A & Q

I have asked you to ask me anything. So here are some answers for you.



Badass Geek wants to know: I've always wondered how the classroom experience feels different when you are the one teaching, instead of the one learning. Is it different, for better or worse, than you expected?



I guess the main difference between being a student and a teacher is everyone else in the room. As a student, I was only ever responsible for myself. If I put in the effort, I learned what I needed to know and got good grades. If I didn't, I didn't. As a teacher, I am now responsible for all of my students learning: those who are trying and those who definately aren't. I need to find ways to keep my students engaged and motivated. The biggest surprise for me has probably been the total apathy of some students.



Anonymous wants to know: Do teachers really have teachers pets? Or students you are glad to have in your class?



Teachers certainly have some students that we enjoy teaching more than others. It is usually not the smartest students, but the better behaved ones. I try not to let that affect my teaching or grading style. I may let them know that I appreciate their behavior, and I certainly will discipline students who are disruptive. One thing that people may not expect is that I also really like some of my less studious pupils. Some kids are really funny, but just don't know when it is appropriate to joke around and when it's not. I try not to encourage them.


If you have any other teaching questions, comment or email me, and I will answer them here.

Q and A

A couple of other bloggers whom I follow have recently had Q&A sessions with their readers. I thought it was a great idea. No one included a trademark or patent pending in their posts, so I think I will pilfer it.

So... if you have any burning questions about me, about teaching, about my blog... comment or email it to me, and I will answer them here. If you have questions about anything else, I will ponder it, do an internet search, if necessary, and try my best to answer it for you.

In Which I am Almost Too Angry to Write

I am sooo ticked off. At the end of last year, we teachers were told by administration that we would need to create a list of 30 vocabulary words to use for the whole school throughout the year. Over the summer, as we met to work on benchmark tests, the Language Arts department decided that we would just go ahead and make a list and a calendar and share with everyone else. We even went above and beyond, and came up with over 70 words to give us a word a day with regular review periods, lasting until state testing.

Now, the administration has given us a list of 60 words that we must use. Why the heck did they tell us to make a list if they were going to dictate a list to us? Of course, I am sure that they originally did want us to make up a list, but then changed their minds. But that is rude and ridiculous. They are showing no respect for all the work we did or our knowledge of what our students need. It makes me so angry!