Hump Term

When I left university I was literally overflowing with ideas about how my pedagogy was going to change the face of teaching forever. I had visions of syntegrated programs that had students constantly pushing the boundaries of their intellect and creativity. I had fantasised about wikis and blog spaces that encouraged children to take ownership of their learning while successfully linking home and school life. Fitness programs that had kids red faced, sweaty and energised. Term long assignments that covered contemporary global issues and forced children to THINK and research and question our way of life.

This is the teacher that lives inside me that I'm saving for when I get a long term block or my own class. In the meantime, I'm a casual teacher.

I have to admit that as a casual teacher Term 2 was like a ten week long Wednesday - the term that wouldn't end and seemed the furthest from the sweet relief of holidays at either end. I felt like this because I wasn't putting any of my grand ideas into practise and had, in fact, become exactly the type of teacher I resent. I was handing out drill-style worksheets left, right and centre and constantly "shooshing".

How had I so rapidly given up on my idealistic teaching dreams? Through obligation. I was surprised to find that teachers nearly ALWAYS leave work. And I can understand that teachers want to leave simple, easy to follow work that they can trust to be completed accurately. But all this amounts to is a helluva lot of worksheets and difficult to manage, disinterested and unengaged students.

So what this means that, the majority of the time, I am simply following instructions to ensure I earn a good reputation as a casual teacher. And all of this really started to get me down in Term 2. I felt despondent and began to question whether I really was in the right career path. I was laden with guilt about making students do rote work when I know better methods. My behaviour management was on the downward slide as kids started acting out out of boredom. Clever kids would finish the worksheet in record time and then distract others while less able students would vie for my attention and help, leaving the average kids to fend for themselves.

And meanwhile my teaching basket is sitting in the corner of the room, filled to the brim with numeracy games, problem-solving, group work activities, authentic literature and drama lessons.

So if you are a full time teacher, I implore you to leave work, but unless it's absolutely necessary to complete, include a disclaimer that allows casual teachers to try out some of their own stuff too.