One point that the authors make is that negative teachers rarely see that quality in themselves. If you were to ask your principal or colleagues about your attitude what do you think they would say? No matter how positive our attitude, we can always reflect on how we might improve. Utilizing the secrets shared in this chapter, what improvements might you consider making in the future?
When I had first heard I would be placed in a School to Watch for student teaching, I was very excited. I had this unrealistic expectation that every single teacher would be outstanding and supremely amazing in their teaching abilities as well as their attitudes and beliefs about students. I was right about 65% or so of them. I was surprised, maybe shocked, to hear some of them complain about their students, other teachers and administration. I had to go through a period of coming to terms with this fact and facing reality. And this is reality: not every teacher, no matter the reputation of the school, will be positive and uplifting all the time.
As the book addresses, the primary place I hear the negativity is in the teacher's lounge. After hearing so much of it, it can begin to rub off on you. It seems like no matter how much redirecting I did, I could never get two of the teachers to see things in a good way. However, there are also a few extremely positive teachers in my wing of the school who do their best to change the atmosphere.
I watched one day as my co-op was told by the principal that everything he and the other teachers had planned for PSSA days (activities that would follow the testing each day) was not going to happen and that they would have to come up with some other plan. He maintained his cool, took a deep breath, and smiled. He got busy right away making a new plan. I complimented him later concerning how well he "rolled with" the changes and he said "there's nothing else I could do, but deal with it."
I make sure that my attitude with the students and teachers is a positive one every day. I try my best to act excited about every lesson and throw myself totally into it. The times when I've gotten negative have almost always been during or after times of intense stress or when I haven't seen the value in something I am required to do. My time is precious to me and I hate it when I am required to waste my time. I always try to make the most of every moment - multi-tasking and working with efficiency.
On the topic of part 3 in the book, "How to Improve the Attitudes of Your Students," I had an experience a couple of weeks ago where I was trying to get the students to do a chant with me about verbs that also included some movements. Some of the students were groaning about this while others were hamming it up and totally embracing it. In hind sight, I should have asked the ones who were really into it to come to the front and be the leaders. I think this peer level positive influence may have been perfect in that situation. I think their attitudes would have infected the others and my lesson would have been even more successful.
Aricka, like you, I was very shocked the first few times I sat in the commons and heard what the teachers had to say when no students were listening. During these times, I remain quiet, or leave if it is appropriate, and try my best to make sure the comments do not influence me or how I feel towards a student. I always try to look at it as an example of what not to do. It is really important to me to make sure I do not turn into the teacher who is always complaining. I want to be one of the teachers who always has a genuine positive attitude.
ReplyDeleteI had trouble believing some of the teacher's attitudes, too. It becomes really awkward and uncomfortable in these situations for me (especially as a student teacher). It is disheartening to hear what they think of their students, and I lost some respect for teachers I had once thought of as role models. It's important in these situations (at this point in our careers) to remain neutral on the subject and note to ourselves that we never want to be that way. I really am impressed with your cooperating teacher's ability to cope with those situations, and hopefully his genuine positive attitude will help you see the brighter side of teaching. Don't lose faith; we will be the effective teachers in the buildings that promote positive attitudes and conversations about our students.
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