This semester I'm teaching two sections of the same class and they meet on alternating days. One class makes me feel like a terrible teacher. While there are a few engaged students, most of them look at me like I am doofus with lame ideas. They make me feel like that teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Every time the class ends I think I should probably get a new career.
And then the next day comes and I go to class number two and all of the things that failed miserably yesterday work beautifully. They ask questions, they pay attention, they seem to get it--and better yet, like it. They make me feel like the math teacher in Better Off Dead, where the students anxiously await their opportunity to turn in assignments. I leave the class completely renewed, yet dreading the next day.
What to do? I'm not sure that it's possible for me to change so much from day to day. It must be them. But maybe it is me, and if it is, what's going wrong. Does the one class sense that I dread teaching them? Is it because I wore jeans on the first day of the bad class? Fellow teachers, help!
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6 comments:
Three possible answers, all of which are/may be correct:
1. It is you. Sometimes when I've taught the same class, I learn things from the first class and so the second class goes better.
2. It is them. Sometimes the chemistry of a particular class is leaden. Maybe that's alchemy.
3. It's the combination of you and them. I think the relationship with a class is like love (like love, not necessarily love, although that's a whole nother deal): sometimes the mix is just not quite right. Some classes you just have to endure.
What about the good class on a bad day? That happens to me. That's like bad hair days--nothing to do but get through 'em. Also, possibly, spend money on sparkly stuff you don't need.
I want to think it's the outfits (for my own sake) because then all I have to do is change the outfit and wala: suddenly they are all engaged and smart. Does this sound like a fantasy?
I teach the same class three times in a row, and the second is always the best. In spite of some lame-os they are, overall, a better class. And it is some strange alchemy of personalities, interest, and me, I'm sure.
But I'm not sure you or your outfits can make them care if they just don't.
And I hate to say it, but some of them just don't. Especially at this point in the semester.
I'm having the same experience this semester. There is one possible answer: It's them.
In my case, the second class (except for two students) don't seem to actually read, which makes class discussion. . . well I think your Ferris Bueller's Day Off allusion sums it up nicely.
I think that it is all right to get angry at students sometimes. I try to allow myself anger while also recognizing that I don't want to become one of those bitter teachers. I think my students are basically good people.
I was just thinking about this issue the other day. My take is that when we encounter this kind of situation we must change what we do in the bad class. If it ain't working, it ain't working and it really doesn't matter (I have to keep reminding myself of this)whose fault it is. The next time this happens (and I have a situation in 1010 leaning that way), I'm going to just bring it out in the open: this isn't working so what are we going to do? What can you all do and what can I do because we have lots of time left together?
In fact as I'm writing this I'm more convinced this is what I need to do in this one class. I just read the first papers and the ones from this class do not even compare to the other classes. For example no one in my other two classes forgot to include a basic element of the project: a self-reflective paper. In this class 6 students forgot to include one. Not to mention the number of papers which merely reiterated the cliched debates on abortion and gay marriage.
I'm going to do something; I'm going to put myself AND them on the line. Well, this has been very good for me. Thanks.
the update: I followed Ron's advice. It scared the bejesus out of me, but I talked to them about the problem, asked them what was going on and what we could do about it. And it worked. Well, I think it worked. they all talked, gave some ideas, and we all agreed on things we could do differently. We'll see how this all goes in the future, but they were amazingly cooperative in addressing the issue.
Way to go *Assertive*!! Now I need to follow my own advice. I was all set up to confront my class but the three big offenders were not there so I decided to wait. By the next class I'd lost my cajones.
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