Why I Teach (continued)

Our first practicum has passed by and now the term "bittersweet" is more than a mere cliche; Closer to graduation and yet having to say goodbye to these wonderful children. On my last day, my students presented me with a book. Each page, written by a different student, expressed their feelings (and advice). I have always been touched by the honesty and innocence of children. Their simple words mean more to me than the contrived and insincere words often spoken by adults in an effort to be politically correct, hypersensitive, to hide their true feelings and insecurities or for the myriad of other reasons honesty all too often fails us.

In the words of my students, whose advice is usually right on the money...

"Instead of saying "you guys" say class or boys and girls."

(This was a tough one to get over completely. Students do not need teachers who are friends, they need teachers who they respect and who respect them.)

"Make sure the students undersand the math lesson befor having a test! (Really!)"

"Just do the same as you are doing now. If someone tells you to change something about you I say don't your doing great and your perfect. Just be nice and every one will like you."

"always try your best and don't give up no matter how hard things get."

"Try Not to Get hurt!!!"

"you shouldn't give such long (Bleep) math Lessons"

(2 minutes for every year of age. I had my poor grade five students listening to me lecture for 40 minutes once...(actually twice))

"I don't know of anything you can improve on. You're good just the way you are!"

(blush)

"explain in step by one by one"

"Work hard!"

"have fun when your doing your job or pretend to."

"understand the students be nice to them and always give them a second chance"

"be himself because all students will enjoy him."

"he should be more strict."

(it's amazing when you first realize that students actually need and want structure and discipline.)

"practice your teacher voice more often."

(ditto)

Why I Teach