Susan,
Great story on teaching your students the moon phases! I love it...Mr. Miagi is very pro at his wax on and wax off. =) Thanks for sharing it with all of us. It is always a compliment when you have a student you once taught recall some piece of information that you taught them and they have always kept it with them. That is one of the signs of a really great teacher. I agree that students do have a tendency at times to only seem to take notice when we do act a little "nuttier" than usual to really get a point across to them, but if that is what it takes to get them to sit up and pay attention then sign me up. I think you have a great insight into that fact that your willingness to take a risk with them helps them feel comfortable enough to take a risk as well.
Great story on teaching your students the moon phases! I love it...Mr. Miagi is very pro at his wax on and wax off. =) Thanks for sharing it with all of us. It is always a compliment when you have a student you once taught recall some piece of information that you taught them and they have always kept it with them. That is one of the signs of a really great teacher. I agree that students do have a tendency at times to only seem to take notice when we do act a little "nuttier" than usual to really get a point across to them, but if that is what it takes to get them to sit up and pay attention then sign me up. I think you have a great insight into that fact that your willingness to take a risk with them helps them feel comfortable enough to take a risk as well. Susan's original blog post:
Don’t hold back & participate wholly!
The chapter that definitely meant the most to me was chapter 9. I have noticed many times that the students in my 7th & 8th grade classes who are totally uninterested in school and completely uninspired, will give me full effort when I am my nuttiest! They may look at me and roll their eyes, but every time I am passionate about what I do and really into it, they are definitely paying more attention than when I am just giving notes or lecturing. It is so awesome to see that student that really doesn’t give a hoot about being in my class, study for a quiz or look at me and say, “Hey I get it!” The crazier I am, the more I can generate a spark from them. To get my students to remember waxing and waning moon phases, I do my Karate Kid, Mr. Miagi, stance with my karate move. I may look like a goof, but they remember the moon phases! I was at an awards assembly at the high school and a former student caught my eye when the speaker talked about “wax on, wax off”. Across the gym she mouthed to me, “was on, wane off” with a big smile on her face. She was in my class three years ago. Those are the time that I know that if I don’t hold back, they understand and remember so much more. They are also more willing to take a risk since I do.
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