Beginnings

I'm an aspiring teacher, and this year I have the opportunity to tutor, observe, and student teach various different grade levels. Currently I am tutoring 4th graders in English and observing a classroom of 7th graders. In March I will begin student teaching in a high school classroom. Many of the students I am dealing with are "at risk," meaning they are not passing their state mandated tests, are failing core subjects, are likely to drop out, and come from a vicious cycle of poverty.

The word "risqué" means "slightly indecent and liable to shock." Its origin is French, meaning "risky" or "to risk." So far I have learned that my students are slighty indecent in the things they say and the way that they act, and they are definitely liable to shock. But despite all of this, they are still good kids that can make me laugh endlessly...once I can get past the racist remarks and constant arguing.

At first it was difficult for me to understand why these kids were being the way they were--constantly speaking of violence and jail, yelling at each other, claiming to hate white people. I am a white, middle class female and most of the students I work with are black and come from lower class families. The differences we have are immense, but that doesn't mean I am unable to make positive mark on their lives. I realized this after talking with one of my education professors. She gave me some advice that made it much easier to realize what was going on with my students: "People are not the way they are for no reason."

It's a very simple quote, but it helped me understand my students a little better. People do not do things, say things, or act on things for no reason. These kids do not talk about jail, violence, racism, and not wanting to go home for no reason. They have family in jail, have seen violence, hear racist remarks on a daily basis, and hate their home life. And many times, teachers are so preoccupied with adhering to the curriculum and state tests that they are missing these things, or simply ignoring them.

Not everything my students say is heavy and heartbreaking; there are some very funny days and moments with them. However, there are problems I see (specifically in my 4th graders) that can be, and should be, fixed at home or in the classroom, but are not being handled. This blog is my way of working through thoughts about the students and school systems I work with.