For awhile there I was getting concerned about my apathy in the classroom. I was having a challenging time with my Algebra I 9th graders and I just was not feeling was was happening in the English classroom. I had never thought I would feel unmotivated about teaching (especially so soon).
BUT then, my mentor teacher allowed me to plan the poetry unit and my passion came back again. Hw fun is it to design a unit that could possibly ignite students' creativity and curiosity? Man, there's power in it. But not the type of power that lords over people, but rather the power to motivate, to encourage, to engage.
So far, the plans for my classes have worked and not worked, which is great, yet humbling to witness. I am thankful that I get to try out my ideas in the classroom because I will be more prepared for next year.
One activity that went very well centered around the concept of literary devices. I had students building things with K'Nex and Legos to connect with how a poet may use certain tools to construct poem. Then students broke off into groups. Each group was given a sheet with three sets of lyrics on it, all three sets exhibiting the same literary device. Students had to "discover" and construct a definition of the literary device demonstrated by their sets of lyrics. After they had constructed their definition, teams were split up to teach people from the other teams. I assessed student learning based on the definitions they wrote down along with how they were able to apply their definitions to another poem. It was fantastic! I saw students collaborating and teaching themselves the definitions of literary devices. I struggled somewhat with certain devices and students not being able to see the common theme among lyrics. I always am motivated to learn more questioning techniques so that I am not just tempted to tell the students the answer. But all in all, I was impressed with my students. And I found a lot of great music while picking out lyrics. My favorite: On to the Next One by Jay-Z. Check it out.
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Leah,
ReplyDeleteJust a little while ago your mom and dad were helping to teach you and now your'e teaching other human beings. How great and wonderful is our God! Keep it up beautiful daughter of ours, we know and believe the best about you.
Love daddy dean and momma jo
Leah, what an inventive idea to draw analogies between the wonderful complexity of constructing a poem, and the physical act of constructing. Sometimes we need something concrete from which to make more expressive meaning, and I love your inspiration here...sounds like your students did, too. One for the memory book--and the job portfolio!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you wrote about this experience, Leah, because I have started to feel the same type of apathy about teaching as well. It's glad to know that the passion isn't simply gone! You make a really good point about being able to try things out in the classroom. I think that is one of the most fantastic parts about the MAC program - that we get to be in the classroom for the entire year. It's so much easier trying something new and accepting that it can bomb when your mentor-teacher is there and has your back. Thanks for the encouragement and it's great to hear that you have rediscovered your passion!
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