I have to say that I am beginning to enjoy teaching. I have tried to let the class be a little more organic and let the conversation flow naturally. This has worked out pretty well for me. It all strarted with Jack London's story "To Build a Fire." The story is about a man who makes a trip in Alaska when it is 75 below zero. He travels down the Yukon trail alone, well, he has a dog with him, and meets a terrible fate. The story is told from the 3rd person omniscient point of view and we know what is going on in the mind of the man and the dog. It is clear that London does not think much of the man because he writes, "The man lacked imagination. He knew about the things of life, but not their signifigance." In my teachers edition it asked the question, "Why might the man's lack of imagination be a flaw?" My kids said, "yeah, why is that a flaw?" Well, I had to think about it, and I came to the conclusion that a lack of imagination about what was to come in life, and what was significant in life could be disasterous. I told my kids story after story about people who had failed because they could not imagine the horror of their choices. How people lioved miserable lives because they did not realize what was really significant in life. I tried to convince them that although this story was written in 1908, it still spoke to us today. That is the neauty of lieterature - that no matter how many years we have been on this earth, we are still the basically the same. As I taught them this lesson, I remembered that in the middle of all the headaches of teaching, I can make an impact somewhere by teaching my beloved literature. And I do love it - maybe now more than ever. I read Flannery O'Connor and her story "Revelation" and realize how important it is to expose these kids to a world outside of Darien, Ga. I have grown to absolutely love some of them, and want to help those that have not grown to love yet.
I went to the football game Friday and met the mom of one of my very quiet kids. She said, "Jonathon talks about your class all the time. He said he just loves you and the stuff you teach."
I was shocked. He never says anything in class, and I often wonder what he is thinking about while he sits in the back so quietly. Now I know, and it feels wonderful.
Maybe I can make it back next year.
5 comments:
I rememeber reading that story in school because of the coldness that story described. I'm so glad that things are getting better!
So have you decided who will play you when they make a movie about you and how you touch your students?
Reading this made me smile. I'm glad you've finally found a way of teaching that benefits you and your students. I hope it continues until the end of the year.
I wrote an entire comment to this the other night that disappeared, so I'll just say, I love this.
I'm glad things are looking up for you! Just know that if things get crazy again, remember that there are three successive holidays on the way and each has their share of candy and amusements. Kids get crazy around the holidays. I think your idea to go with the flow will be the most productive and keep your sanity intact. Plus the holiday break is nice, too. :0)
I love the story about the student named Jonathon! See, you're reaching kids even when you don't realize it!
I'm really glad you're finding your teaching niche. I'm so proud of you. I know if you were my teacher, you would be my hero.
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