Views / Obstacles / Words of Wisdom

I. My views of teaching and learning include:

1. A constructive learning environment occurs when: A safe space has been created in order for students to do their best learning. Safe meaning physically safe, but also socially and emotionally safe in that students feel comfortable expressing their opinions, beliefs, and confusions without having to fear the judgment of their peers or instructor. Instead, they know that any of the above will be met with enthusiasm, that their ideas are valued, and that they are a valuable addition to the learning environment at hand.
2. Meaningful connections and experiences in learning happen when: Students are taught to value one another as their most valuable form of “curriculum.” The best teachers don’t see themselves as a one-man (or woman) show, but instead master the art of conducting a classroom in such a way that students learn from one another’s diverse experiences, identities, abilities, strengths, and perspectives. I always tell my students that if they were only in class to learn from me, they could be at home being home-schooled, and that the more they respect one another the more they will grow through exposure to one another’s ideas. There is no better way to foster open-mindedness and self-discovery than through comparison of our experiences to those of others.
3. I know others have learned when: They are able to apply lessons to their lives outside of the classroom, independently build upon what has been taught, or use it as a foundation to further their learning. A few months ago, we were reading Ancient Chinese Poetry in my sophomore English class. As part of a pre-reading historical context lesson, we were discussing the practice of foot-binding. I was in the library with a student of mine weeks after the lesson, and we were looking at a plant on the windowsill that was struggling to thrive because it was stuck in a small pot that hindered its growth. My student remarked “that’s kinda like the Ancient Chinese women that we learned about.” Although to him the comment was just made in passing, I was beyond ecstatic because I knew the lesson had been made meaningful to him, that he had taken ownership of what he had learned, and was able to apply it to the world around him in unforeseen ways.

II. Obstacles and Words of Wisdom:

A. The top 5 obstacles facing middle level educators:

            1. The potential for our students to become distracted by the social / emotional turmoil that comes with the territory of their stage of development.  

`           2. The distractions of physical development and puberty, which often make the first rung of Maslow’s ladder- that composed of basic needs- more of a priority than what we are trying to teach them in our classrooms.

            3. Our students’ hesitancy to participate or share their opinions, for fear of what their peers will think of them or embarrassing themselves.

            4. Professional responsibilities that can feel like hoops to jump through or busy-work, which take time away from lesson planning, grading, and working with students.

            5. School systems that inhibit, or at least do not actively promote, professional growth.

B. The top 5 obstacles facing pre-adolescent and early-adolescent students:

1. The social / emotional turmoil that middle school years can bring.

`           2. The confusing, distracting, and oftentimes embarrassing effects of physical development and puberty.

            3. The pressures to “fit in” and feel accepted by peers, and the efforts to behave or appear in ways that aren’t genuine in order to achieve that goal.

            4. The quest to both determine and stay true to a self-identity.

            5. The torture of bullying- both being victimized by bullies, in person and now online, and the pressure to bully others.

C. The top 5 things that young adolescent students need to know:

            1. Any feelings of confusing or uncertainty that are currently defining their lives are only temporary.

`           2. There’s plenty of time to grow up: don’t be in such a rush! Enjoy the final days of your childhood before it’s too late!

3. Their peers are, to an extent, inherently judgmental and even cruel at this age: while this will NEVER excuse their behavior, gaining this perspective will perhaps allow students to endure the brutal social realities they’re facing. 

            4. It’s never worth it to pretend to be someone you’re not: as tempting as this is at a time when the pressure is on to fit in more than ever before, the tremendous effort it requires are exhausting and ultimately never proves to be worth your time and energy.

            5. Cherish the people in your life who love you for who you are and care about you because you will later regret the friendships you let fall to the wayside in the chaos of middle school.