Thank you for generously sharing this thoughtful reflection on a tough moment/ day/ year. It’s such a gift to be able to see a caring, experienced teacher working out what is the best thing to do while doing it.
A few thoughts with my principal hat on: it’s realllllly not fair to cluster kids with histories of challenging behaviors into one classroom because we see that a particular teacher “can handle it”. Of course they feed off of each other and it makes your job exponentially harder. I know you know this already, but you shared that facts so neutrally— I just want to voice my frustration on your behalf that your leadership is making this choice. It’s short-sighted and counterproductive.
Thanks! I completely agree. Unfortunately, clustering (or ability grouping) as been the norm for me throughout my career. I have always been one of the only male teachers in the building, so I inevitably receive the most challenging students. At first, I believed admin's gaslighting praise, telling me that I am a good teacher with challenging students. Now, I better understand the school system and how decisions are made. It is for the convenience of the admin and special services staff, not for the needs of the students.
I love how that article names highly unreliable candor. That is exactly what happened during the discussion. I feel lucky that I had some support with helping my students navigate their feelings after everyone had calmed down.
ah, February really is the most mutinous time of year, isn't it? A generous, relatable story and I loved the literary wrapping. There is no better way to maintain accountability than to model it yourself and then fully expect it of those around you. Thank you for sharing.
It's such a testament to your teaching and efforts that the students could have this mutiny, as painful as it was. Kudos to you for listening to them and taking them seriously. Every important lesson I've learned as a teacher has started with setting aside my own ego.
Modeling how to be human, an adult, and a teacher--one who makes mistakes and who works to improve himself, others, and their community--that's a heavy lift in the world of education. I am so glad you took the time to do the work. It's a cross to bear and I am not sure how many teachers have the motivation, the space, the time, or the resources to accomplish what you are carrying. It's the long game teachers play and so often they never see the fruits of their labor, but please know you are bearing fruit.
Thank you! Sometimes the load feels too heavy to carry, especially this time of year. And yet, this is what teachers do every single day for their students. I appreciate your encouragement.
Thank you for sharing all of this so openly. Just this week, I overheard a student conversation from a group of students who I do not teach about a teacher I do not know well: "Finally, a teacher that doesn't hate the boys." It's an interesting phenomenon I haven't heard much in the past, and as your post reminds us, probably a combination of things at work. Nice job using your resources, your humility, your leadership, to work through all of this in a productive way.
I’ve heard that sentiment often throughout my career. Being a male elementary school teacher, I tend to attract male students who struggle in school. Thanks for reading!
I so appreciate how vulnerable and reflective your pieces are, Adrian. You have a way of talking about the relational aspects of teaching in ways that are both emotionally grounded and intellectually rich. I’m glad the rebellion was quelled by the power of dialogue and honesty, but know that must have sucked in the moment.
I have a much longer and more complicated jumble of thoughts about the gender dynamics you’re noticing in primary school. It feels like they shift and morph as students get older but share some of the same roots. I need to sit with them longer before I make a more detailed post, but there’s been a spike of incidents at my school from male students that feels like an outgrowth of some or the behavior you describe here.
Thanks Trevor! Once being a fifth-grade boy myself, there are some aspects of ten-year-olds today that I can still relate to (i.e.: nascent machismo, reluctance to read, etc.); however, in many, many ways, ten-year-olds today are strikingly different. They have such ubiquitous access to so many things that are not good for them (e.g.: junk food, social media, gaming, pornography). I'm also seeing what I believe are the consequences of the "gentle parenting" movement that started about ten years ago.When you are ready, I'd love to hear your thoughts about gender dynamics in K-5 school. Happy to chat anytime. As you can see, I've got some thoughts!
Oh, my thoughts are more about how the behaviors you observe in 5th grade manifest once kids hit high school. I have very little insight into the average elementary schooler (I come to your Substack for that!), although my son is starting kindergarten in the fall so maybe I'll have more to say in a few years!
Ah! I see. I would be interested to see what these behaviors look like in high school. I worry about what happens to my students once they leave my classroom and head off to middle and high school.
It was so smart of you to stop everything and address this in a big way for so many reasons. You are showing students that their words have consequences and are taken seriously. What a good lesson for students to learn.
As a retired older adult I have no connection to formal pedagogy, yet your posts speak to me in ways that are both instructive and inspiring. It seems we all have an admixture of the emotions expressed by your students and yourself; thank you for sharing your views on these. As a society we need to do much more to support the tens of thousands of teachers who are building the very foundations of our children’s future.
I’m curious: do you also teach some form of Orwell’s 6 rules of writing?
Thanks! I actually don't formally teacher Orwell's rules for writing, but since I have internalized them myself, they must come through in my writing instruction. I do teach the various elements: figurative language and grammar (active versus passive voice).
Thank you for generously sharing this thoughtful reflection on a tough moment/ day/ year. It’s such a gift to be able to see a caring, experienced teacher working out what is the best thing to do while doing it.
A few thoughts with my principal hat on: it’s realllllly not fair to cluster kids with histories of challenging behaviors into one classroom because we see that a particular teacher “can handle it”. Of course they feed off of each other and it makes your job exponentially harder. I know you know this already, but you shared that facts so neutrally— I just want to voice my frustration on your behalf that your leadership is making this choice. It’s short-sighted and counterproductive.
Second, take heart that the mutiny resolved itself when students were reflecting with another adult after no longer being elevated. This Substack article I read recently gets into our tendency to exaggerate when we’re angry: https://open.substack.com/pub/admiredleadership/p/how-to-interpret-the-candor-of-things?r=6kxkx2&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
I always appreciate these glimpses into your classroom, thank you!
Thanks! I completely agree. Unfortunately, clustering (or ability grouping) as been the norm for me throughout my career. I have always been one of the only male teachers in the building, so I inevitably receive the most challenging students. At first, I believed admin's gaslighting praise, telling me that I am a good teacher with challenging students. Now, I better understand the school system and how decisions are made. It is for the convenience of the admin and special services staff, not for the needs of the students.
I love how that article names highly unreliable candor. That is exactly what happened during the discussion. I feel lucky that I had some support with helping my students navigate their feelings after everyone had calmed down.
Brilliant! What an example you are for the profession.
I appreciate that compliment! Thank you.
ah, February really is the most mutinous time of year, isn't it? A generous, relatable story and I loved the literary wrapping. There is no better way to maintain accountability than to model it yourself and then fully expect it of those around you. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for commenting!
It's such a testament to your teaching and efforts that the students could have this mutiny, as painful as it was. Kudos to you for listening to them and taking them seriously. Every important lesson I've learned as a teacher has started with setting aside my own ego.
I have learned that teaching is a very humbling profession. There just isn't enough room in our classroom for 30 students and my ego!
Amen to that!
Modeling how to be human, an adult, and a teacher--one who makes mistakes and who works to improve himself, others, and their community--that's a heavy lift in the world of education. I am so glad you took the time to do the work. It's a cross to bear and I am not sure how many teachers have the motivation, the space, the time, or the resources to accomplish what you are carrying. It's the long game teachers play and so often they never see the fruits of their labor, but please know you are bearing fruit.
Thank you! Sometimes the load feels too heavy to carry, especially this time of year. And yet, this is what teachers do every single day for their students. I appreciate your encouragement.
Sounds like a tough moment; glad you hung on and worked it out.
Thank you for sharing all of this so openly. Just this week, I overheard a student conversation from a group of students who I do not teach about a teacher I do not know well: "Finally, a teacher that doesn't hate the boys." It's an interesting phenomenon I haven't heard much in the past, and as your post reminds us, probably a combination of things at work. Nice job using your resources, your humility, your leadership, to work through all of this in a productive way.
I’ve heard that sentiment often throughout my career. Being a male elementary school teacher, I tend to attract male students who struggle in school. Thanks for reading!
I so appreciate how vulnerable and reflective your pieces are, Adrian. You have a way of talking about the relational aspects of teaching in ways that are both emotionally grounded and intellectually rich. I’m glad the rebellion was quelled by the power of dialogue and honesty, but know that must have sucked in the moment.
I have a much longer and more complicated jumble of thoughts about the gender dynamics you’re noticing in primary school. It feels like they shift and morph as students get older but share some of the same roots. I need to sit with them longer before I make a more detailed post, but there’s been a spike of incidents at my school from male students that feels like an outgrowth of some or the behavior you describe here.
Thanks Trevor! Once being a fifth-grade boy myself, there are some aspects of ten-year-olds today that I can still relate to (i.e.: nascent machismo, reluctance to read, etc.); however, in many, many ways, ten-year-olds today are strikingly different. They have such ubiquitous access to so many things that are not good for them (e.g.: junk food, social media, gaming, pornography). I'm also seeing what I believe are the consequences of the "gentle parenting" movement that started about ten years ago.When you are ready, I'd love to hear your thoughts about gender dynamics in K-5 school. Happy to chat anytime. As you can see, I've got some thoughts!
Oh, my thoughts are more about how the behaviors you observe in 5th grade manifest once kids hit high school. I have very little insight into the average elementary schooler (I come to your Substack for that!), although my son is starting kindergarten in the fall so maybe I'll have more to say in a few years!
Ah! I see. I would be interested to see what these behaviors look like in high school. I worry about what happens to my students once they leave my classroom and head off to middle and high school.
It was so smart of you to stop everything and address this in a big way for so many reasons. You are showing students that their words have consequences and are taken seriously. What a good lesson for students to learn.
Thanks Jenna. We debriefed today and the takeaways were meaningful. I hope this experience sticks with them as they get older!
As a retired older adult I have no connection to formal pedagogy, yet your posts speak to me in ways that are both instructive and inspiring. It seems we all have an admixture of the emotions expressed by your students and yourself; thank you for sharing your views on these. As a society we need to do much more to support the tens of thousands of teachers who are building the very foundations of our children’s future.
I’m curious: do you also teach some form of Orwell’s 6 rules of writing?
Thanks! I actually don't formally teacher Orwell's rules for writing, but since I have internalized them myself, they must come through in my writing instruction. I do teach the various elements: figurative language and grammar (active versus passive voice).