It often starts by being honest with myself.
With the first day of school for the 2016-2017 school year fast approaching, I've been thinking about the things that made me frustrated last year. I'm trying to avoid those things even existing in my life this year. To help me, I've also asked other teachers about the things students do that drive them nuts. The top 5 are as follows:
1. Tardiness
2. Sleeping
3. Profanity
4. Late/No Work
5. Talking during instruction
Solid list from the teachers I polled. Sure, there were a few very specific things that they all said, but these were the most common frustrations.
Tardiness is a funny one because sometimes that spills over into parent frustration and coworker frustration. I had a kid that was late every morning because his parents wouldn't drop him off in time. I've had students that are late because they are dropping off their siblings first and then coming to school. I have also had students that are late every day because their coach lets them out late from practice (so they say) and student that think right before my class is bathroom time every time.
I look back at my life and as much as I preach being prompt today, It took me 26 years to show up to class on time every time. It got worse in college. I've always been prompt with things outside of academics, but I've always been less reliable when it comes to education. If I'm going to hold my students to a standard, I have to live up to that standard as well. Last year, I was late to class a few times. Once I even forgot that class was happening and one of my students came to get me. Crazy right?
We're human. People make mistakes. The second I start to get all riled up by any of these 5 things, I bring it down a few notches by opening my eyes and realizing I'm working on the same stuff, and I have over a decade of practice on them.
The biggest change I want to make is ensuring that my class is so exciting that my students are excited to be there. My excited students were never late. The challenge is getting all of my students to that level.
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1. Tardiness
2. Sleeping
3. Profanity
4. Late/No Work
5. Talking during instruction
Solid list from the teachers I polled. Sure, there were a few very specific things that they all said, but these were the most common frustrations.
Tardiness is a funny one because sometimes that spills over into parent frustration and coworker frustration. I had a kid that was late every morning because his parents wouldn't drop him off in time. I've had students that are late because they are dropping off their siblings first and then coming to school. I have also had students that are late every day because their coach lets them out late from practice (so they say) and student that think right before my class is bathroom time every time.
I look back at my life and as much as I preach being prompt today, It took me 26 years to show up to class on time every time. It got worse in college. I've always been prompt with things outside of academics, but I've always been less reliable when it comes to education. If I'm going to hold my students to a standard, I have to live up to that standard as well. Last year, I was late to class a few times. Once I even forgot that class was happening and one of my students came to get me. Crazy right?
We're human. People make mistakes. The second I start to get all riled up by any of these 5 things, I bring it down a few notches by opening my eyes and realizing I'm working on the same stuff, and I have over a decade of practice on them.
The biggest change I want to make is ensuring that my class is so exciting that my students are excited to be there. My excited students were never late. The challenge is getting all of my students to that level.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Content:
Dallas Teacher reflects on 3 day training
Dallas Teachers Ask Questions They Hate
Dallas Teacher Reflection on School Year 2015-2016
Dallas Student Tears and Late Work
Dallas Student interest increases over time. Wait for it.
Fun things to do in Dallas this weekend - Andi Reis
Dallas Education Podcast - Answering Reader Questions: July 2016
Dallas ISD News and Politics Rundown - July Week 3
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