My So Called Blog Part Three

Thankfully, the elementary school where I student teach was NOT restructured! We were able to keep all of the teachers! I am still in shock that a school has the ability to switch classrooms a month into school!

Last week I started one-on-one interviews with students in my classroom. The purpose of the interviews is to assess the children’s various learning styles. During the interviews, one first grade student explained to me that when he grows up everything is going to be different because he is going to be Spiderman. As if Spiderman was a profession one can aspire to be like a doctor or a scientist. I love the optimism and imagination of children that age!

Since the classroom is a first/second grade split, some of the students (especially the second graders who are in second grade for the second time) have very different outlooks on life. Already, at age 9, some of the students have lost faith in themselves and trust in their school system. They are jaded, practically cynical. I find it difficult to pinpoint accountability for their discouragement. Is it the school system for not providing an adequate learning environment? Is it the teachers for failing to implement engaging activities? Are the parents supporting their children academically at home?

These are the students who inspire me. I hope that when I have my own classroom, I can fight the urge to be jaded and cynical. I hope that at age nine, they can still aspire to be Spiderman.