I do however feel some displeasure in teaching the Farmcraft program; and that is simply because the students just seem to come and go so quickly. At the end of most programs I find myself wanting to spend more time with the students to get to know them better. I just feel like I could make a much bigger impact on their lives if I could have more time with them. Maybe this is my brain telling me that I should actually go into formal education. Then again, my daily renewed excitement with teaching the same program over and over makes me think that I would be well-suited to be an interpreter. I guess the big question is whether I would rather greatly impact a small group of students, or mildly impact a huge group of students. I suppose I have about 8 months to figure that out!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Familiarity Breeds...Diversity?
I have now taught Farmcraft several times, but I must say that I am not feeling the monotony or restlessness that some of my fellow cohortmates are expressing. I continue to be struck by the dissimilarity between all the groups, even those that are at the same grade level. Sure, it's the same material for every program, but the way the students receive it, processes it, and interact with it really is quite different from group to group. It has been really fun for me to feel each group out and adjust my delivery accordingly.
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There is definitely a difference between these short jaunts with students compared to the longer relationship you form with students in the classroom. I think they're both great opportunities. Tom, I think you would provide an impact in either place and do a fantastic job in both!!!
ReplyDeleteI see a great difference in groups dynamics in every single group I teach. In many ways i like having small groups because I feel that I can excite more people then just having a solid group for a longer time period.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how different each day is, even though it technically is the same program. I must admit that I like the familiarity of teaching the same thing. I do wish sometimes that I could build more of a relationship with the students.
ReplyDeleteWe do have lots to figure out in the next several months. I would have to admit that since I wish to stay in the Goshen area, I will probably take any related job that I can with my degree at least at first. I am not ready to step into a formal classroom, at least not at this point.
I hope that I get better at reading the groups and altering my style to best reach them. Enjoying the challenge of each day being a new and completely unique in it's own way.
I share many of the same sentiments, Tom.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of kids that leave and I wish I could see them again for another program, and I could tell them about some other cool plant or animal or concept.
Today, this kid who was sort of reserved/melancholy throughout the day walked over to give me a hug before he left. I had figured that he wasn't having that great a time, or was just bothered by some of the line management, but farewell moments like that always make me wish I could talk to them more about what's going on.
And there was this girl today who was very bright and I wanted to talk to her more, and there was this boy who had a bloody nose and I wanted to go sympathize at how lame those are, and I still remember that kid in the wheelchair a few weeks back and I want to go take him to SASHA farm where he can hug an emu.