Dear Josh,
Hello my friend! I hope all is going well with your new
job and your students are behaving themselves. I wanted to drop you a line to
say thank you for your advice on classroom management. I just had an experience
that brought home what you said about finding rapport with the students. I know
you are busy first year teaching, but I have to share this story with you.
I was in my placement classroom the other day (this is
the Freshman Honors English class that I was telling you about) when one of the
teachers down the hall, Ms. A, came in over passing period to ask for some
help. Her Literacy class was about to start, and she had to get the laptop cart
from another floor since her students were typing papers that day. Hurriedly
she explained that she needed someone to watch the class after the bell
rang—passing period being almost over by this point—until she got back. She
looked to my CT who, in turn, looked to me with a grin; “Ms. Krystal would be
glad to,” he said, claiming that he had to get the freshmen started on a
project right away. Of course I agreed, I mean, what an exciting chance to
visit another teacher’s class!
As I followed Ms. A to her room she explained that the
students would come and pick up their drafts and make final changes to them
while she got the laptops. She added, slightly hesitantly, that they should be
alright for the five minutes she was gone. I grimaced internally, wondering
about her moment of hesitation in regard to their behavior. Now I was a little
worried. Mind racing, I wondered if this class had behavioral challenges, and
if so, would I be up to handling them? I get nervous around a class I don’t
know; I’m sure this is natural, but if the students saw my insecurity they
might be tempted to behave badly. I was sure that if they could hear how fast
my heart was beating and feel how clammy my palms were they would know I was an
easy mark. Of course, all this ran through my head in a few seconds, and, as I
struggled to master my nerve, I noticed we had reached her door. I strode in
behind her, trying to exude confidence and certainty, but I couldn’t help
thinking, “What will I do if they refuse to sit down or start getting too loud?”
Ms. A snapped me out of my moment of reverie, addressing the class, “Ok guys,
this is Ms. Krystal from down the hall. She is going to stay in here while I
get the computer cart.” I waved, hoping to seem friendly, but my salutation was
received over groans of, “We don’t need no babysitter,” and “Aw man, she treat
us like freshmen.”
Ms. A had already scooted out the door and I knew by the
looks on their faces that I only had a moment to prove myself or this could be
the longest five minutes ever. Then I remembered our conversation about your
first day this year and how you caught your students off guard by talking about
music and being your darkly funny, sarcastic self. I turned to one of the
groaners with just enough sass to take him by surprise,“If you act like the
adult you think you are, I won’t need to babysit you will I?” One of the girls
in the back chimed in, “She told you!” I countered her comment, explaining that
I was just letting them know what to expect from me and what I expect from them.
I asked her name and if she would pass out
their drafts. She came up, took the papers, and read my name tag. “How do you
say your name?” Knowing my last name
always befuddles students, I told her, and the rest of the class, they could
call me Ms. Krystal. Immediately, another boy, one of the earlier complainers,
began asking me questions: “Where you go to school at?” “You studying to be a
teacher?” “You like rap music?” I could have been more strict, insisting that
they quiet down and look over their drafts, but this seemed to be working. The
whole class was paying attention as I answered his rapid fire questions. “WSU
(Go Shox)!” I replied. “Yes I’m studying to be a teacher; it’s my senior year…
And yes, I like some old school rap
like Sugar Hill Gang, and some newer stuff like Outkast, but I’m more into
funk, soul, Motown and classic rock.”
After
some remarks about Sugar Hill Gang being cool and classic rock not being cool,
I got them quieted back down by asking if anyone else had questions. Ms. A
could be heard rolling the cart down the hall, so I told the class to hold onto
their questions and get out their drafts. A few more groans….but this time,
they were not directed towards me. In fact, one girl in the back asked if I
would be coming back in tomorrow. I told her no, but that I’d be around if she
wanted to talk music, or books. By the time Ms. A made it to the room and
thanked me for helping her out, I was more comfortable with those students than
I thought possible in that short amount of time.
To
make a long story short (too late for that—I know), I think your advice on
rapport saved the day. I could have gone in several directions, you know, like
those choose-your-own-adventure books, but I feel like I made the right choice.
Plus, if I do get to go back, I already have a foundation to build on. Sorry
that took a whole page to tell, but I do like to tell stories you know. I’d love
to hear some thrilling tales from first-year teacher-dom. Mail me back when you
have the chance and have a fabulous rest of your week!
Thankfully yours,
Krystal
P.S. Good luck with
conferences!
