by CSTP blogger KIM:
Everything I needed to know about teaching, I learned as a parent. 
Okay, not really. It was a reciprocal deal. Being a parent helped me become a good teacher, but being a good teacher helped me become a better parent. Mine was a mid-life career change (“early” mid-life, hopefully). My first year of teaching (9th-grade English) was the year my daughter was a 9th grader. I remember the first time I told a student, “That might work with your other teachers, but it won't work with me. I've got one of you at home, and I know that trick!” She and the rest of the class laughed with me.
I wish I could tell you that I'm one of those amazing people who knew early on what I wanted to be when I grew up. On the contrary, teaching was something I fell into quite accidentally. Here's a quick chronology of my career, much of which stemmed from my love affair with language: English major—to Russian linguist with Army Intelligence—to freelance translator/tech writer/editor—to ESL teacher for our local Russian community—to ESL para-educator/interpreter—to certified English teacher.
The most important lesson I learned during my student teaching was that a sense of humor is the most important tool I can bring into the classroom. The ability to laugh at ourselves can get us through what might otherwise turn into unbearably embarrassing moments. My master teacher (who was younger than I) stood in the back of the classroom and laughed as I gave a college-level lecture on the sociology of African tribes to a group of polite, overwhelmed seventh graders, who diligently copied down the notes I gave them, not understanding half of the concepts that I was trying to explain.
Some people have been affronted when I tell them this story. How could my role model – my mentor – laugh at me when she should have been gently guiding me into the teaching profession! It was the best thing she could have done for me.
She pointed out the positive – this group of usually squirrelly adolescents was trying hard to live up to my expectations. Then she asked, “You DO realize that these kids are only twelve years old, don't you?” When I reacted with disappointment, she gave me this important advice: “You're going to make a lot of mistakes in the classroom, and there are two ways to react. You can either feel bad about it, and dwell on it, or you can laugh and learn from it.”
I would like to think that humor has kept that central role in my classroom. I admit I laugh at the class clown more often than I probably should, but maybe that’s why he does his work for me. If I can convince kids that high school English can be fun, then the learning falls easily into place from there.
Is there anything better to slice through a stressful classroom than humor? I've been told that I'm weird by my students - way too many times to count, but I feel that being able to laugh at myself teaches them that when they make mistakes it's not the end of the world.
Great picture.
Posted by: Meredith | July 31, 2008 at 05:57 PM
You have such a rich background to bring to your students. All these experiences lend credibility to the question students always ask? "When will we use this? Is this important?" I'm guessing that you can answer those with great stories about your time as a translater or while in the army. Being able to communicate is so important and making that point credibly is vital. I enjoyed your message.
Posted by: Betsy Cornell | July 13, 2008 at 08:15 PM
My favorite part of this post is where your cooperating teacher begins her conversation with you by pointing out that the kids really did try to take notes because they respected you. Kids are very resilient, and will do many things for a teacher they like, and see as on their side. The greatest gift you can give your students is the willingness to be human with them--a kind of respect in itself.
So who's that in the photo? (smiling)
Posted by: Nancy Flanagan | July 09, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Every one loves humor. It is true...you can dwell on mistakes or laugh at them. Often, laughing at them points them out which makes it a teachable moment and since that moment was different than the status quo of the classroom feel, it is probably remembered.
One step further, humor can be used to teach concepts. Again, people love humor. That is why there is a high percentage of advertisements that use humor to sell their product. Even more, bring humor into the class with jokes, comics, etc. Every subject matter has something funny about it. Capitalize on it.
I love the post. Thanks for the smile.
Posted by: Travis | July 09, 2008 at 01:06 AM