professionalism
Hey class....I doubt that anyone ever looks here anymore, which I think is a shame. And that's wierd because I wasn't even into the blog to start with. Anywho, I just wanted your guys opinions on professionalism and what you think is the TEACHER'S job description? I am feeling kind of unnerved about some of the comments that I have been listening to lately and I feel like I would like to talk more about it with you guys, people I trust. so if anyone reads this, probably only ashley will, I want to know what the ad or job description would (actually should) look like for say a math teacher. Aswell, I would like to know what a job description would be for a contributing citizen and as any member of society........
Thanks, hope things are going well for you this term, Liane
posted by Liane at 9:32 PM
5 Comments:
Hey, I've been reading, but not posting...so when you're asking what the job description should look like - are you asking what we think it should look like? What it really would?
I am assuming when you talk about the unnerving part, you are referring to the professionalism part - the "You ought to be an example everyone can look to" type stuff...I am unfortunately working on a lesson plan that's due tomorrow right now, so can't offer much in the way of thoughts, but I'll try to get back here sometime in the next couple of days.
9:42 PM
Hey Mark, Thanks for getting back to me. I know that we are all so busy right now with everything else I just really needed to vent and I missed the support of 790! Hope you are doing well, Liane
6:46 PM
Liane, thanks for the vote of confidence in my blogger observance. I haven't posted anything lately because I was discouraged by the lack of others participating. But, this professionalism stuff is hard for me too. For example, because I am a teacher what happens if I teach dance again and I have students from my school in the class do I maintain a split personality "Ashley" at dance class who its ok to be friends with and Miss Bakker the SS teacher who needs to be a respected pillar of society. Its a little exagerated but I'm kind of nervous about it. Also I keep hearing about teachers who have to shop and fraternize outside their community. Then how do we become an integral part of the community? The dichotamy(sp?) is never ending!
9:58 PM
Hello Liane, Ashley, Mark and whoever else is silently reading this site still...
job description of a math teacher is not much different than any other area specific field - they want to know and will interview you on your knowledge of the IRP's for the subject and grade level, will want to know how you would address those IRP's and make learning powerful and engaging at the same time (I know that you know how!!). They will also quiz you or want to know about your classroom management techniques beginning with proactive and moving to reactive ways you have handled situations (or they might give you a pretend scenario, like what if a student stood up and yelled across the room to her buddies and did not sit down right away-what would you do...this seems like it could be a game show competition - what would you do and best answer wins most points...).
As for your contribution to society...first of all the way and purpose of how you teach should be a contribution to society (what kinds of citizens are you guiding? what is the purpose of math in their lives? why should they consider historical events or environmental issues?). Second, how can you contribute to the school community? Staff sub committees? Fun day activities? Student council/leadership club involvement? Pro-D day representative - some of these positions require little extra work but they show that you are aware of your role to support the school as a whole and not just your classroom role. And as Ashley has questioned - you need to find that happy medium where you can be Ms./Mr [last name here] whatever professional identity you are negotiating to be at all times - that does not mean that you need to be a pretend person - you will not be much different than you are now - you will find it easier to show more of your relaxed professional self in extra-curricular activities sooner than showing it in a classroom setting - why? because you usually don't need the same mangagement techniques in a extra-curric setting since most if not all the students choose to be there... I hope this helps - remember to be yourselves first!
3:41 AM
Well, here's something interesting on professionalism...first day in class with my sponsor teacher on observation, she introduces me to her Gr. 11's as "Mr. Theobald" (it's pronounced tee-oh-bald, just to goof everyone up) and immediately her students ask if they can call me Mr. T. Having been through all the stuff about professionalism, I felt rather put on the spot - my sponsor realized it, and kind of directed conversation back to math.
She talked to me afterwards - she said their asking indicates two things: respect, in their not wanting to goof my name (apparently a lot of people find it hard?); and she also said that for some people, that is their comfort level for approaching a teacher. So she said if I'm comfortable with it, it will accomplish two things: it will let students know I'm approachable, and some students may be more willing to ask a question of "Mr. T" than of "Mr. Theobald" in class. As a heads up - she has been teaching for over 20 yrs (she said when she started, she wasn't allowed to wear pants - had to be a dress) and she is always "Mrs. So-and-so" - but in that class, one student calls her Coach" (though she has never coached anything in her life), and another calls her "Teach." She said that allows those students to approach her.
She also made the point that no matter what they call her, they do what she tells them to when she tells them to, and pointed out that it is not what I am called that will determine the respect I get from my students. She also pointed out that I should take a mentor approach to her students (in particular that class, who she thinks very highly of) - she said I have a lot I can learn from them in many respects, and I should pay close attention to what they have to offer - including what is ok and not ok for me to be called.
At the same time as I am becoming Mr. T (I've decided I'm ok with it, particularly since my sponsor teacher - who I already have a great deal of respect for, and whose students visibly respect - not fear, but respect), I am also dressed way more professionaly (or formally, if you will) in a collared shirt and casual dress pants than 95% of the teachers here (one today had ripped jeans, a t-shirt, sandals, and a knitted boarder toque in his class), and I don't plan to change that - that's my comfort level, and one part of my evolving teacher identity. I wouldn't feel comfortable in ripped jeans, and I think my students would pick up on that really quickly; I also wouldn't feel comfortable in a full-on suit in my class, and again I think my students would pick up on that.
So, I think we will all develop professionalism in a different way - for me, I'm becoming Mr. T, but I still dress like a traditional teacher. My sponser is Mrs. _______, and dresses in jeans, sweatshirts and polar fleece vests. My other sponsor is Mr. _______, and dresses in business casual; then there's Mr. _______, in his ripped jeans - students approach every single one differently, and have different conversations, but I didn't sense disrespect to any of them.
So I think, now that I have thoroughly confused the issue by basically saying that in many ways, professionalism is what you make it through respect for your students and their parents, in combination with your attitude, and along with your choice of clothes (which, by the way, totally goes against my feelings on the matter even one week ago), I think I will now stop talking (err, typing).
Food for thought...
9:30 PM
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