) Love you my little peanut butter cup!
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