Interestingly enough, I've been 'teaching' in K-12 schools for almost 4 years now - longer if you count my writing and my ministry (but that's another subject and probably will never be a blog), nonetheless, every time I enter a class the children will ask, "Are you a "real" teacher?" my first thought is to respond in a wildly offended manner "Hey I AM a REAL TEACHER now sit down and shut up and learn!" but... after taking a few training sessions in, and really listening to the 'best practices' on answering the inquiries of 'children', I knew my initial response was not quite the 'restorative' route.
Soon time went on and the students and their questions "...if you're a doctor why are you a sub," and "why aren't you a real teacher," those types of questions just became a way of daily life for me. I never felt downhearted or ... worse. I still wake up all perky and ready to go and wondering who I will teach today. I know it sounds corny but I really do. I wonder which grade I will encounter and who will be in that class that I may actually 'instruct'.
Over the years (my four meager years) I've learned which grades I dread and which I embrace. When I lovingly refer to them as the BIGS and the LITTLES... K-6 being the 'littles' and after that, those older, being the 'bigs', I often decide on what kind of day I will have accordingly. Middle school is a class all it's own. It is so appropriately named 'MIDDLE' school because it's so in the middle of road between those I might want to embrace physically and those I might embrace intellectually ... so I guess I will call those children.. THE MIDDLES.
I think if I were really YOUNG and full of ENERGY I would take on those Middles with a BIGGO MISCHIEVOUS GRIN... ready to get down and dirty on their level and just... do the doggone thing... but I'm not young and surely not filled with energy so.. um. NO. Give me Seniors or give me... shoot just give me a third grader. Seniors are ready to LEAVE school and move on with real life and so they are usually pretty compliant or at least able to be reasoned with. They seem to understand the repercussions for their actions, even if they choose to ACT they are ready to face that tune. Third graders have just finally figured out what school is all about and either they want to be there or not. I can work with that. No more that that "Bump Bump Pa Bump Bump ... stuff..." it's all about, "Look here, you don't need a buddy to go the bathroom, you should have brought your own pencil and NO you can't have any water 2 minutes after recess... sit down or get out." Okay, so I'm still working on that SOFT touch hehe.
I was nervous at first about posting a blog about my new journey, as many teachers seem to lose their jobs over what they put in social media... but trust me... if I get so angry at my day to where I might say something so awful regarding a child, I won't say it. I won't say something I will regret. I will just not blog that day or week or month... however frequently I post, and I SURE won't tell anybody how I really felt that day. Sheesh...
This blog is mostly to go through the steps I'm taking to become a credentialed teacher at this point in life and in California. The hoops albeit fiery, seems doable, even at my age. I'm not to keen on that CSET but that's what's next. I made it through the CBEST in tact and I shall pass the CSET... all three parts of it... eventually. I'm in the process of looking for a nice study guide as we speak.
I'm 56 and a PhD who is now going sort of backwards to get a Masters in Education (or just a credential if the classes burn me out before I complete the entire 40 units. It only takes 31 for the credential). It should be an interesting adventure.
Stay Tuned...
Soon time went on and the students and their questions "...if you're a doctor why are you a sub," and "why aren't you a real teacher," those types of questions just became a way of daily life for me. I never felt downhearted or ... worse. I still wake up all perky and ready to go and wondering who I will teach today. I know it sounds corny but I really do. I wonder which grade I will encounter and who will be in that class that I may actually 'instruct'.
Over the years (my four meager years) I've learned which grades I dread and which I embrace. When I lovingly refer to them as the BIGS and the LITTLES... K-6 being the 'littles' and after that, those older, being the 'bigs', I often decide on what kind of day I will have accordingly. Middle school is a class all it's own. It is so appropriately named 'MIDDLE' school because it's so in the middle of road between those I might want to embrace physically and those I might embrace intellectually ... so I guess I will call those children.. THE MIDDLES.
I think if I were really YOUNG and full of ENERGY I would take on those Middles with a BIGGO MISCHIEVOUS GRIN... ready to get down and dirty on their level and just... do the doggone thing... but I'm not young and surely not filled with energy so.. um. NO. Give me Seniors or give me... shoot just give me a third grader. Seniors are ready to LEAVE school and move on with real life and so they are usually pretty compliant or at least able to be reasoned with. They seem to understand the repercussions for their actions, even if they choose to ACT they are ready to face that tune. Third graders have just finally figured out what school is all about and either they want to be there or not. I can work with that. No more that that "Bump Bump Pa Bump Bump ... stuff..." it's all about, "Look here, you don't need a buddy to go the bathroom, you should have brought your own pencil and NO you can't have any water 2 minutes after recess... sit down or get out." Okay, so I'm still working on that SOFT touch hehe.
I was nervous at first about posting a blog about my new journey, as many teachers seem to lose their jobs over what they put in social media... but trust me... if I get so angry at my day to where I might say something so awful regarding a child, I won't say it. I won't say something I will regret. I will just not blog that day or week or month... however frequently I post, and I SURE won't tell anybody how I really felt that day. Sheesh...
This blog is mostly to go through the steps I'm taking to become a credentialed teacher at this point in life and in California. The hoops albeit fiery, seems doable, even at my age. I'm not to keen on that CSET but that's what's next. I made it through the CBEST in tact and I shall pass the CSET... all three parts of it... eventually. I'm in the process of looking for a nice study guide as we speak.
I'm 56 and a PhD who is now going sort of backwards to get a Masters in Education (or just a credential if the classes burn me out before I complete the entire 40 units. It only takes 31 for the credential). It should be an interesting adventure.
Stay Tuned...
x
