Over a year ago, I wrote about how I knew that my passion in teaching lay with history, so I made conscious steps to pursue that. These steps have lead me to a more nuanced understanding of what brings me joy in teaching. Through this post, I hope to discuss, briefly, some of those nuances.
First, I wholeheartedly stand by what I stated in that original post. I do not find joy in teaching English, at least not the way my district and state require. Right now, however, my ELA classes flow far smoother than my social studies classes for the sheer fact that I have experience, three years now, teaching the ELA content and have had the opportunity to tweak and refine my materials and delivery of them.
Second, that same unfamiliarity with the material has stood in the way of the full enjoyment of these social studies classes that I assumed I would have automatically. Experience has shown that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Additionally, I have an interesting remix of students in my social studies classes that does not exist in my ELA classes.
Third, I continue to return to my old school this semester to help with their Youth in Government program. I returned so that I could continue to work with these kids that I have developed relationships with, the same motivation that drove me to create the high school club. If you look through my previous posts on education, you will see a common thread worm its way through every entry to various degrees, relationships, the relationships with the kids. When you reflect on your teaching practice with the goal of becoming the best educator you can be, you learn to look at the whole child, to see their needs and their strengths. You learn how to help them and hold them accountable. If done right, you cannot help but become intricately invested in these amazing human beings.
With that in mind, one would look at the situation and assume that the role of classroom teacher would afford the most opportune role to build these relationships. Unfortunately, something else I have described almost as frequently in previous posts often stands in the way, the bureaucracy both formal and informal. The deepest relationships I have formed with students took place with my YIG/MUN students who I, and my colleague, worked within much smaller group, helping them hone their skills of persuasion or topics close to their heart. In the classroom, I simply do not have nearly enough time to invest in each student with the hard work and effort they deserve.
For now, I know that God has placed me in the classroom. Now I know why. I know where my passion in the classroom lies, not with one particular subject but with the kids. I want for each one of them to be as successful as they can be. I do not know if my next steps will change but they will certainly take on a different hue.