Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Lock It Up.

The past three days have sorta sucked. OK, they've really sucked. I've got this annoying cold that I can't shake. And it's been, like, 80 degrees here in Vermillion. 80 degrees. In October. In South Dakota.

I'm a little concerned.

Oh, and also, I suck at teaching. I've been doing OK so far, keeping my head above water while I'm doggy-paddling my ass off, but Monday, things just came to a head. A hot, sweaty, lazy,bored, huge head. My students and I have been trudging through quizzes and essays and reflective writings and all that, but on Monday, I just didn't know what to do. I am having trouble with my noon class. My 2:00 class is fun and talkative and awesome (and my favorite, except one day, I lost control of them over a heated discussion of that documentary "Grizzly Man), but that dang noon class!

They just stare. At the floor. At the wall. At the clock. At anything but me. And that's OK. I get it. I know they're freshmen and it's nice outside and they'd rather be anywhere but here, but I'm getting a little frustrated. I need to work harder with this class. I need to bring in essays and articles and classic pieces that hopefully, will interest them. I'm throwing some William Carlos Williams at them on Friday. If that doesn't spark their interest, I don't know what will.

I bet grabbing them by the shoulders and shaking them would get their attention. Threatening to beat them with their own shoes may as well.

Or maybe, just maybe, treating them like adults and expecting them to get their too cool for school selves in gear. No, they're not bad kids. They have promise. And tons of potential. I better let them know that.

Lock it up.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're preaching to the choir girl! Just make sure that you do not take the things your students do too personally. Remember, they generally don't want to be there to begin with. It is not a reflection on your skill as a teacher, but rather a reflection on the students.

Keep at it. You are doing just fine, I am sure.

Anonymous said...

I already gave you tons of advice on this whole thing. You are a great teacher. Think of all the things you have taught me. You taught me...ummm...You did....well...I...don't...Yeah, well, you are a great teacher. Love you