Now that I'm in the world of education, I've begun to understand everything my teachers went through teaching me and my peers.
I never realized everything they did for us, and I took the little things for granted. All the things that I hated that my teachers did, I now understand are necessary to help students succeed. There are so many things that I never understood, but after studying education for four years and gaining experience student teaching, these things are now clear to me. So, to my past teachers, thank you for all you did, and here are five things I understand now that I'm a teacher.
1. Confiscating books.
As a kid, I never understood why my teachers were stopping me from reading. I'd read under the table when we should be doing math or I wouldn't look up from a book when teachers told us to stop. As a teacher, I hate having to tell students that while I love that they're reading, I need them to focus on what I'm teaching at the moment. But I know I have to, it's part of my job to give my students a well-rounded education, as well as teach them the state standards they are expected to learn at the end of the year. School is about learning and growth, and because children learn best by doing, I need them to do math, science, and social studies as well as read. I never want to discourage reading, which I worry my students will feel I am doing, but I also need to encourage all learning.
2. Asking for quiet.
As a kid, there was nothing more frustrating than having to be in school all day and asked to not talk to my friends. I'm a very talkative and loud person. I've always been a talkative and loud person. I remember once, this kid Phil and I were talking and my third grade teacher said she'd have to rip up our PSSAs. She didn't actually do it, but the threat worked (even though I thought she was being ridiculously unfair). And I really didn't understand why I'd get in trouble for letting a friend know what we were doing because I was just trying to help her. Now, as a teacher, I get it. There's actually nothing more frustrating than a student talking over you. Or having your principal walk into a loud classroom and judging that your students are unfocused (even if that's not the case). Many students also come to me to say that they focus best when no one around them is talking. While we, of course, must encourage student discussion, certain times call for quiet, and that's just how it is.
3. Healthier food.
Why was it ever my teacher's business what I ate? If I wanted a juice and some donuts, then I was getting a juice and some donuts. If Dad wanted to surprise me with McDonalds, then I sure felt I deserved it. What I ate was between me and my parents. Now that I'm a teacher, I know something valuable. Child diabetes is real and scary. Teachers are one of the first lines of defense against sickness for kids. We are trained to notice these things. Plus, sugar and third graders is my least favorite combination, especially when they're complaining that they're tired because they crashed or when they're bouncing off the walls. I didn't realize how worrisome what students were eating was for teachers until now. I've been keeping track of food consumption with my students and my host teacher and I are in a war against diabetes for one of our students.
4. No technology or toys.
I don't mean stone age. I just mean outside technology, such as phones or tablets. When I was a kid, this wasn't really a concern for us, since we were more invested in our Tamagotchi and stuffed animals and didn't actually have the technology that is available now. In high school, however, the number of cellphones and iPods confiscated probably matches the amount that get confiscated in your average elementary school. Plus, my host teacher has a drawer in her desk that I have called "the Isle of Lost Toys." It's where all the stuffed animals that distract from class time go. As a kid, I hated that I couldn't always keep a stuffed animal at my desk or bring my Gameboy in to play Pokemon. Now, as a teacher, technology and toys are some of the most annoying distractions (next to LED shoes). First, they're a way to separate the rich from the poor. Not everyone can afford a new doll or a cool tablet. Plus, they're just distracting. No one wants to do their work when there's cool things to play with nearby. My students may hate that they have to work hard just to earn even one hour with toys and electronics, but as a teacher I see the value of the reward.
5. Writing home to parents.
Oh man, there was nothing worse than having a letter written home to my parents about anything. I always dreaded handing my dad a letter. Not only did I get in trouble at school, but now I was going to get in trouble at home, too? Completely unfair. Now that I'm a teacher, I don't love writing home but I also understand the necessity of keeping parents informed. A good parent-teacher relationship with open communication is healthy for all parties involved, including students. Also, writing home prevents the story from becoming too skewed by the students involved. Open communication means that the parents feel more involved in the daily going-on of their students' worlds. In return, parents who feel you are more open with them are more likely to keep you informed of any troubles at home. Home and school are more intertwined than students tend to understand.
There's so much more I understand now, but those are five things I've grown to know and understand. I have a newfound appreciation for everything my elementary school teachers did for my peers and me. Every time that they supported me or made the tough choice to write home to my parents mattered. When I was a kid, I went through some hard stuff and I definitely acted out. Yet my teachers perservered and treated me kindly. I know the affection I feel for even my most difficult students is the same affection those teachers felt for me. I model many of my things after those teachers... even the things I disliked that they did, I now model after them, because I understand why they did them.
