The good news is my students care enough to search high and low on the internet to find my website (nice work, Peter and Marcell). The bad news is that since they've found it I have to be more careful about what I say. I've reached the end of another week, and I'm relaxing by sitting in the Havana cafe sipping a latte and reading about college football and the baseball playoffs. The cafe just taunted me by playing half of a Diana Krall song I didn't recognize (does she have a new album out - must check on this) before switching back to lousy Hungari-pop. It's even worse than usual, though, because it's a live recording complete with adolescent girls screaming their heads off. I, however, am in such a good mood I don't mind that much. I never thought teachers looked forward to the weekend as much as students do.
As I teach more I've realized that what happens in my class is fundamentally about the image I present in class. Looking back I draw a correlation between the days when I have a hard time with student behavior and how "together" I am. I was taught that the best classroom management is preventive, and a big part of that is being organized and prepared. I try to be real with my students (like admitting when I've made a mistake and being sufficiently contrite), but that doesn't mean I need to reveal all my insecurities to them. The old adage, "fake it 'til you make it" is something I've come to live by. And for me, part of that is ironing my shirts. I still don't feel much like an adult sometimes, but if I look like one I can at least fake it until I do. There's something about a crisply pressed collar and a tie that gives me confidence to face those rambunctious fourteen year-olds when it's lacking.
(And don't think I've given my secret away to those students who may be reading this - they don't know when I'm faking it and when I'm not. Besides, their quiz on Monday will remind them who's the boss!)
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5 comments:
I struggle with the same tension, and I can be a little too upfront about my insecurities, I fear. Classroom management is less of an issue for me, but I'd hate for them to think I don't know about rhetoric. I do. I just don't know what from that knowledge I'm going to teach them tomorrow. Dressing like a grownup helps though.
When you decide that you don't want to feel like an adult, remember to pull out a hawaiian shirt to surprise everyone. :)
Hey bro - since when can you iron your own shirts? I seem to recall much moaning and whining and claiming "but I don't know HOW to iron" as you tried to convince me to press your shirts for you . . . I suspected it was all a trick to get out of doing it yourself, and I guess I was right. You've always been good at manipulating your big sisters.
Not true, Jen! Ask Mom - I made her show me (again) how to iron shirts at Christmas. I never really was any good at it, but now that I'm doing it on a regular basis I'm getting better. Amazing what a little practice will do! And Katie, I'm saving the Hawaiin shirts for the right moment... like "pedagogy day" when I'll have most of the English department from our school as well several teachers from other schools observing me. Perfect!
Sweet. It's always exciting when students find stuff. I have no idea if they know about mine...mwahaha. I suggest that you be as low as possible, smiling in class and openly mocking them online. The confusing possibilities are endless. Given that EFL learners already have a hard time perceiving wit in-person, imagine how impenetrable can be the written mechanisms of sarcasm, pun, hyperbole, litotes, and any number of other useful devices.
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