My students at AHS handed in their first writing assignment a couple weeks ago.  160 essays on three goals students hope to accomplish in their lives. 

Much to my dismay, I can probably count on one hand how many essays were completely original.  This isn't surprising though, 10th graders are all at the same point in life, so it of course they all want to get their licensee.  That makes sense. 

However, what ultimately left me frustrated about these essays was that nearly every student included that they wanted to get good grades.  Good grades make your parents proud.  Good grades get you into college.

Let me be clear: I'm glad my students want to be academically successful. 

However, I feel that their goals are misguided.  And I feel like it is our fault. 

There's a difference between getting good grades and actually learning. My students don't want to push themselves, they don't want to learn. In fact, they resist it every chance they get.  They want to jump through the hoops to get A's with as little mental strain as possible.  

This means that instead of thinking critically, they want to know the right answer in the most concise way possible. They want to be handed the answer so they can memorize it for the test.

I had a homework assignment where one of the questions began with, "What do you think...?"  Students didn't know what to do. 

"Ms. Pridemore, I can't find the answer to number two." 

"That's because it isn't in the book.  I'm not asking you to search the text to find the answers.  I'm asking you to analyze the text and have an opinion."

Teacher frustration.

I will make them think.
I will make them think. 
I will make them think. 

Napkin Scribbles

...from presentation days.

"I hope I never forget how I feel right now.  The overwhelming, relentless pressure.  The rhinoceros that lives on my sternum.  The tears.  The paper cuts. The one that got infected.  Green pens.  Working through lunch.  The doubt:  mine and theirs.  I hope I always remember how hard it was to become a teacher."

Student Teaching Day 1: I ramble sometimes

(My students now know that my life's real purpose is to see a bear in its natural habitat.)
 

The last four years of my life have been leading up to this culminating experience.  I’ve got a great cooperating teacher, a closet full of dresses and a brand new coffee pot. 

Now if only I could plant my feet.

Student teaching is difficult because it exists in an undefined space.  My role is ambiguous.  I’m in charge, but I’m not in charge.  I’m a teacher, but I’m so very much the student.  

Teaching in a school with technology, paper, copiers that work and enough textbooks for every student is a new experience for me, as is teaching honors; and I am excided at the instructional opportunities afforded by these resources.  The infinite possibilities are thrilling!

Countdown:

9 weeks until India.

17 weeks until I graduate.

Holding my breath until then. 

I wore my Bunny pin for goodluck. I'm 99% sure that it was effective because I  didn't trip over the overhead cord.  Not Even Once.