Weekly Takeaway: Management and Patience

As a teacher my area of self-improvement is my patience. Often I find the control freak in myself going haywire when things don’t go as planned. Starting sophomore year in college, the big takeaway we were told the importance of going with the flow in the classroom and understanding things most likely will not go as planned. Two years in a school and time in classrooms during college proved that again and again.

Things rarely go as planned in our room and that is one of my favorite things. I am better at thinking on my feet. I remember to take a deep breath if I feel myself getting anxious. Earlier this week I was alone with 35 third graders for five minutes: cue a game of 4 corners. Contrary to one child who said “Ms. Beker, this will NOT work”, it was successful – as kids got out, it got louder but overall result: successful. It was a great movement break between the start of our day (35 minutes of sitting) and gym and science time for them.

One thing I encountered more this week than ever (and I’ve been with this group of kiddos for a year and half now) was crossing the line of sarcastic humor to disrespect. A lot of the boys have a sarcastic sense of humor and normally it’s endearing. This week, it bridged from sarcastic humor to disrespect. The teacher in me two years ago would have called them out in the group, most likely making them feel worse. Instead, I am better about having private conversations with them and then giving them subtle reminders about when they cross the line. It is important in my eyes to explain why it’s rude and not funny. Communication and understanding is how they will grow and learn how to reign in their comments so it stays respectful.