Ten things I learned teaching seniors

It is said that teaching is not a career, it’s a calling. It’s true. This is not a job well-suited to everyone. If you aren’t committed to it, you’ll burn out. In fact, most new teachers leave within the first 3-5 years of teaching (the last statistic I heard was 3/4 or 75%). However, there are many rewards that come with this calling. One of the rewards is that, in addition to teaching, I am always learning as well. Here is a list I shared with my students last school year. I wanted them to write a top ten list of things they learned during our equity unit, so I thought I should give them an example.

10. The potential students have is mind boggling.
It may sound corny, but I believe that every student has the potential for success. There is nothing more exhilarating than watching students succeed.

9. It is possible to laugh early in the morning.
Humor is a daily occurrence in the classroom. You just have to know where to look for it. Whether it’s jokes or just enjoying time with each other, laughter is a nice way to start the day. Often it’s intentional, but sometimes, the best humor is stumbled across on accident!

8. Teaching a subject helps you learn a subject.
I thought I knew a lot when I graduated college. They gave me a degree, after all. Then I started teaching and I realized how much I still don’t know. The questions students ask make you dig deeper and learn more than you ever thought possible. They say it takes three years of teaching to truly master a subject. In my experience, it takes three years to be comfortable teaching a subject, but there is always more to learn.

7. You’re never too old to enjoy a picture book…
Especially when someone reads it to you. It still amazes me how quiet the room gets every time I open a picture book. Very few things will capture the attention of a senior like a picture book.

6. Students will come to school “au naturel” (no makeup or hair products - at all...) and wear bags on their heads just because I asked them to.
I always wonder what I would do if a student really didn’t participate in Equity Day. I’ve had the alternate assignment ready for four years, but I’ve never had to use it yet. There are always students who get mad or upset and say they aren’t going to participate, but when it actually comes down to it, they do.

5. Students still don’t understand what “no food or drink on the carpeted areas” means.
This rule was in effect BEFORE the first day the school opened its doors more than a decade ago. Yet seniors will walk into class with food and drink, and act surprised when I tell them to put it away.

4. Seniors are capable of intelligent and thoughtful conversation.
Sharing ideas with others is one of the best ways to learn. It’s also one of the most fun. Seniors have deep thoughts, and aren’t afraid to share them!

3. They still love a good game of “Silent Ball” or “Head’s up, Seven up.”
Is it because they are reminiscing about their elementary days? Or because they just don’t want to do academic work? I’m not really sure, but I know that if I offer them a chance to play games, they’ll leap on it almost every time.

2. They are confident in themselves and capable of empathy with others.
Go people watching in the hallway. It’s pretty easy to pick out the seniors. They walk with an unmistakable air of confidence. Because they are confident in themselves, they are able to empathize with others. Younger students tend to be more self-centered, and concerned only with their own needs. Seniors tend to be more aware of their peers and their needs.

And the number one thing I learned by teaching seniors…
1. Four years with them just isn’t enough.