Saturday, May 03, 2008 1:12 PM
by
jtspencer
5 things you won't see in my classroom
Sometimes I feel like an outcaste as a teacher. There is a certain sense that I relish in this status. I have a few close friends whom I trust. It's just that my personality doesn't fit the "teacher personality." It's not that the "teacher personality" is bad. I just can't relate to much of it. So, I am composing a list of five things you will not see in my classroom:
1. A list of rules - I tried this for awhile my first year of school and found that students would claim, "I didn't know I am not allowed to do that. It's not listed in the class rules." So, now I have a few clear procedures and rely upon my teacher death stare and spatial proximity to kill most disruptions.
2. Themed bulletin boards - I don't own any of the pre-fab bubbly letters. I don't switch bulletin boards according to the seasons (not that we really get seasons here in Phoenix). I create a massive collage with pictures and paint and then I use the boards to display student work. Honestly, when I walk into some classrooms and see the detailed bulletin boards it makes me a little jealous.
3. Pre-made teacher posters - You know that "hang in there" with the kitty or the man running up to the apex of a mountain. Or the truisms like, "Today is the first day of your tomorrow." Instead, I decorate with four paintings I made and a bunch of paintings from the students. I'm waiting for permission to paint a real mural on the wall next. Unlike #2, I am actually not jealous at all of teachers with kitten posters. (or Garfield. Why does he get the cartoon monopoly on all things educational? He's not even a good role model. He's lazy; what with his penchant for overstuffing himself on high-carb lasagna and taking constant naps, only to offer cynical rebukes to his loyal owner, Jon)
4. Anything with apples or chalkboards - I hate apples. I think chocolate is what really gets teachers through the dark days before spring break. So, I don't own any of those little trinkets with apples or mini-chalk boards and I don't have a specialized name tag thingy on my desk. If the kids don't know my name by the first few weeks then there is a strong case that the child needs an IEP. Actually, I wouldn't mind a cool name plaque, but no one has ever bought me one.
5. Word Walls - They want us to put up word walls and in absolute defiance, I refuse. Call it insubordination. Call it "Spencer's being an elitist jackass." But I had the conversation with them about it. "Well, it helps them when their minds are wandering and you're teaching." I responded that I do very little lecturing and I don't expect them to use my classroom space as a mini-tutoring session. Besides, I keep a vocabulary list for them online that they actually use.