Teaching can't be taught...

I have been giving some thought to what I do each day, as I encourage kids all day long. And, today I was reminded that the kids REALLY like to be in my classroom. Right before lunch the kids were on computers and one of the kids said, "Ms. S., it's time to go" and the whole class said, "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" in unison. I laughed. And I got to thinking (I know, shocker that I would be pondering something!) about connecting with kids.

There are some things in life we must be taught. For example, you must be taught how to drive. It looks easy enough, but remember back when you first got behind the wheel? There were questions a mile long, and you had to be TAUGHT how to drive. And, honestly, you can't get a license without some sort of practice and a test.

Teaching kids isn't something that can be taught. I spent years in college in classes that were to prepare me for the classroom. They can teach you how to lesson plan, follow IEP's, and figure grades. They cannot prepare you for abused kids, autism tantrums, or angry parents.

However, the biggest thing they cannot teach is how to connect with students. They can't teach you boundary setting or hotlining parents, or everything that falls in between. I was sitting in class today and realized how much I just do without thinking and it works.

For example, I can look at one student how uses tears to get out of anything and say "Don't even start those tears with me." And it works. They told me in college not to damage their self esteem. They said to always be careful how you phrase things so as not to scar them for life. While I do that, I am more straightforward with my students than I ever thought I would be when I entered in teaching. What they taught me in college didn't prepare me for Tearsboy.

On the other end of things, noone prepares you for kids who will lie to your face to get out of work. I will admit, I was a decent kid who didn't really think lying would fly (Honestly my attempts to lie failed miserably, as my parents always knew and I was punished!) and knew if I tried to lie it never worked anyway. Noone prepares you for kids who lie and manipulate to get out of work. I have to look at a few of my kids after I say "Do you have any work in Science tonight?" and they say "No", I have to follow with, "Okay, so if I go ask Ms. Sciencegal she'll say you're done?" and then they say, "Well, I thought I was done...I'm not sure." Either you're done or your not...there is no in between. Hum.

I also think about the ability to balance being a teacher, counselor, parent, referee, and unconditional support to these kids. Noone taught me that.

I have thought about how God gifts us all differently. Noone taught me how to connect with kids. I don't even know what I honestly did to make the kids WANT to come to my class, I just know that they do. In fact, so much so that there are days I need a break from them at the end of the day.

I do know that today in my classroom during computer time I had the 5th grade program music playing and they sang along as they worked. And, we laughed A LOT! I don't remember being taught how to do that in college. I just have an innate ability, or gift as I like to call it, to know how to connect with the kids in my life.

I have thought about how dogs know it when you like them, and kids are the same way. I can connect with kids on levels that I can't even explain how I do it. I just know I do.

I have given a lot of thought to this, and have wondered if it's the same with singers. I can sing, but not professionally. I wonder if those who can sing professionally think, "This isn't that hard people! You just do it." But honestly, we know that's not true. You've seen people on American Idol, not everyone is born to sing. Sidenote: I am one of them, but am not going to go on National TV to be told that, I already know! :-)

We have a few teachers, and I will say it is only a few, who cannot connect with kids naturally. And I have wondered how that happens. To me, connecting isn't that hard. But there are so many unspoken rules you have to be able to read, if you can't read those rules you're sunk! At the same time I think, "Kids are kids, this isn't rocket science!" I guess it's all part of the way we're wired. God gives us all different abilities and gifts to do what we're created to do. I'm created to teach Special Education Students, and everything I seem to do is not something that's taught. I just know what to do and when to do it.

Hum....I guess I'll end this by saying I'm glad I am gifted to do what I do, as I am convinced I have the BEST job on the planet.

Kinda cool, eh?

Later!