Monday, August 12, 2013

I Am Ready

My Classroom / Summer 2013 - C. Mirus
I sit in my classroom, finished and ready to teach. Students come tomorrow and I sit today. I'm anxious, nervous, excited, and happy. I love teaching. I love teaching where I am and whoever walks through the door will receive my best.

This may change tomorrow, I may drive home, after school upset, sad, and in a rush to sit on my porch and reflect. But, right now, I sit here and look around with hope.

I can remember being a young child and craving to go back to school. To fill my head with as much information as possible. To take my homework to my room, sit and study. I crammed my brain for so long, so hard, that I lost the enjoyment in education through high school. It came back in my 3rd year of college. It hasn't left yet.

How do I recreate that feeling in my students, some of whom checked out far earlier than high school? Last year I saw glimpses of it through books. Independent novels that students could take home. I hope this year, to create a space in the school, in the city, in the world of these students, that is safe, friendly, and welcoming. This year my goal is to make my room that one cool place that anyone can go to, and not be afraid of learning, not be afraid of raising your hand and shouting the right answer.

As I type this, I hear a song playing through the speakers in the room: "I am ready, I am ready." I don't know the song, artist, or purpose, I just hear the chorus: "I am ready." Tomorrow, I will open my door, and teach whoever walks in.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Chad I love this!! You are one heck of a teacher at heart!