I learned a few things from my cooperating teacher, Kris Holley. She was a very happy person and seemed to really love what she does. One of the things she talked about that I hadn't thought of before was the differences between teaching in a high school and a middle school, because she currently teaches at a middle school. In a high school the teacher has to deal with the administration a lot more and has to, as she put it, cut through a lot of red tape. But in a middle school, her administration just trusts her to do good shows so they don't bother her at all and don't require her to get approval for any of the shows she does. She also usually is given more leeway with cutting things out of shows because companies just see it as a middle school and let her do most of whatever she wants. But in a high school they're much more strict.
She also talked about how high school kids tend to be harder to teach because they think they know everything already. Middle school kids will believe anything you have to say and will more willingly try whatever you ask. She also said discipline is a little easier because the kids believe you more when you threaten. I thought all these things were really interesting and aspects that I hadn't thought of before. It made teaching in a middle school sound really appealing...
I'm excited because from the way she was talking it seems like she has the trust of her students and are willing to cooperate with us. I don't know if this is a challenge, but she told us when she told her students we were coming, they all looked kind of worried and asked if she would still be there. That may work for our advantage. If she is still there they will feel comfortable and be willing to participate and learn. Though they may not take us as seriously at first because their teacher is still there, so they may look to her instead of us while we're teaching. It will be a challenge but I think a fun one.
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