As with everyone, my students all have both challenging and rewarding moments. There are times when they really test me and times when they are such a joy to be with.
It is easiest to work with students when they are genuienly engaged in the learning. When we are doing something that interests the kids and elicits questions and hypotheses from them, it is a joy to work with them. They experience that intrinsic motivation to learn and discover. This is why I enjoyed teaching science so much, because the format allowed the kids' own questions and wonderings to drive a lot of the activities. When they ask questions it energizes me and gets me more excited about teaching too, it's kind of a reciprocal process.
I find it most challenging to work with the kids when they question my authority. Diane and I both work very hard to make sure that the kids know I am just as much of an authority as she is, but of course they still know that I am the student teacher and in the end it's her room. I have a hard time when the kids undermine and disrespect my authority. Sometimes this means that they'll ask me something and if they don't like my answer go to Diane. Other times it's more blatant--they'll giggle when I am trying to redirect them or when I try to count down from five to get the kids quiet every once in a while there are a few boys who like to count before me and giggle. Overall the kids generally respect me as an authority, but I'm sure they have picked up on the fact that this is my biggest area of insecurity and that they can push my buttons by playing inot it. I try very hard to stay calm but firm and demand the respect I deserve.
I have to say, I'm surprised you have any kids who are challenging your authority. My impression of the total respect kids give you has been confirmed numerous times by Ms. Jorde when I visit. And I don't think it's just "good training" that causes the kids to respect you. I think it's the quality of the lessons you design, the respectful, yet playful way you interact with them, and the respect you show them for their thinking, their work habits, and their stance toward learning.
ReplyDeleteSo . . . while I don't doubt that those little blips are happening, I wonder if the kids are being silly, and that it's not truly disrespectful behavior. Just my two cents!
Here's something to think about: When you have your own classroom, do you think it will be these same kinds of kids you find challenging to teach?