Comments on Cal Teacher Blog: 100: Tell Your Stories?

I'm only 22 and I got a great teaching job with a ...

2008-07-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

I'm only 22 and I got a great teaching job with a good district. The only problem is i'm 22 and I bond really well with my students. The older teachers I can tell dislike me because of it. I really listen to my students and not try to jam stuff down their throats. I'm not saying all older teachers do that because they don't but some do and I can see how hard it is for them to get through to the kids. I wish there could be a round table where younger teachers can meet with older teachers to throw ideas back and forth. My father owns a teacher supplies store and he tries to talk technology with all of his teacher customers but they never want to listen. That's what kids like today so they should listen and use technology as a teaching tool to get kids interested.

First time reader. Love the blog. You are so rig...

2008-05-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

First time reader. Love the blog. You are so right about telling your students stories. I taught 6th grade for several years and I would always tell them stories of when I was young. They loved the stories and to this day I have former students remind me some of their favorites. I tried to relate my stories to a lesson or an issue like peer pressure, but sometimes I just told them a story I enjoyed telling.

So true!

2008-05-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

So true!

I believe fully in the saying, "Students won't car...

2008-05-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

I believe fully in the saying, "Students won't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Cliche? Sure. But also totally true.
During my student teaching (haven't yet had a class of my own), I shared a lot of my stories with my students. It didn't dawn on me that what I shared could impart wisdom. I was just being myself by being real.
I think kids these days appreaciate an adult who can be real. I think they are reassured when an adult will openly admit a time when he/she failed miserably only to find life go on. They look for role models with whom they feel they can relate.
I wish I could have met Mr. Farley.

In the last few years I have not bonded as well wi...

2008-05-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

In the last few years I have not bonded as well with my students as I have in the past. Hey! It very well could be because I keep the stories to myself now. I feel the pressure to keep things moving along with more with so much content, so little time, and TESTING. Also, I think my stories are boring and irrelevant, but perhaps I with your post in mind, I'll share my stories more. I've learned my share in the 25 years since I was the age of my students.