Sure, I want my students to be happy people. I absolutely want them to enjoy happiness in their lives. I don't have a heart of stone. But, I am much more interested in their learning.
I had to have a heart-to-heart with a group of kids who were becoming increasingly disrespectful and whiny. Most people who work with me know I am sort of Zen, hippy, California incense with my classroom environment. I try to keep things calm and low-key. I put as much autonomy and responsibility on the students as I can. But I certainly have limits. Especially when allotted freedoms encroach on the learning of others.
This group of kids had body slammed those limits one too many times. Things needed to change. During our private conversation, many students seemed genuinely shocked. Stuttered gasps of "You don't care about our happiness?" abounded. I had to explain that I didn't care about their happiness as much as I cared about their learning.
Of course I wanted them to be be happy. At school, however, I wanted them to learn more than be happy. I had to reiterate that this school business is hard work. It's not always rainbows and lollipops. Well, sometimes it's rainbows. Never lollipops with our new nutritional guidelines though.
Of course I wanted them to be be happy. At school, however, I wanted them to learn more than be happy. I had to reiterate that this school business is hard work. It's not always rainbows and lollipops. Well, sometimes it's rainbows. Never lollipops with our new nutritional guidelines though.
I'm the responsible adult
The simple fact is that I'm the responsible adult in the room. I know what's best for my students in many situations. I know Tony can't sit next to Kevin 90% 99% of the time. I know Tina doesn't need to share every single thought that pops into her head every time she raises her hand. I know that Kendra can wait five more minutes to use the restroom.
I'm not mean about it. Just firm. Some of them are starting to come around. Who knows? With a little more time, a few may actually see the benefits and be happy about it.
Someone once said to me that I don't want my students to just be happy at school, I want them to find joy in learning... We then went on to discuss the different ways that happiness and joy can be defined... Always a great conversation. Most of all, We want out students to feel safe, be cared for and supported at school... only then can the joy of learning be found.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar group. We are a happy bunch, but because of a number of factors, this year has been crazy. I have had to sit down and talk with them a handful of times. This last time was an important one. Without going into details, my students bring a lot with them to school -- things that no child should ever have to know of, witness, think about, experience, watch, remember, worry over -- and that often keeps us from moving forward with the "school" learning. We often have to deal with life learning and take care of their most basic needs.
ReplyDeleteI know how frustrating this can be. We started over just yesterday. New expectations, new ways of doing things, new spaces to learn and new chances for them to guide the process. It was refreshing for all of us...and it was a lot less work then fighting them on some things. We simply asked each other, "What's the deal?" and "What's best for the class?" I'll keep you posted.
building and maintaining classroom culture is the essence of teaching...right?
ReplyDeleteI face similar problems as Jeremy M. A healthy majority of my high school students are considered at risk students. However, I struggle with the culture of my colleagues. With our rotating high school schedule, I see my classes every other day for 90 minutes at a clip. If my classroom culture and expectations are different from other teachers, how can I truly expect these students to make the proper code switches? They are already coming into the building with too many at risk factors that make traditional education a challenge.
Good post, man.