tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727344.post112859111991503118..comments2023-11-02T08:14:12.379-05:00Comments on MB Matthews: Street Smarts: Baggagemarybethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07065222113190978754noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727344.post-1128992825655223482005-10-10T20:07:00.000-05:002005-10-10T20:07:00.000-05:00Dale, I laughed to myself when I read your questio...Dale, <BR/><BR/>I laughed to myself when I read your question about coping. My friends would attribute my good spirits to my eroding sanity. Thank God our benefits package covers mental health care.<BR/><BR/>I was not always so positive. Ten years ago I was given middle school classes after having taught high school for 15 years. It was awful. I was ready to quit the profession. I never had patience for that age group. I didn't like the kids, and I didn't like myself at the end of the day. <BR/>There is a saying amongst my colleagues who are certified in grades 7-12:<BR/>"Your worst day in a high school is still better than your best day in a middle school."<BR/>Rather than quit teaching, I just quit teaching THERE. I was tired of feeling like a bitch. I started looking for a high school opening, and finally discovered a teacher who was retiring. I prepared for my interview for two months, and beat out 12 other candidates.<BR/>Granted, my current job is challenging, but I don't have to listen to screaming sixth graders, which is my personal concept of hell...everything is relative.<BR/><BR/>But how do I deal with dicouragement now? How do I know if I am making a difference? <BR/>I make the effort to build relationships with my students. I take the time to get to know the kids in my classes. I listen to them, and they, in turn, listen to me. I don't just present material, I share my passion for the subject. I challenge them to think and see things differently, and I model the behavior I want to see in them. I ask them, everyday, what they need from me, and what I can do for them to help them succeed. I don't try to control them, I encourage them to control themselves. Most of my students respond very positively to my strategy of modeling behavior and mutual respect. <BR/>However, just in case there is trouble in paradise, I do like to maintain good relationships with the guidance counselors, who will find alternative classes, and make schedule changes when I encounter students who are intent upon their mission to disrupt the educational process in my classroom, or simply be a pain in the butt.marybethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065222113190978754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727344.post-1128978932991399602005-10-10T16:15:00.000-05:002005-10-10T16:15:00.000-05:00MaryBeth,I could use some of your wisdom. I'm an ...MaryBeth,<BR/>I could use some of your wisdom. I'm an energetic, eager teacher of eleven years who is getting discouraged at the state of my school and classroom. How do you stay positive in an environment such as your school? Today we had one student taken away by paramedics because he had been beaten so badly, and that was only one of five violent fights we had today! I'm getting discouraged, fearful, and outraged at my school, but I want to make a difference. How do you cope/deal/stay positive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727344.post-1128696227147379522005-10-07T09:43:00.000-05:002005-10-07T09:43:00.000-05:00Thank you for this post, MaryBeth.Thank you for this post, MaryBeth.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175591212176951287noreply@blogger.com