Mistakes in Teaching... What's a Teacher to Do?

The day had gone just fine. Many of the lessons I taught were decent, and I was pleased with the results I got from my kids. Until math. Sadly many of them were confused with mean, mode, and median. I was not expecting this, as both the Title I teacher and myself (who work as a team in teaching math) thought that they would remember what they had learned in 5th grade. Some did, but the majority, just plain old confused.

Ok, so maybe I did one good thing in math, I had them write what they knew about measures of central tendency... which let me know that they knew nothing.

Anyways, I proceeded through the lesson, explaining, showing examples, having the kids practice, and moving at a decent pace. Then came the homework assignment. I should have known this would get me in trouble.

Technically, the textbook we use has split up the concepts, teaching the mean in one lesson, and mode, median, and range in the other. Since I was somewhat banking on the kids knowing these concepts already, and merely using this as a review... I grouped the lessons together. Maybe my first mistake.

Next mistake. I assigned a ton of the problems. And hard ones. But I really wanted them to practice and do it multiple times to make sure they got it. It wasn't until after I had listed which problems they were to do did I realize how massive the assignment was. And this is where I sucked as a teacher, and as a person. Instead of trying to fix my mistake, I stuck with it. I didn't alter or change my plan. I was too proud to admit that maybe I had messed up big time.

On the other hand, my kids hardly ever, and I mean ever, have homework. A little extra math won't kill them. Right?

That measly amount of justification just doesn't cut it with me. I made a mistake, and I need to move on with my new found lesson in not letting my pride get in the way of my kids being successful.

From Kindergarten to Sixth Grade: How my Job Hasn't Really Changed.

There are certain things in my life that I will never do. One of them being sky diving. Considering my extreme fear of roller coasters, jumping out of a plane is probably not ever going to happen for me. Another item on my never list: a tattoo. I think they're great if you have one, and it's tasteful, but if I ever found myself in the position to get one, well, let's just say that I would be regretting it in the morning. Over a year ago, I said yes to something I never imagined I would ever say yes to. Teaching sixth grade.

I knew that I could probably do it, if I brushed up on my algebra, reread some of my notes on physical science from DeYoung, and figured out a good management system, I would be fine... right? Well, I'm still trying to figure that out, if I'm teaching these kids anything, or just barking out information at them to regurgitate back at me in time for a test. But one thing I have noticed, that in a lot of ways, my job of working with 11-13 year olds, isn't that much different from working with 5-6 year olds.

Now, those of you out there who do teach in the wonderful world of kindergarten may be thinking there's no way 6th graders are comparable to 6 year olds, but allow me a moment to point out a number of similarities.

1. When the temperature has dropped to less than 10 degrees, 6 year olds and 6th graders believe their skin is coated with 20 tons of blubber to keep them warm. No need for a winter coat! Yes, I still have to remind my ever so bright students that only polar bears should embark in such wintry weather without a coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and heated brick or two.
2. When it's time for PE, inevitably there are shoe laces just waiting to be tied. Granted, I generally do not have to tie my 6th graders' shoes as I did back in the day with a 6 year old, but either way, there are shoes that seem to refuse to remain tied.
3. No matter how old you get in school, a silly book read in a silly voice is fun. I love reading to my kids Pigeon books by Mo Willems, and also anything by Doreen Cronin. I start talking in my elmo voice and, WaLah! A captivated audience, and no noise for at least five minutes. Bliss for any teacher.
4. Silly sounds or motions can get kids to shut up fast. I have two ways that I get my 6th graders to quiet down, but my favorite is using one that I used with the 6 year olds. I simply reach my hand up above my head, pretend to grab something (it's a marshmallow from a marshmallow cloud, in case you were wondering), and then shove it into my mouth making my cheeks bulge out. I don't know why it works, but it does. My class and I may get made fun of by the others, but hey... at least my kids are quiet.
5. Kids love to get messy when they learn. I mean, who doesn't love to get messy in school! Whether it be measuring substances to learn about their density compared to one another, or spreading shaving cream on your desk to practice high frequency words, kids love getting hands on in their learning! And that's one of my favorite parts of teaching, coming up with new and exciting ways to make the learning come to life for the kids.

And so you see, my job hasn't really changed. Sure the kids are taller in 6th grade, and now I teacher ABCs in math instead of reading, but in the end, kids are still kids, and as I was reminded when I took the job as a 6th grade teacher, a good teacher is a good teacher, no matter what grade they teach. And I've come to believe that as I've continued my career in 6th grade. Who knows where I'll go next, but for right now I'm happy that I get to teach.