Monday, November 3, 2014

The Best Part of Being a Teacher (1st in series for the @TeachThought Attitude of Gratitude November Blogging Challenge)

Such a great way to start this challenge...

While there are many great reasons to be a teacher, easily the best part is the daily interaction with the students in my school.

Over the summer, I read a tweet that asked the question "if our they didn't have, would students come to your class?"  I apologize for not remembering who it was that tweeted it out, but it made me think about the what I do everyday and how I am engaging the 9th and 10th graders that sit in front of me.

I love planning things that try and capture their imagination and really make them think about what is happening in the time period we are talking about.  I love to see the light bulb go on over their heads as they make the connection I am hoping for.  I even love the questions that I choose to believe come from a place of a general lack of knowledge rather than a convenient way to get me off the track of our lesson.

I love watching them create things with the information that they have learned along the way.  The way that they interact with their peers as they are struggling to figure things out.  I love to help them through their frustration with me because I am challenging them to think in different ways and apply their knowledge in different formats.

We all would like to believe that our 9th and 10th graders have matured to the point where they stop complaining and whining about the work that we are asking them to do.  But, in reality, they are no different then elementary school students who trying to find their way in the world.

I love being a part of that process!!!