be a better teacher

Today I could have been more patient with two of my classes. Tomorrow I will focus on a positive attitude and try to encourage the students more.

I spent the last four days in a beautiful place near Medellín called Guaycoral. 20 teachers of different schools from Colombia had a meeting to discuss, share experiences, study new theories and make plans of improvement for our institutions. I’m really happy because the school chose me to participate in this event. I feel renewed and full of ideas and energy to continue doing my job with love.

I’m doing my first class teaching undergrads. The kids are super smart but are totally unmotivated. They come to class with lame excuses or red-faced, near tears over some story I can’t tell if they made up or not. I feel like they’re duping me into letting them get away with doing nothing. Any advice?

Many people say I would make a great teacher, but the few formal lessons I’ve given so far felt strangely lacklustre. I need to prepare more for my tutorials, but above all need I more opportunities for practice. I will do nine tutorials this fall, so that should help.

or books that changed your viewpoint in some way. Thanks for your help. I know that they’re are already lots of book lists and books that are listed on 43 things, but it’s nice to hear from individuals. I’ll pass the recommendations on to my students. Sometimes they don’t read because they’re not aware of everything that is available. I’m always recommending books, but different ideas are always nice. What I have gotten immersed in may not appeal to someone else, so it’s always nice to have a variety.

I’m 1/2 way through my first year of teaching…and to be honest…I am looking forward to my two weeks of vacation. I can only hope that my students do well on the state exam in April. I will take some time to map out the second semester a bit and working on some classroom procedures…

Tonight I’m putting a snow shovel underneath my pillow. I’ll hate myself in June, but right now a snow day sounds darn good.

Whoohoo, today I finally made a perfect lesson again. It was the 3rd or 4th time in the past 6 years.. I love this job!

Thirteen years of teaching is enough. It’s time to look for something different. I’m not sure what yet, but something that doesn’t involve working with adolescents.

I also wish I could figure out a way to motivate them more. It’s getting better, but there is still so much to do. I have to tell myself that I’m such a small part of their lives. Years from now they won’t remember who the hell I was or what I said. So often it seems like it all just doesn’t matter.

Kodachrome
Paul Simon

When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of education hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew when I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they’d never match my sweet imagination
Everything looks worse in black and white

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Mama don’t take my Kodachrome
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Mama don’t take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Mama don’t take my Kodachrome
Uhm uhm!
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
O.K.!

OR THERE’S ALWAYS PINK FLOYD

Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 (Waters) 3:56

We don’t need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

We don’t need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

“Wrong, Do it again!”
“If you don’t eat yer meat, you can’t have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?”
“You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!”

Okay, no thought control. Can I tell them I don’t care what the hell they think, as long as they think?

I think it’s time to call it a day.