***WARNING: The following post contains absolute honesty.***
I'm not going to lie. I'm having a tough time this year. I don't know what it is, but I sure wish I did. I don't like it. Almost ten years ago, I decided to change my major from business management to English. At the time, I had no intention of becoming a teacher. That lasted for about a year. I was taking classes towards my teacher certification as a "back up", and one of the requirements of the very first class was to go observe high school English classes. It was during one of these observations that the teacher I was watching had to teach a history class (she accidentally had enough college credits to be deemed a "highly qualified" history teacher), and a student asked a question that the teacher didn't really have an answer for. It just so happened that I was taking a history class that semester in which we had spent a majority of the time studying the period they were discussing in class that day, so I knew a ton of stuff about it. I tentatively raised my hand and said I knew the answer. The teacher happily yielded the floor to me (I must remember to do that if I ever have a teaching candidate in my room). I stood and gave an impromptu lesson for only about five minutes. I was terrified at first, but almost immediately felt at home at the front of the class. I walked out of the school that day without a doubt in my mind that I had found my calling.
The problem is that now I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my job. I enjoy going to work everyday (for the most part), but this year I feel like something is missing. I hear that many of my students enjoy my class, which is great, but I am getting to the point where I don't feel like that is enough. If I am unable to get students to learn-- I mean really learn, then maybe I should happily yield the floor to someone who can.
I have friends who are still working away in college right now, and they call me for help when they need to write a paper. They tell me that they don't know what they are doing. Now I know they sat through four years of English class, so I can't figure out how they didn't learn at least the basics of how to make connections and draw conclusions from what they are reading and how to write that information in an organized and at least somewhat grammatically correct fashion.
Then I think about my own students and some of the conversations I have with them. When they are being 100% candid with me, they admit that they don't approach school with the attitude that they are going to learn something. They tell me that they are just going through the motions to earn enough points to get the desired grade (for some of them, it is a D). This is where I am running into trouble this year. I went into this year feeling really great about all of the plans I developed over the summer to make my classes something special this year. I just knew that real learning was going to take place, but as we near the end of the first quarter, I'm not seeing it materialize. I still feel like a majority of my students are simply trying to find a way to complete my assignments with the least amount of effort while still meeting the minimum requirements, and I understand that to an extent, but I also know that they will not get what they need that way. It has become incredibly frustrating for me to conduct a class in which I don't feel my students are learning. I feel like a musician playing to a crowd that doesn't really care to hear the music.
So this post is for my students. I want you to tell me what you've learned in my class this quarter. Be completely honest. I want your feedback. I need to know if you feel like you are any more prepared for what lies ahead as a result of this class. If you aren't learning anything, we need to take some time in class to figure out what needs to change. I'm open to suggestions because I don't want my students to go off into the real world only to find out that they don't have what it takes to be successful.
hey, I intern for you,
ReplyDeleteand just happened to check my blogger.
So, I'll offer my opinion & hope it doesn't keep anyone else from offering theirs...
I think that every student and teacher at PHS should be required to take sociology with Mr. V. I also think he should be cloned.
A major thing that I learned from that class is that we only really learn something if we make an emotional attachment to it.
For example, you don't remember what you wore three weeks ago, but you know where you were on 9/11. In the same way that we attach songs to past relationships, we will only remember something (well) from class if we can associate it with an emotional experience.
I think that the Mr. O show is a good shot at this. Many students will remember your twilight digs and outbursts of "hysterical" laughter. If you can connect those with some point from the curriculum, then kids will learn it, without regard to their grade.
Other than this, I think there is nothing wrong with going through the motions to get a good grade at school. Sometimes, you just have to get through the day and meet your own goals. For example, Mrs. Block could not teach me chemistry abstractly. It has to be presented just how it is and we have to try to grab on to some of it. I will do what I can in that class to get an 'A' but some people might settle for a 'D'. (D for done.)
Learning is a by-product of our everyday lives and for students, school is just a part of their lives. We learn as much when a teacher is lecturing as when we "get them off subject". Assignments are very unimportant to kids but emotions are important. To foster real learning, connect the two.
Also clone Mr. V.
Excellent response, Drew. Can I tell myself you learned that in my class?
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, and I obviously have a completely different "type" of student than you do, but what about putting the students in charge of some of the actual learning? Maybe even in a group setting, breaking the class into 4-5 groups for a quarter/semester and each of them is responsible for doing X numbers of lessons. So, maybe on Fridays it's the day they have to give their group a lesson about something related to the course, and then at the end you give a quiz over what should have been learned, and a portion of the presenter's grade is based on how well his/her class-mates did. I'm wondering if you could even do this as a whole class instead of smaller sub-groups... ? I'm not real sure the dynamic of your class/schedule, but I think to piggyback off of Drew's point, making the students emotionally attached can be challenging depending on the topic, but if they have a vested interested in the learning of their peers, they can't help but learn the material themselves. Just a thought :)
ReplyDeleteWell Mr. Ogle ; I don't think you should even think of stepping down and letting someone else take over your class would even be a good thought. I think that you are a really good teacher and you have taught me a lot so far this year.
ReplyDelete-MADDiE JOHNSON :)
I appreciate that, Maddie. Can you tell me one specific thing that you have learned as a result of my class?
ReplyDeleteMr. Ogle I dont think you should stop being a teacher i enjoy your class. I have learned things like with odysseus I learnred about his story and the troubles he had. Another thing would be with Huckelberry Finn I have learned thing especially about racial comments and how they effect people.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Peterson
This is one of my favorite classes. I think that you might be one of the best english teachers ive had so far. I've learned alot in your class that I should have learned last year but my teacher didnt care. I've learned too always read what you assign because you always ask a billion questions about what we read.
ReplyDelete-- BAILEY LAWSON (:
well i think we should read the story together then go over every thing that might help me cause im not doing so good in here an i do try but we need like to read in groups an do more projects
ReplyDeleteMr. Ogle I think you should keep being our English teacher. I enjoy being in your class because you say the funniest things. I know about drawing conclusion's and things but you went more into detail about it and i understand more. In class your happy but I guess you hide behind a mask. We love you and want you to be here forever until you retire from here. So pleaaaaseee stay :)).
ReplyDelete-Alissa Turney :DD
As a student in Creative Writing, I feel like I have not advanced much in the creative writing. I knew I was never creative and I honestly thought I would become more creative and be able to write better stories than I did in regular English. I was wrong though. I feel like you are preparing us for college and you are grading us like we are in college. I am not writing at a college level and I feel like I do not know what I am doing wrong in my stories.
ReplyDelete-Kel-c Fuqua
I agree with Kelsey Fuqua's comment. I know we are expected to learn by ourselves how to write more creatively. But I feel though I have had no preparation before this point. I feel that you are just expecting us to write college level stories. One thing that I feel is unfair is that we get our grades for the previous story after we already turned in the next story. I wish you could of explained or showed us what an A+ story was like.
ReplyDelete-Rachel Roark
Kel-c and Rachel, thank you for your feedback. If you guys are feeling this way, then I am obviously not making my plans and my goals for the class clear enough. You are both doing a tremendous job in the class, so hopefully I am able to give you guys a clearer picture of where I think we are and where I want us to go.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ogle i think you do a good job at teaching our class. I have learned things from you this year one of them being responsibility. The odysseus assignment earliar this year taught me this. It was the last day this was due and me and my group had failed to complete this assignment. After pleading you for more time you simply said no, and didnt baby me like so many of my crestwood teachers have done before. I will admit i was not happy that i would be nearly failing this assignment but i got the message "welcome to Highschool" and it's taught me to change how i went about my schoolwork. I deffinetly don't think you should step down because of frustrating students. The students who choose to not do work in your class make that decision 7 other times in there day. I think you are doing a great job in trying to mold us into more mature students. And by this post you show me how much you really do care about your job and your students!
ReplyDelete- Jordan Sweet
I really enjoy this class, and it would be boring without you teaching it. I have learned a lot of different things including how to really write a story. I dont think you should leave this job because you are really good at teaching it. It takes time for people to realize how much time they have left until college, and maybe they would care then. Makenzie T
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing that i have learned so far in your class is how to right a actual story. I also think that you should not let anyone step in and take the floor teaching your class. I don't think I would be in this class if there was. Your a really good teacher and you teach us a lot. I feel that i know more now being in your class. I know alot more about stories than i did before.
ReplyDelete-Carmen Jones.
ReplyDeleteI have learned how to write better stories and that we can not just write them to get them done. If we do that then our life after school will be completely different. And the talks you have to us sometimes just wakes me up and then helps me try and change something. So that is what I have learned to not just do your homework but try and learn what you just did.
Mr. Ogle-
ReplyDeleteI dont think that your a bad teacher so dont blame this all on yourself. Your are a really great teacher and you have taught many people many things. For example, the first day i stepped into your class i knew that you were the kind of teacher that is there to be completly honest with us. You were just going to flat out tell us if we were going to get far in life of not. Which helped alot of people. I'm in one of the many classes that like 75% of the students are not in there to learn and dont really care about anything. And just hearing you tell them that they are going to worked at McDonalds for the rest of their lifes helped me. I always told myself that i was going to get far in my life andhave a good job.And just hearing you say that to them like everyday remined me why i'm at school and why i want to get far in my like. You have not only just taught me english, you taught me life lessions.
Also i have learned that you cant always help everyone. There is always about 5% or more students that doesnt care and isnt going to listen to you. If i was you i wouldnt even pay attention to them. But you kind of have to. I would just try and help them but just tell yourself that they are the 5% that doesnt care. Dont let them convince you that your not doing your job right because you are.
-Christina Hoffman
I actually learned a lot in your class. I enjoyed the class. The only thing i did not like was how time consuming some of the homework was. But I think I will miss this class next semester.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ogle, im sorry you feel this way! makes me kinda sad!):
ReplyDeleteI learned a few things in your class. I learned how to correctly develop a scene, and plot. You taught me how to make my characters interesting! I also learned how to express my feelings through poems. I didnt get it at first, but it made sense as we went along. So i hope you read this and feel like you did something good!(:
-Jessica Hopper
Mr. Ogle I have learned not a lot, but that maybe because I haven't put out enough effort or because my class is a little distracting. I think I have defiently improved on my writing skills. I enjoy your class because well your Mr. Ogle, hilarious, but that's not the point. Sometimes you would make us think when you've told us to grow up and stop acting like little children. And you also said this isn't just a class, it's a college course class. This class is important because it's not just a simple English class it's a Creative Writing class where you use your writing skills. I should've worked harder because I knew I could have done so much better than I have been doing.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is an important subject that should be learned, but English in my opinion is a hard subject to learn and only the students can learn it. In other words you can stand there and talk tell your blue, but it is up to the students to learn it.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ogle. I'm pretty sure that you are the man with all traits and greatness so I know you shouldn't have a problem getting through this. although sometimes it is nice to get advice from your peers. In this case, a fellow student. I have never really had to try to do good in school, it just comes to me, which I am thankful for. As a teacher you really pushed me and stopped spoon feeding me information. Actually having to put forth effort has helped me retain the knowledge you've brought to me. All these lessons and stories about your past will surely help me succeed somewhere down the road.
ReplyDelete-Logan McDaniel
6th Hour
Honestly, your class is one of the hardest I have had this year. And, I usually am stressed out with the assignments you give, but this shows that your pushing us to get better and not just going through the motions of being a teacher.
ReplyDelete- Xavier Holt, 6th Hour, English II
You class for me is hard, and some of the projects you have given us is stressful, but you are a great teacher, and you give us chances to get extra credit.
ReplyDeleteKylie Knight
I know that I am learning a lot in your class this year. The activities you do, makes me learn, if I want to or not. That is a good thing. You push the students to do what they need to get done, and when it needs to be done. I think your class is hard, but that pushes me to do good. Thank you for that. I have learned a lot and I am continuing to learn more in your class every day.
ReplyDelete- Cassie Kemper, 3rd Hour.
I consider myself to be that type of person that has educational issues but also is mature, has common sense, and can make real life decisions and choices. I feel that in your class I have learned more things that pertain to me rather than English, however I don't think that you are to blame. You implement that into your teaching and I easily pick up on it compared to diagramming or whatever else we learn. That is why you are my favorite teacher, because in an educational place where I feel like I'm just going through the motions on a conveyor belt, you bring up things that actually are important to me such as life lessons and things that you can apply everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI am honestly happy you did not give up on teaching in 2010. You are an awesome english teacher. Your class has helped me become better at grammar, and writing essays. You are one of the best english teachers I have ever had, so it's going to be hard to see you leave PCHS knowing other kids won't be able to have you as a teacher. I hope you find what are looking for at your new job in Sullivan, and hopefully one day you can teach english again.- Tanner D
ReplyDelete