There's a whole lot of learning that one has to do to become a teacher. Everything from behavioral theory to how to thread a film projector was taught when I went back to school for my Masters in Education. All that educational content and pedagogy is necessary. (Okay, maybe not threading a film projector.) And then there's the stuff you don't learn in school...the kind of stuff you don't ever think about happening in your classroom.
You see, as a teacher in training, I'm sure most people only think about the perfect classroom environment. Maybe it's like the pretend classroom they had growing up when they were teaching their stuffed animals who dutifully listened to their every word and participated like nobody's business.
Fortunately, there are actually days that resemble those playrooms. The animals aren't there, but the students listen and even participate! And then there's the other things that schooling doesn't prepare you for, like: when a kid slams his finger in the classroom door, or when a student bursts into tears because you offered a small suggestion on how to better her oral presentation, or when an 8-year-old hands you a note from his mother that informs you she has breast cancer, or there's a sniper in the area and recess will be held inside for the undetermined future, or a student loses her fight with leukemia, or 9-11.
Sometimes, it's a lot.
But teachers--we're scrappy and we get through it all.
Pandemic? Yup, we'll get through this too.
9 hours ago
Educate, inform, protect, console, counsel, empower, rise, repeat.
ReplyDeleteOy! And the CLTs?
ReplyDeleteSo true and well said, Mary.
ReplyDeleteScrappy - resilient - and surrounded by people who have the same mission. Thanks Mary.
ReplyDeleteI needed that, Mary. We will get through this, and someday we'll be saying, "Back in 2020, we had the pandemic..." and the youngins' will roll their eyes, as if to say, "Not that story again..."
ReplyDelete