So what?

So you're a teacher. You have a name badge, a desk, and a red (in my case, purple) pen.

So what?

Why should students trust you? What makes you credible to students?

Today I gave my students a reason - and I want to challenge veteran and rookie teachers alike to do the same.

Here's what I did.

Last summer, I worked for the BSU Daily News as a feature writer. I covered Muncie's dullest and Muncie's finest - from Farmer's Markets to murders.

One of my favorite experiences working for the Daily News stems from a simple walk to class one Tuesday morning. I had consistently seen an old lady smiling and waving at students as they passed by on their way to campus. It had become so familiar that it didn't occur to me that this grandma-looking lady was out of her element. I began to wonder, "Why in the world would she want to live in a college-dominated neighborhood?"

So I asked.

The result?:
Story: http://tinyurl.com/ydlttkx
Multimedia piece: http://apps.bsudailynews.com/files/grandma_neeley/index.html

I shared this with my newspaper staff today, explaining that I too have been "just a reporter." Every journalist starts somewhere - and I think it's important to show students where you've come from. They see the destination daily in your teaching but I would argue that isn't enough to earn the trust of a high schooler.


Try it. Let me know how it goes.

Using travel time effectively

My house is 52.6 mi away from school so I have about an hour in the car on the way there and back.

This week I have been researching podcast resources to listen to on the way to and from school. I admit that I usually listen to music of my choice, but my goal is to listen to at least one podcast session a week. Here is why I challenge you to do the same:

INTASC (Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium) Principle 9 encourages teachers to seek out opportunities to grow professionally.

Podcasts are generally free and can be quickly downloaded on your Ipod. Also, you can search for specific areas of interest that meet your needs. If you are dealing with behavior issues, you can find a Podcast that talks about various methods of classroom management. If you simply need a fresh idea on how to differentiate a lesson plan, you can also find a Podcast about differentiated instruction.

There are plenty of free resources teachers can use to grow professionally. Especially as a student teacher, we can use every piece of advice that is offered to us. At the very least, we will hear how other teachers are doing things - and begin to challenge ourselves to be risk takers in the classroom.

Podcasts I recommend:

NPR Education Podcast:
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=17350298

Save the Teacher! Podcast: (Check out the risk taking episode)
http://save-the-teacher.podomatic.com/

Teacher Created Materials Podcast:
http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/podcasts/

Great Expectations

I took a vitamin this morning around 5:45 a.m. As a college student, the last time my eyes saw that particular set of numbers used together I hadn't been to bed yet. Now, my alarm is set for 5 a.m. for the rest of the semester. What a change!

But there are good things about being up early. There are things to smile and laugh about during my one-hour drive to Carmel H.S.

Take today, for example. I woke up knowing the heat in my car wasn't working very well. (It blows cold air..yikes). So when I was halfway ready, I went outside to start my car, scrape off the ice, and brush off the snow. When I was done with my ice scraper I placed it on my hood, fully intending on grabbing it and throwing it in my car when I came back outside to leave. I forgot.

I drove 3.4 (GPS said so) miles with that ice scraper gently tilting off the passenger side of my car. It fell (no so gracefully) on a main road just as traffic was picking up. (Sorry, Muncie!)

Don't worry, I have another ice scraper. But the experience of my lost one has reminded me to smile the rest of the day.

And although my heat doesn't work, I am lucky - just plain blessed to have a car to collect the snow and ice to begin with.

We tend to think life is this awful place that is out to get us. It can be, I'll never argue that. But mostly, I think it's made up of awesome opportunities just screaming to be taken advantage of.

I really hope I take full advantage of student teaching. May I always remember to smile and remember how much I have been given so that I can give graciously in return.