I know when I am being a bad teacher. Today is one of these days. After going to bed past midnight for the last two nights, it is hard to be creative, exciting, motivating, enthusiastic. It is even harder to be a good teacher as I begin my lesson, " Today, we will be covering Persuasive Text of the H.S.P.A" I say with obvious dread. The kids look back at me with glassy eyes. I understand them and refuse to get mad. Today I am not doing what I love, I am doing what I am suppose to . So I try my best to gather patience and strength.
In one of my classes, instead of taking a practice test, we ended up talking about what persuasive texts we encounter in real life, not on a test. The discussion lead to everything from PETA to abortions to republicans to vegetarians and credit cards. The kids woke up, well sort of, they actually just slowly emerged from their standardized test-induced coma. I really think they learned more in that discussion than from the entire month of "HSPA Blitz".
On Thursday instead of practicing open-ended question we will be debating topics like the Octomom, obsession with celebrity gossip, and other controversies that are bound to get them fired up. Maybe there is a way to teach even test prep in a manner that connects to students through an authentic and relevant learning experience. Maybe there is hope after all.
Next week I'll send them off with a blessing to do well as they sit in a room for almost 10 hours. I hope that some of them will still like learning after that.
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