Kelsey Toney

I’m in a really happy mood right now… yes, that is probably because I just earned two very good test grades, but I think that was just the bouncing off point… I’ve got lots to be thankful for… (no, I’m not going to list it, but trust me… I am )

So, I’m trying to decide what I’m going to about when I graduate… I have a few options that will yield a mix of stress to time to money in a complicated ratio. I guess I just still have some thinking and reflecting to do about that.

I am SOOOOO excited about my new job. I can hardly stand it! I can’t wait to meet those new kids and learn all about them and what I can do for their futures. It is a really great job.

My lola is off “teaching” this week in a Camp! She is helping students study english while up in the Sierra Mountains somewhere near (or in?) Spain. While chatting this weekend, she asked if I had any quick suggestions for how to step into a classroom of teenagers and teach.  I was a little surprised at the quickness my reply came to me, and the consiceness of its content…

I told her to simply respect them… and that students respond more to respect and positivity than they do to scolding and punishment.

As a teacher, control can NOT be something that you strive to TAKE from your students, or MAKE them relenquish to you. Instead, it has to be something that you give up… By laying your “control” out on the table, in a gesture of vulnerability, you help breed an environment of trust and respect. I’ve found that most students are quite happy to let you be in control, as it builds the structure that they so desperately, however secretly, crave.

Guess thats it. I sure do miss getting comments, if you have any feedback, feel free to leave it.