He wouldn’t look at me for a week after I had to take disciplinary steps for his behavior.
Now, he acts like we’ve been best buds our entire lives.
Teaching’s a trip.
One crazy day at a time. 🙂
I suspect some people think I think I’m a really good teacher.
If they only knew me.
For, if they did, they’d know I am simply a teacher who believes he can be (has to
be) a better teacher.
One day at a time.
Better.
#Project180
Why I teach.
How I teach.
Has more to do with whom I teach than what I teach.
Took me a while to understand this.
Whom before what.
Sometimes it all feels like a big ol’ circus of which I am supposed to be ringmaster, but it may well be, I am nothing more than a clown.
And the show goes on.
I believe there’s an answer if we find the question.
Kiddo, who has barely said a word this year.
(Out loud, to the class).
“I’m reading The Iliad.”
And in his (unexpected) answer, I finally found him.
And I was wrong about him.
Too quick to judge.
Too slow to learn. 😔
Once upon a classroom, I thought I was (and had to be) the smartest person in the room.
Now, I am happy to be the one with the most to learn.
I have a 150 students to learn.
And they each teach me something new.
Every day.
Teaching is learning.
When you realize that few got the actual point in your post yesterday.
And you’re okay with that.
Even with the myriad shitty comments they threw your way.
I knew what I meant and meant what I said.
And I’m okay with that.
Okay’s a path to peace. ✌️
Been called lots of things over the years. Never an AI machine. But, this is likely our reality now.
All educators should have to be a student for a full day once a year—for their entire career.
A day in their seats.
I’ve often wondered what it might be like to have 30 kids in a class who are all on-level, self-regulated, and eager to learn.
But then, I think about the real cast of characters in my room.
And I know in my heart, I would miss the life and color they breathe into the room.
Monte Syrie retweeted
Was an honor to join Sunny on her Unscripted Podcast. 🙂
youtu.be/txxtxhIo4Ls
Monte Syrie retweeted
“What are you reading?”
Gonna start asking my kids this question on a regular basis.
“Not for school.
For you.
What are ya reading for you?”
Reading (still) matters.
Monte Syrie retweeted
We’re in decline.
Might have mattered years ago.
Now, it’s just an empty echo.
“Are you talking about education, the country, or the world?”
Yes.
We could have done better.
Maybe it’s not too late.
Echo. Echo. Echo….😔
Monte Syrie retweeted
It is not they who are learning.
It is they who have “learned.”
This generation of kids is not to blame.
It’s all the generations of adults ahead of them.
Kids these days.
Nope.
Adults these days.
If “our days” were indeed so much better, then what didn’t we do?
Learn.
Monte Syrie retweeted
I’m beyond cynical.
I’m maniacal.
The woods are burning.
And we are sitting in our seats.
Watching.
Waiting.
For what?
The end?
That’s fucking crazy to me.
Let’s DO something.
We can (still) do better.
As crazy as that may sound.
Monte Syrie retweeted
Kiddo today expressing her wishes to be a reader, even if she’s not (it’s boring).
“Because I know it makes you richer inside.”
I asked her to repeat the last part for the class again.
Richer inside.
I suspect, during a different season of her life, she’ll be reader. 🙂
Monte Syrie retweeted
I think of all I didn’t know then.
I think of all I don’t know now.
And, of all, I only know I don’t.
I know no more than what I don’t.
So, I must learn.
Learning’s a long life of not knowing.



