“You’re different
and don’t fit in.” A year ago a school employee said those words that have lit
a fire in me ever since. Today I’m proud to say to say that I am different and
don’t fit. Here’s why…
Scenario 1: Imagine a classroom where ALL the
students walked into your classroom, sat at their seats, and listened to their
teacher teach a lesson. Imagine a day where no students ask to go to the
bathroom or ask an off topic question. Scenario 2: Imagine a classroom where
ALL the students where frantically searching your classroom, all are out of
their seats, and no one is listening to their teacher. Students are asking off
topic questions.
Which scenario do you prefer? Which scenario sounds oh-so perfect?
If you chose Scenario 1, you’re in the majority. Most people would choose
Scenario 1 in a heartbeat, and rightly so. If this scernario happens in your
classroom daily, let us know, we want to visit.
If you chose Scenario 2, what were you thinking? Are you
CRAZY? (You probably are.) In Scenario 2, the idea of students being out of
their seats & not listening to their teacher sounds like a disaster. Its
total chaos! That’s where you might be wrong.
In Scenario 2 the students are frantically searching the
classroom… for clues because their teacher, who’s dressed as Indiana Jones hid
the clues to their math problems around the school with map. No one is
listening to the teacher… because the teacher is being tied to a tree with a
rope with a lock. The only way to save him is to complete the map to find the
key to free him. They’re asking questions because it’s almost lunchtime and the
winners earn points for their house and get to eat first.
Scenario 2 is my kind of teaching. I like to keep my
students on their toes. Dressing up as characters and room transformations are
reality constantly in our classroom. Once students get a taste for these
lessons two things happen: our scores increase and the behaviors decrease.
Everyone is genuinely happy and always looking forward to the next day. It’s
unpredictable, especially when I tell them they’re going to have a
substitute. Scenario 1 isn’t for me. It’s boring and just like
everyone else.
I want to be different. I want to my students to be
different, to dream bigger, and to think of ideas no one ever has. My students
encourage it! I might have the first female president in my classroom or the
boy who will be the first to go to planet x908W803 in my classroom. That’s why
I dress up in a wide variety of characters. That’s why I have different
handshakes with all my students. That’s why I spend the hours into my lessons.
That’s why I teach differently. Maybe, just maybe they’ll grow up to be
different and do something no one has ever done!
To
get a glimpse into our classroom, visit my classroom anytime at Caldwell
Elementary in Auburndale, Florida or visit us on Instagram or Twitter
@jordanpotrzeba
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