As a teacher, I know I will never get rich, but I can honestly say that I believe my job is a lot more entertaining than most.
This week especially I have laughed out loud, been awed by a child and shocked by another. These little beings we refer to as children really do think so differently than adults. Many times their wisdom is as poignant as their guffaws.
Case in point: A teacher in one of the rooms that I float into was discussing citizenship and what it means to be a citizen. The girl Iwas closest to leaned toward me and asked, "What is a citizen?" I answered that a citizen of a country is one born in the country who belongs there." I expected to get a nod of understanding. Instead, I got a shocked "Mrs. Stevens!!!!" complete with mouth hanging open and eyes bugging out of her head. I was confused. So I repeated it and sure enough discovered the little girl had thought I said "porn". I am still flabbergasted how this young child knew what porn was, but not the word citizen. It should also be noted that this child was not an ESL student.
Case in Point 2: The next day, I was sitting with a group of kindergarten students learning the H sound. We were looking at objects beginning with H and the next one on the list was a hook. I asked if anyone knew what the picture was and a little girl very confidently answered - "Yes, A hooker." After the porn thing, I couldn't help myself. I just laughed out loud and wondered what my world was coming to!
An about face: In the same class as the first story, I was teaching a prewriting strategy in writing. The class was creating a web. It is fashionable today for all work to be student led and therefore more engaging. I agree with this philosophy and was leading the children in a brainstorming discussion about their passions. One little boy raised his hand and said he was passionate about his belief in God. I wrote it down and went on with the lesson. The next part of the lesson was doing a class web and so I took a vote. Out of 4 different topics on the chart to pick from "belief in God" won. Suddenly the class was shouting at me all the reasons they believed in God. The room was pulsing with the energy of excited little faces all smiling brightly about God's promises to his people. God helps us, God loves us, God sent Jesus to earth to save us, the list went on. After the group lesson, I asked for students to work independently on a new web of their own. 5 students still wanted to write about believing in God...and who am I to stop them. I was awed by their delight in the creator and humbled that I sometimes take Him for granted.
It has been an interesting week to say the least. Teaching is tough work that sometimes lends little time for outside pursuits, like writing this blog. But at times, it is the most entertaining and rewarding of careers.
