Blog Post 9

This week, I read two posts by Joe McClung, a teacher who began in Fall 2009, entitled "What I've Learned this Year". I read the posts for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, both of which were set at junior high school in Arkansas.

For 2009-2010, it was his first time teaching history and social studies and his first time teaching junior high at all. In addition, it was the first time he had to teach three different subjects at once (in the past, he had taught only Science). To make matters more difficult, he had never taught from this particular Science curriculum. He was unsure of how to teach history without assigning busy work, but soon learned to adapt and make the subject interesting. He also found that with Science and History, he could not stick to rigid lesson plans due to the constant discussion and debate that comes along with History and Social Studies.

He mentioned briefly finding "the school mom"; ladies who have been at the school for years and are knowledgeable and willing to help newcomers. I don't quite understand why that is limited to ladies in his thinking, but it may just be because there are more women in this field and women tend to be more patient than men are.

He then goes on to tell teachers not to be afraid to act silly and crazy in order to get their point across - sometimes it is necessary and helpful! In addition, he talks about using his students to perform simple duties in the classroom, such as having them get up and pick up their own papers as opposed to him handing them out. Interestingly enough, this also serves the function of keeping students engaged in the class - something I'd never thought about.

Next, Mr. McClung speaks on ensuring that you give the right amount of time to the right subject, not simply focusing on your favorites. Furthermore, you cannot let adversity, whether in the form of outside problems, administration, or parents, get in the way. Remember, we are here for the students!

I love his thoughts in the paragraph "The Path Least Traveled" about teaching students to think independently, as that seems to be a regular theme in this course. I love his final sentence of that paragraph: "I don't want my students to always look for the right answer, but instead take a different approach that requires them to think analytically and assess each situation on a individual basis." Brilliant.

For the 2010-2011 post, it was Mr. McClung's third year teaching - and now with another subject, Computer Science! He begins the post with a similar sentiment from much of his first post - to keep our instruction student centered! He says that we cannot become wrapped up in pleasing others and forget to take care of the students, who are after all the main reason we are there!

Next, he says that one cannot expect for all of the other teachers to become as excited about new ideas as you may be. I find that this may be a problem for me as a teacher - I tend to like fun and new ideas even when others think they're silly or stupid. As a teacher, I may get a bit upset when other teachers don't want to try new things. Similarly, he says not to try to fit in too hard - it's not a bad think to be an outsider! Remember that we are there FOR the students, not for our social lives.

Another lesson he learned, one which I particularly love, he titles "Never touch the keyboard". Basically, he is saying not to do a task you are attempting to teach a student how to do for the student. Finally, he says not to fall complacently into a routine and simply go through the motions of being a teacher.

Mr. McClung shares some excellent thoughts on teaching. I hope that as a teacher I choose also to write summary posts like his to share with new teachers - and I love his student centered-approach! We should all try to care more about the students than politics and policies.