I have been struggling with making my "necessary" lessons relevant to my students. I feel so very far removed from my students' lives and experiences, that it makes it difficult to tailor the lessons to things that interest them. Don't get me wrong, I love to play video games, and I know that we all have the need to be loved and respected, but my students have such a very different life from the one I experienced growing up.
I do my best to talk to my students about what excites them, to find out what the new and "cool" things are, to ask them what music I should listen to, what all the cool people wear (you should see some of the cool new sneakers available--yeah, I know, no one left on the planet calls them sneakers anymore), but the reality is that I am older than some of their parents, and, in their eyes, even more ancient!
I do my best to show my kids how the math they are learning helps them both today, and will continue to help them in the future, as well as how much of how we teach and learn we owe to Socrates, but sometimes I feel as though I can't seem to help them make connections. I envy those teachers who have an easy knack for relating everything they teach to "real world" applications. I hope that this is a skill that I can learn, and that I become proficient in, too.
Wishing you all joy in your journey.
Blog posted by October writer Kate Behm, sixth grade teacher Carroll Middle School in Lumberton.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Congratulations on entering a wonderful profession. I, too, began my teaching experience at Carroll Middle School as a EC Resource Teacher in 1981. I still remember walking into my classroom for the very first time and thinking, "God, just help me get through each day!" I did and you will, as well. I'm now in New Hanover Co., still EC Resource at an elementary school. CMS will nurture you on to becoming the educator you desire to be. Be patient with yourself. It's a great career. You're developing many fond memories at CMS that will accompany you wherever you go. Best of luck.
Post a Comment