John Schoonbeck

Posted on 10/26/09

On 10/24/09, Amelia Suhayda wrote:
> Teaching in today's schools is very difficult. I recently
> graduated from High School. I decided four years ago that I
> wanted to teach. I am in a teacher program in Nevada and am
> a Practicum student at two schools in the Reno area.
>
> I expected that getting and keeping the student's attention
> would be difficult, but I had no idea how difficult it
> would be. The student's do not offer answers or opinions
> when I ask for them and aren't even cooperative when I give
> them incentive to volunteer (extra credit points, etc).
> Cell phones and other technology is making my job harder.
> All the students seem to want to do is text message each
> other. They can’t write me a simple essay about how they
> feel about anything because they don’t even use real words
> anymore. It is only casual chat speak (u for you, ittul for
> I will talk to you later etc.) The students are basically
> illiterate.
>
> The students I teach are middle and high school special
> education students. I value class participation and do not
> often use the Pedagogy of strict memorization. I want the
> students to appreciate what education and teachers can give
> them. I also want them know what they are learning and how
> it effects them.
>
> How do I do all this, without it being boring?
>
> The drop out rate is way too high; teachers need to come up
> with new ways if they expect students to take interest
> because they aren’t interested now.

Dear Amelia: I also share your concerns about the
challenges that today's special education teachers face when
inside the classroom. No one ever said it was going to be
easy!!! I spend moretime learning how to be my student's
learning partner and advocate for learning and less time
sharing my wisdom or knowledge of my subject matter. The key
here is "you care about your students" and because you care
you will eventually find ways to reach out to your special
education students. Keep knocking at their doors and when you
find the message that they want to hear from you they will
let you in and engage you!!! I have been teaching ED/LD
special educations students for the last 17 years and I
marvel in my small miracles when I see them and pray for all
of my students who I am unable to connect with.
Many of my former students have come back to LaSalle
thanking me for the many life lessons and skills that they
picked up in my classroom (between their disrespectful
behaviors etc). Trust me they are watching you very closely
to see if your willing to "fight the fight" and really care
about them. Spend moretime sharing and getting to know them
at first and teach your subject matter second. I'm not saying
be just a friend but what I am saying "model behaviors" that
says your their "caring advocate"!! Model the behaviors and
valves that you expect from them and never ask them to do
something that you are unwilling to do yourself. PS: When you
are down and troubled: find yourself another female caring
mentor teacher who can be supportive to you on thsoe tough
days ans later laugh with you on your great days. Don't give
up on your students "they really need you more than ever"
PSS Give your assignements over their I-phones let their
technology work for you to supplement your unit-lesson plans.
John S

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one